Helena trudged back from the stables and walked through the front door. Her clothes were covered in dust and dirt from her horses back and she was sweating.
"Helena is that you?" Jo asked when she heard footsteps. "There are some people I'd like you to meet."
"Coming Mum." Lena walked into the living room where Jo and Landon were sitting opposite a couple Lena assumed were his parents. Jo almost fainted when she saw the state Lena was in.
"What happened to those nice clothes I put in your wardrobe for you?" Jo asked politely. She didn't want to make a scene in front of her in-laws.
"Sorry. I wanted to go riding and I didn't want to ruin them." Lena smiled cheekily. "You must be George and Martha." She looked at the elderly couple sitting on the couch opposite Jo.
"Actually I'm Kitty and this is my husband Elliott."
"Sorry. You just looked like George and Martha to me. You know those two hippos from that cartoon." Lena said with a smile.
"Excuse me?" Kitty protested.
"I apologise for her behaviour. She's been brought up by her father."
"There is nothing wrong with my behaviour. I behave like every other girl my age does. I'm not an old woman like her so why should I act like one?"
"Helena!" Jo cried. "Don't speak to them like that. These are your new grandparents you're talking to."
"Ah last time I checked my grandparents were dead." With that Lena walked out of the room.
"Excuse me for a minute." Jo stood. "She's not usually like this." Jo smiled politely and walked out after Lena.
"What was all that about? You know I'm trying to make a good impression."
"Why bother? It's not like they like you anyway. The only reason they came was because Landon told them to. I bet that's where Landon gets his snootiness from." She didn't turn around.
"Landon is not 'snooty' and neither are they. Now go to your room this instance and change your clothes. And whilst you're up there I suggest you change your attitude too. And when you get back down here I want you to apologise to them right away."
"Why should I? I didn't do anything wrong?"
"You called them old hippos. Of course you did something wrong."
"Well sorry if I didn't meet their standards but I am the way I am and nothing is going to change that."
"I know this doesn't mean much to you Lena but it really does to me. Landon means a lot to me and all I want is for his parents to accept me. If they don't then they will never allow him to marry me. And accepting you as part of their family is part of accepting me so can you please at least try and make an effort…for me?" Jo looked Lena in the eyes.
"Y…you called me Lena."
"Well that is your name isn't it?" Jo smiled. "And just between you and me they do sort of look like George and Martha." Jo laughed.
"But I thought…" Lena smiled. "Okay Mum. I'll try."
"Thankyou." Jo hugged her daughter.
"No problem. But do I really have to wear those ridiculous suits?"
"Unfortunately yes. I don't like wearing them any more than you do but Landon means a lot to me and if dressing up is what it takes then so be it."
"Okay." Lena and Jo broke apart and Lena walked up stairs with a smile on her face.
"Ah here she is." Jo smiled as Lena walked through the double doors into the living room again, this time wearing the pink suit which had earlier been thrown across the room, she had her hair held back with a pink ribbon and she was wearing silver jewellery.
"Kitty, Elliott, this is my daughter Helena."
"Lena?" Landon queried. He had never seen her so dressed up before. She was always walking around dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
"Helena." Lena corrected him. "I'm awfully sorry about my behaviour before. I was just having a bad day."
"Well that's perfectly alright Helena, dear we all have our bad days." Landon smiled at her, playing along with the charade.
"Anyone for tea?" Yasmine walked into the room with a trolley.
"Yes. Thankyou Yasmine." Jo smiled politely. "Mr and Mrs Miller would you like some tea?" Jo asked.
"Why of course." Kitty replied.
"White with two." Elliott told her.
"Manners Elliott."
"Sorry darling. "White with two please." He corrected himself.
"So Mrs Miller." Jo started.
"Oh please darling, call me Kitty." She replied with a smile. Jo smiled back, glad that she was being accepted.
"Why thankyou." Jo replied. "So Kitty…tell me more about your new investment."
"Well dear Elliott and I have just donated money towards a new children's wing for the local hospital."
"That was very nice of you. I bet you got some great credit towards your firm then."
"Why of course. Our firm is willing to do anything to help out the local charities. Why just yesterday we received a certificate thanking us for funding the local recreation centre."
"I'm sorry but I have to visit the ladies room. I wont be long."
"Of course darling. Hurry back." Jo smiled and Lena exited the room.
"My god!" She breathed a sigh of relief and sat on the stairs.
"Hey Miss P what's up?" Keefer asked when he walked past.
"Since when have I been Miss P?" Lena asked.
"Lena?" Keefer asked looking back at her. "You're…you look like your mother."
"Gee thanks."
"I'm sorry I didn't recognize you. Why are you wearing that ridiculous outfit?"
"I'm trying to be a proper young lady so mum can get accepted into Landon's family. It's stupid I know but I have to do it. It's for Mother she really cares for Landon and I guess I want her to be happy."
"I thought you didn't like her…"
"Well things change."
"Yeah I get that." He held back laughter. "What I don't get is why you're trying so hard to fit in, when you were born to stand out." (AN: I had to put that in there. Lol. It's a classic line from one of my fav movies. Plus it just fits.)
"I don't know. I guess I just want mum to be happy. She is my mother after all."
"Oh, you've gone soft haven't you?" He laughed.
"Shut up would you."
"I can't help it. It's hard to take you seriously when you look like a marshmallow."
"I do not!"
"Do to!" He laughed.
"I so do not!" She slapped him.
"Ah…yeah you do." He pushed her. She pushed him back.
"Hey don't do that!"
"Why not!' She pushed him again and he fell backwards, she landed on top of him.
"I err…I'd better get back before they start worrying." She smiled at him.
"Yeah."
She stood and walked back to the living room.
"Ah here she is now." Lena heard Jo say as she walked into the room. "We were just talking about having a dress fitting tomorrow afternoon. We need to know if your dress needs any adjustments."
"Sounds great." Lena replied. "I'd love to stay and chat but I've got some things to do before the wedding tomorrow." Lena smiled. "It was nice meeting you."
"And you to dear." Elliott smiled and waved as Lena left the room.
It was three days before the wedding and everything was hectic. There were flowers arriving from everywhere, caterers lined up along the hall, passing down trays of appetisers, Hor'duerves and cheese platters, different varieties of drinks as well as the wedding cake. The chairs were also arriving for the backyard where the wedding was to be held. Jo was busy showing people where to put what when the doorbell rang.
"Can you get that please Yasmine? I'm kind of busy here." Jo said as she ordered the caterers around.
"Right away madam." Yasmine rushed to the door and when she opened it she was face to face with a tall man dressed in a grey dress suit.
"May I help you?" Yasmine asked.
"I'm looking for Mrs Joanna Parrish-Hasham. Is she here?"
"May I ask who you are?"
"I'm Anthony Schulz. I'm her divorce attorney."
"Oh. Ah…I'll just get her for you. Right this way."
"Ms Parrish, Madame?"
"What is it Yasmine I'm really busy?"
"There is a Mr Schulz here to see you. He says he's your divorce attorney."
"Divorce attorney? But I'm not married yet. What does he want?" Jo walked over to where Anthony was waiting by the front door.
"Can I help you?"
"Mrs Parrish-Hasham?"
"I don't go by that name anymore. My ex husband and I divorced a long time ago. I'm afraid you're mistaken."
"I'm afraid you are the one who is mistaken. Mr Hasham did not sign the divorce papers. By law the two of you are still married!"
Jo fainted.
Well there you go. Chapter 2 is here! Please let me know what you think of it! Honest feedback please. Any suggestions etc are also welcome!
Jess