Happy to see my readers enjoying the previous chapter. Sometimes I wonder, how the heck did I get myself stuck in this? Yet I do enjoy writing it. Anyway...
This chapter is going to lead to another difficult part in the relationship that Arnold and Helga are trying hard to keep a secret. Enjoy!
''Bob! Where are you going now?!'' Miriam shouted.
'' TO MY OFFICE! I WANT TO BE ALONE!'' Bob shouted and slammed the door.
Arnold and Helga came downstairs and found a stressed Miriam and a crying Olga on the couch.
Arnold and Helga looked at each other and went their separate ways.
Helga went to the kitchen to make coffee for everyone and Arnold sat on a chair and looked at Miriam and then at Olga.
Arnold took a deep breath before he started speaking.
''Olga, you are a smart woman. I have often heard from Helga how well you can study and that you give 100% to it. It's just that not only your parents but also Helga and I had doubts about the several boyfriends you've had. Now you meet Eric, who we think is a good guy and then this happens. How is it possible for you to get pregnant? We all know you're on the pill.'' Arnold said in a polite tone.
Helga came in with a tray and gave Miriam her cup of black coffee. She had tea for Arnold and Olga and Helga herself had coffee with a dash of milk.
Olga sobbed a few times and looked at Helga and then at Arnold before she started speaking.
''Two days before Eric was deployed to Africa, I was so sad and stressed that Eric was leaving that I was constantly throwing up. I've had sex before when I've thrown up and nothing happened so I didn't expect it to happen this time either.'' said Olga.
"And that's one of the reasons I went for an IUD." Helga said as she took a sip of her coffee.
"And yet you do it with Arnold with a condom." Olga squeaked angrily.
"Because I made a promise to your father..." Arnold said and Olga and Miriam looked at Arnold. Helga knew about the promise. ''... but that doesn't matter now. Olga, does Eric know that you are pregnant?'' Arnold asked and Olga started to cry again.
'' Yes. He doesn't know what to do with it and needs time to think about it.'' Olga cried.
"You bastard..." Helga muttered and Arnold gave her a look like: is that necessary?
Miriam, who had been silent the whole time, began to speak.
"Olga, go to your room and calm down. Me and Bob will talk about it together first. But not now, he's upset." Miriam said.
Olga sobbed and got up and left the living room.
"What now? She won't have a job, a boyfriend who doesn't know either and is stuck somewhere among the elephants. I can see you and Dad paying for it." said Helga.
" Helga, you don't know what will happen. What would you do if you unexpectedly became pregnant by Arnold?" Miriam asked.
"I have no idea, but I do know that I have Arnold by my side." Helga said and looked at Arnold.
Arnold smiled a little. Helga pregnant by him? That was a wish that was still far away. Yet...
"If Helga gets pregnant, I will be there. As a husband and as a future father." Arnold said.
Miriam was a bit surprised but still happy to hear that Helga had found such a good man.
Helga was taken aback for a moment until she blushed a bit and smiled too.
So Arnold also dreamed of starting a family with her.
"Shall I talk to Bob like men among themselves?" Arnold asked.
Miriam looked at Arnold.
"I would really appreciate that. Although I don't know what his mood is like except that he is upset." said Miriam.
Arnold stood up and then walked to Helga and gave her a kiss on the head.
" I'll be right back." Arnold said and left the Pataki house.
"What now, Mom?" Helga wondered.
"Let's hope Arnold has a good conversation with your father." said Miriam.
" Yes. I still can't believe it. Criminy! That's why she was deregistered." Helga said and Miriam nodded her head.
"That's discrimination! Olga should take action." Helga said angrily.
"What could Olga do on her own?" Miriam wondered.
Helga was thinking. She had an idea, but whether it would work was another question.
Arnold had gotten coffee on the way. For himself a cappuccino with a hint of mocha and for Bob he had double espresso with caramel and banana milk.
He entered through the back of the store and walked to Bob's office and knocked on the door a few times.
Arnold heard heavy footsteps approaching the door and the door was opened.
"Miriam, I said-... ooh Arnold..." Bob said in surprise.
"Bob, I brought coffee, should we sit outside or in your office?" Arnold asked.
Bob sighed deeply and walked out of his office.
''Sitting outside seems better to me. I have a few chairs behind the store, let's sit there."
Arnold and Bob sat outside and each had their coffee.
"I assume you and Helga know about Olga?" Bob asked.
''Yes, we talked together. And no idea yet what awaits. It is up to Olga and Eric what they want together. '' Arnold said and took a sip of his coffee.
"What would you do if Helga were unexpectedly pregnant?" Bob asked and Arnold laughed softly, which made Bob look surprised.
"It sounds like Miriam asked you the same question," he said.
'' Of course. I will be for Helga and the little one. Bob, you know how things are between us. That's why Helga and I are being safe, a promise I also made to you.'' Arnold said and Bob smiled.
''At least you are of some use to me. I sometimes wonder why I have made certain choices in my life that have also determined how Olga and Helga are now.'' said Bob.
''Bob, everyone makes mistakes. Look at my parents. It wasn't their intention.'' Arnold said.
"If Eric changes his mind and leaves Olga, I will come after him and he will be beaten!" Bob said angrily.
''Um Bob, Africa is quite far away and I think it is better to stay with Olga. Since there's a Pataki on the way.'' Arnold said.
Bob looked up at what Arnold said. A Pataki was on its way.
He was going to have a grandchild. He was sure that Olga would keep the baby, with or without Eric.
He really needed to talk to Miriam.
"Arnold..."
''Yes Bob?''
''Better that you pay off that ring quickly and that you and Helga finish school. Then I'm sure Helga is in good hands.'' Bob said tiredly. '' I am getting old for this….''
''I certainly will.'' Arnold said with a smile.
"And shut your mouth about this conversation, capiche?" said Bob.
'' Count on it!''
Meanwhile, Helga was standing at the door of the scriptwriter of Daily Life. Helga knocked on the door and waited and the door opened and a man stood watching.
"We don't buy anything at the door and we don't make donations either," he grumbled.
Helga swallowed her pride and smiled.
''Good morning sir, I would like to speak to the writer of Daily Life. I am a screenplay writing student and I was wondering if I could have a moment about a screenplay.'' said Helga.
The man turned around and started shouting.
''MARY! SOMEONE FOR YOU AT THE DOOR! She will be here in a moment.'' he growled and walked away.
Helga shook her head a bit, what a grouch!
Then a woman appeared who seemed somewhat confused.
'' Yes? Can I help you, young lady?'' she asked.
"Hello, do you write the screenplays for Daily Life?" Helga asked.
'' Of course! Oh wait, you look a lot like Olga Pataki. Family?'' Mary asked kindly.
'' Yes. My name is Helga and I would like to ask you kindly not to fire Olga even though she is pregnant. I am a screenwriting student myself because I love musicals and theater.'' Helga explained and she took a notebook from her bag and showed it to Mary. "I personally think it is advantageous for the series if you use a pregnant person."
"Then I will sit on the bench, I would like to read this." Mary said kindly and she sat down on the outside bench.
"Thank you." Helga said and sat down next to her.
Mary started reading while Helga took out a notebook to write some poems.
Mary was impressed with the storyline that Helga had written.
Violet finds out that Vincent has been in a relationship with Samantha for some time. When Violet tries to convince Vincent that she is a better choice, Vincent tells him that Samantha is pregnant. Blinded by rage, Violet devises a plan of revenge, luring Samantha to an abandoned building and setting it on fire. Violet then walks away laughing, happy that her plan worked not knowing that Samantha will survive just like the baby. Then there are a few months in between when Samantha ''rehabilitates'' at a secret location and returns with scars and a stronger personality.
Mary closes the notebook and looks at Helga.
''I can definitely do something with this. I can't promise anything because I'm not the only one writing a storyline. But rest assured, your sister can stay. '' Mary said and Helga's eyes widened.
'' Serious? Olga can stay?'' Helga said in disbelief.
''Yes, Olga can stay. Nice piece written here. Viewers will wonder what happened to the baby and what Samantha will do with Violet," Mary said.
Helga jumped for joy. She had done it. Olga kept her job! That was one less thing to worry about.
'' Thank you! Can I tell her this good news myself?'' Helga asked.
''Sure kid. In return, if I'm no longer sure with a storyline, would you mind helping me and my colleagues?'' Mary asked and Helga didn't know how to respond for a moment.
"You mean by writing a screenplay?" Helga asked carefully.
'' Yes. I'll just pay you for every hour you spend on it. Think of it as a kind of internship.'' Mary said and Helga could only be happy.
''Thank you, Mary! Thank you very much! I'll go back home soon to tell the good news!'' Helga said and stood up. ''Oh, you can keep my notebook. Then you can continue writing it."
''Thank you child. We'll see each other again soon."
Helga was super happy! Not only did Olga have her job, she was also allowed to help write the storyline, a wish that came true!
''So you can't reach Eric at all anymore? And what about his parents?'' Miriam asked Olga.
Miriam, Bob, Arnold and Olga were sitting in the living room talking about what to do next. Ever since Olga told Eric she was pregnant, Eric had ignored all contact.
''I left a message on the voicemail but no response so far.'' Olga said tiredly. All that crying had exhausted her.
''Don't you know where they live? Then we'll just drop by! Just disrespectful how my daughter is being pushed aside!'' Bob said angrily.
Arnold looked at the clock hanging on the wall. Where was Helga anyway? Miriam told her she had an idea and at 1:15 pm she left home.
It was now 4:50 pm and Helga was not there yet. She didn't answer her cell phone either. Phoebe didn't know where she was either.
Arnold stood up so abruptly that it startled Bob.
"What are you doing now?!" asked Bob, shocked.
''Look where Helga is. She stays away from home for a very long time and she-..." Arnold said but could not finish his sentence when a happy Helga comes home.
"I have good news!" Helga cheered happily and her family looked at her strangely.
Arnold collapsed on the chair with his legs, his strength completely disappearing for a moment.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, I hope it's good news..." Bob grunted.
''I went to one of the script writers at Daily Life. I showed her an alternative scenario for Samantha and she was impressed that they are going to use my idea, which means that Olga can just keep playing Samantha!'' said Helga.
There was a moment of silence before Olga and Miriam hugged Helga tightly with joy.
''Criminy! Really!? '' Bob said, surprised at what his youngest had done.
'' Really! And the best part is that I can sometimes step in when they can no longer complete the storyline! Like a kind of internship!'' Helga said.
Bob jumped up and hugged Helga. ''Unbelievable!''
"Helga, can I speak to you for a moment, the two of us?" Arnold asked suddenly.
Helga looked at Arnold and saw that he was serious.
" Okay. Let's go to my room." Helga said and freed herself from her family.
Arnold and Helga left the living room. Bob, Miriam and Olga looked at each other, what was going to happen?
When Arnold and Helga enter Helga's bedroom and Helga has closed the door, she sees an upset Arnold.
"Arnold..." Helga started but Arnold cut Helga off.
"Where were you? If something had happened to you we wouldn't even know where to start looking." Arnold said calmly.
"You could have called or texted me?" Helga asked.
"I think I called four times and sent several messages." Arnold said.
Helga looked strange. Then she should have heard it, right? She picked up her phone and saw that the sound was completely turned off.
And the many messages from Arnold, 3 messages from Phoebe and 1 from Gerald.
Helga sighed. Arnold saw that she hadn't meant it that way and threw his arms around her. Helga looked surprised at this action.
"It's okay. Next time just check your phone and tell me where you're going, okay?" Arnold asked with a small smile.
Helga hugged Arnold closer to her.
"I'm sorry I worried you." Helga said and kissed Arnold on the cheek.
" I only get one kiss? You're so stingy.." Arnold winked at Helga.
"How many kisses do you want?" Helga said in a sultry tone.
'' I want you. In my arms... and for the kiss..." Arnold said flirtingly before he kisses Helga on her lips and her arms wrap around his neck.
And as Gerald and Phoebe often confirm, when Arnold and Helga were in their own world they heard nothing.
Miriam had gone upstairs to see if everything was okay and knocked on the door but got no answer.
So she opened the door and saw Arnold and Helga passionately kissing each other.
Miriam coughed a few times and Arnold and Helga looked at Miriam before letting go of each other.
"Sorry, we didn't hear you, Miriam." Arnold apologized and Miriam giggled a little.
''That's okay. I'd like you to sit down and listen to me first.'' Miriam said. Arnold and Helga sat down on the bed and Miriam took Helga's chair.
"Helga, would you like to live together with Arnold?" Miriam asked.
"Living with Arnold?" Helga asked slowly.
Arnold didn't say anything at all, what Miriam suggested was very unexpected.
'' Yes. We live above a shop. We have 3 bedrooms. I don't see Eric coming back. I can see you and Arnold staying together. I know from Bob and myself that we would like to see you succeed with your education. But once the baby arrives, there will be no rest for you.'' Miriam said.
Helga thought. It was true what her mother said. Once that little one is born, it will just be hectic. Helga looked at Arnold.
"Arnold?" asked Helga.
''Having Helga next to me every night, I would like nothing more. My room has already been renovated, knowing that Helga would one day move in with me.'' said Arnold.
'' That's good to hear. Bob and Olga don't know that I am asking you this. First Olga has to get through the 3 months. Then we know for sure that the baby will come.'' Miriam said.
Helga threw herself on the bed and sighed.
''What a rollercoaster this is. And all that in one weekend."
"Tell me, if grandma hears that you're moving in, you won't be able to get rid of her." Arnold laughed.
''I love your grandma! She's so funny and full of zest for life!'' Helga chuckled.
''Arnold... Helga... Even in hard times, stick together. Promise me that.'' Miriam said with a smile.
"Promise!" Arnold and Helga said at the same time.
Oh yes, Living together means more things to think off. How to hide it from your classmates, that's mission number 1 for now! XD