Chapter 14
Helen's POV
I was shocked to see my son inside the house. He resembled Stephanie as much as he did when they were toddlers. Stephanie should have died so I could raise my son. Frank has a lot of explaining to do. I don't believe that his enemy tried to kill our boy. He just wanted to keep my pride and joy away from me. If he thinks I'll let him continually get away with the deception, he has another think coming.
Stephanie is an embarrassment. She had cut off her hair. Respectful women in the Burg grow their hair long. A few inches below the shoulder is acceptable. Why me? Why can't my daughter act like the other women in the Burg? Why must she make it difficult for me? Everyone thinks I'm a bad mother because Stephanie refuses to act like a woman. Honestly, what have I done to deserve such a disgraceful daughter?
Marco is a handsome boy. I wonder which Burg woman I should introduce to my son. Marianne Gazpacho's daughter recently divorced. Nah, I don't want my son to marry a divorcee. What would the neighbours think? I'll ask the women at the church for their opinion. I want my son to marry a nice Catholic Burg girl.
"Honestly, Stephanie. Why must you constantly embarrass me? Joseph Morelli is willing to take you back, of course. I was just talking to Angie the other day. We agreed to plan your wedding for later this year. They have an opening at the Knights of Columbus Hall for your reception. Angie said they had a cancellation," I said. I took a large sip of my iced tea as I waited for the vitriol to leave her mouth.
"Mom, I will never marry Joe Morelli. How many times do I have to say it before it soaks through your thick skull into your brain?" Stephanie asked. "Jeez. It's the second time tonight," she mumbled loud enough for me to hear. Internally, I smiled at getting her to react. She always fell for my traps. When will she learn?
"Stephanie Michelle Plum, stop disrespecting me," I retorted. "Why me? I should have disciplined you harsher when you were younger. Maybe you would have been more like your perfect sister, Valerie."
Valerie gasped, but I didn't understand what I said to shock her. "Stephanie and I couldn't be more different, mom. You can't expect Stephanie to be happily married to the typical Burg male with two kids," Valerie said, defending her sister.
I took a drink of my iced tea, finishing the glass. "Excuse me for a minute. I need to refill my drink," I said. When I got into the kitchen, I opened the pantry closet to grab the bottle of Jack Daniels. I filled my glass two-thirds of the way, then added the iced tea from the fridge to top off the glass.
Marco asked Stephanie why I wanted her to marry Joseph. Stephanie explained the incidents with Joseph when she was six and sixteen. I was appalled when Stephanie described my discipline both times. How dare she embarrass me in front of my son. "Did I hear you correctly?" Frank asked. "Your mother punished you for the Morelli boy assaulting you?"
"Didn't you know, dad?" Stephanie asked. "Mom said she told you, and you told her to punish me." I could hear the hurt in her voice.
"No. It wasn't necessary to tell your father after handling the situation myself," I replied. "He was always too soft on you." Frank looked angry. I haven't seen him that angry since someone killed Marco. Well, I mean when someone attempted to kill our son because obviously he's very much alive. I took another drink from my glass. So help me, if Frank and I fight about this when the kids leave, I will never forgive Stephanie. That girl caused more arguments than I could count on my hands and feet. "I wish you were never born, you whore. You should have married Joseph the day you turned eighteen. But all I have is a poor excuse of a daughter that I named Stephanie."
"Wow, mom, tell me how you really feel about me. Daddy, Val and Grandma, I'll call to set up a time to visit. I'm not coming to this house ever again," Stephanie said. I hadn't realized I said that out loud. Damn, the whiskey loosened my tongue.
"You can stay, Marco," I said. Stephanie had always disappointed me. When the doctor said I was expecting twins, I told all my friends that I was having two boys. Imagine my shock when I had one boy and one girl. Stephanie refused to sleep in her own crib. She had to share Marco's bed.
"I don't think so, Helen," Marco replied. "Wherever my sister goes, I go."
"Now, look what you have done, Stephanie. You are an ungrateful bitch, and I never want to see you again. How dare you turn my son against me," I screamed. Stephanie was dead to me.
"Do you know what I think, Helen? I think you are dead to me, too," Stephanie said before walking from the dining room. I tried to get Marco to stay, but he refused to abandon his precious sister.
"Mom, you crossed a line tonight. I'm embarrassed to be your daughter," Valerie said before leaving the table. Valerie was overreacting. I know she'd come around soon because she needs me to watch the girls. My mom gathered the dishes to take them into the kitchen. I heard her scrape off the plates and clean the dishes.
Honestly, how difficult can that daughter of mine get? She must stop hanging around those thugs. I'll tell everyone about my disrespectful daughter. They'll side with me because they know Stephanie is a horrible daughter.
I finished my iced tea before gathering the leftovers from the table. Frank didn't return to finish his dinner. I wondered where he went. Maybe he left with his slutty daughter. It didn't matter as long as we didn't fight tonight. I used to pick fights with Frank to experience the post-argument make-up sex. Frank would be rough, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I fanned my face and rubbed my thighs together. Thinking about sex with Frank made me horny.
After packing the leftovers into Tupperware containers, I finished washing the dishes. We have a dishwasher, but I enjoy hand washing everything. It was both relaxing and cathartic. Dishwashers are for lazy women. I pride myself on being the best housewife in the Burg.
As I washed the pots and pans, I thought about Valerie and her divorce from Steve. She came home a few years ago after Steve left her for the barely legal babysitter. I was proud of her for trying to save her marriage. Valerie did everything expected of her as a mother and housewife. She forgave Steve after he slept with his secretary. Valerie had given birth to Mary Alice a few days earlier. She couldn't service Steve's needs, so I understood why he got his sexual desires met by another woman. My oldest daughter is the perfect Burg woman. Valerie didn't leave Steve. He left her, which makes her a saint, in my opinion. I was pleased when she married Albert. We have a lawyer in the family, and I couldn't be more proud.
Stephanie, however, left her husband after finding him with that Joyce Barnhardt woman. Janelle Barnhardt and I have been friends since we turned five. Our birthdays are a few days apart. When I had Marco, I made a pact with Janelle. My son, Marco, and her daughter, Joyce, will get married when they're older. Of course, those plans went out the window once Marco supposedly died. Joyce is not the woman I want to marry Marco. She would get wealthy men to marry her. After several months, she would eat them alive, then take over fifty percent of their estate before tossing them away like trash. My son has money. His clothing didn't exactly scream wealth, but they were out of my price range.
Marco's POV
Stephanie wasn't kidding when she said that our mother would be a royal bitch. I watched Valerie exchange a few words with Stephanie and dad before leaving in the minivan. "Are you okay?" I asked, wrapping her in my embrace.
"I'll be fine, Marco," she quietly replied. "I really should be used to her type of criticism."
Dad pulled her from my arms to hold her. "Pumpkin, I didn't know," he said.
"It's okay, daddy. I forgive you," she replied. "We'll talk soon." Stephanie stepped back from our dad and got into the passenger seat of her car. She stuck the keys in the ignition, waiting for me to climb in.
"Take care of your sister, son. I'm glad you two found each other," dad said. He gave me a quick hug before pushing me toward Stephanie's car.
Stephanie didn't talk as I drove us home. I found a parking spot a few cars down from the door. She smiled as she climbed from the vehicle. We found Tim and Buck waiting outside of our apartment. "Girl," Tim said as he hugged Stephanie.
I unlocked the door and let Tim guide Stephanie to the couch. She sat in his lap and buried her face into his neck. Stephanie's body shook from crying. Tim whispered into her ear. She nodded a few times before falling asleep in his arms.
"What the fuck happened?" Buck quietly asked. I could tell Buck noticed the change in Stephanie's demeanour. She looked broken.
It took a few minutes to explain everything that happened. Neither Buck nor Tim were amused by Helen's actions. I frowned when I acknowledged the thought passing through my mind. "What's with the frown?" Tim wondered.
"I was thinking about Nina. She was a remarkable woman and mother figure. Stephanie could be so much more if that bitch Helen never raised her," I explained.
"How did she turn into the amazing woman she is?" Buck asked.
"Stephanie is innately a good person. She loves with her entire being. There isn't anything she wouldn't do to make someone's life better," I explained. I was about to say something else, but Stephanie woke up.
"I want to visit Lester tonight," Stephanie said. "I promised him that I'd bring him a piece of your chocolate fudge cake. He knows I always keep my promises." I caught Buck's attention and gave him a look that said, 'See what I mean?'
"Are you sure?"
"Marco. I am visiting Lester whether or not you come with me," Stephanie replied. She kissed Tim's cheek. "Thanks for the cuddles."
"Anytime, girl," Tim said while releasing Stephanie from his grasp. Stephanie moved to Buck's lap. She hugged him and then kissed his cheek.
"Thank you for letting me cuddle with your husband," Stephanie said.
"No problem, sweetie. I'm not the jealous type," Buck replied. It didn't surprise me that Stephanie already had my friends wrapped around her finger. People gravitated toward her because of her kindness.
I walked Tim and Buck to the door while Stephanie used the washroom to freshen up. She returned fifteen minutes later. Her hair was slightly damp, and Stephanie had changed her shirt. "I'm ready whenever you are," she said.
We slipped on our shoes and went to the car. It didn't take long to drive to the hospital. Stephanie carried the container with the cake and a plastic fork. She greeted Binkie and Woody, standing guard outside of his room. When we entered the room, a woman was sitting in the chair beside Lester's bed. "Oh, I'm sorry, Les. I didn't know you had company," Stephanie said as she started to retreat from the room.
"Beautiful. Stephanie, it's okay. You can stay," Lester said. "Momma, I'd like you to meet my best friend, Stephanie."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Stephanie. Lester has told me a lot about you. Please, call me Elena or momma," she replied.
"I'm happy to meet you too, Elena," Stephanie replied. "I brought you cake." Lester reached for the container. Stephanie peeled off the lid and gave it to him with the plastic fork.
"Oh my gosh. This cake tastes better than Ella's chocolate cake," Lester said. He took another large bite and moaned.
"Didn't I tell you that your cake was better, Marco?" Stephanie said with a glint in her eye.
"You made this?" Lester asked. "I thought Stephanie was joking."
Stephanie smacked his foot. "Lester, you know I never joke about food."
Elena excused herself, giving Stephanie and Lester time to talk privately.
"How did dinner go with your mom?" Lester asked.
With a heavy sigh, Stephanie told him the entire story. I watched Lester's expression change from joking to pissed off. He moved his legs towards the edge of the bed. "Lester, you need to stay in bed," Stephanie said.
"Beautiful, I'm sorry your mother was horrible to you. I couldn't imagine being related to a vile woman like Helen Plum," Lester stated. Neither person noticed Elena return while Stephanie told Lester about our disastrous dinner.
"Dear girl, your horrible mother doesn't deserve a wonderful woman like you," Elena said, unable to stay quiet for another second. "If you let me, I could be your momma."
Lester nodded. "I already consider you to be my sister," he added. "Please, Steph. Let momma adopt you."
"We come as a packaged deal," I joked.
"I expected nothing less from Stephanie's twin," Elena said. I suspected that Lester must have told his mother about me. Although, I wasn't surprised. Lester and Stephanie were close. After asking my permission, she apprised Lester of everything we had done since we met. "What was your adoptive mother like?" Elena asked, confirming that Stephanie had told her friend everything.
"Nina was a lot like Stephanie. She was kind, generous and loving. There wasn't a person who met her that didn't like her. Nina had a way of pulling people into her orbit. I was fortunate to have an amazing mother," I replied.
Elena talked to Stephanie, making plans to take her shopping in a few days. When Stephanie yawned, Elena insisted I take her home. The women exchanged numbers as I talked to Lester. "You're good for her self-esteem," Lester said.
"She's come a long way since finding me. I wanted to rip Helen apart for pushing her back a few steps," I confessed. "I've never hated a woman more."
"I can't understand why Helen wished our light was gone. Steph is my hero," Lester said. "You know how much crap and evil we experienced during our missions. When I met Beautiful, her willingness to accept us, faults and all, made me look to her for comfort. She calms the demons I hide inside. Without her, I'd be lost. My last mission a year ago nearly destroyed me. Stephanie brought me back before I sunk into the deep abyss attempting to swallow me whole. Momma worried that she'd hear that I killed myself. When I got better, she asked what pulled me from the precipice. It's the day I told her about Beautiful. She wants me to marry her, but we are better as friends. I love her with everything fibre in my body, but I can't give her the life she deserves. Tank loves her too. He could love her and let her fly without getting possessive."
Lester stopped talking when Stephanie walked toward the bed to kiss his cheek. "I'll visit tomorrow," Stephanie said.
"I'll be here waiting. I love you, Beautiful," he replied.
"I love you too, Les." She kissed his cheek and gave him a quick hug. I bumped his fist before guiding my sister from the room. Stephanie and I said goodbye to Elena as we exited the room. "Thank you, Marco. I feel better."
"Anything for you, sis," I replied.
