Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Helena rapped on the front door of her family home before letting herself in, announcing herself.
“Hey, Mom!” she called out.
“Oh, hey, sweetie, I’m in the kitchen!”
Helena passed her stepfather in the living room, working on his laptop. “Hey, Ray.” She offered a small wave.
“Good to see you, kiddo.”
Raymond’s name for her still stuck after all these years. Coming into her life in her elementary years, he brought his two children from a previous marriage with him. They were polar and spoiled opposites from her brother and herself.
“Honey, come taste this. I think it’s missing something.” Helena’s mother held out a spoonful of her homemade pasta sauce.
Helena walked into her parents’ large kitchen and took a bite.
“Hit it with some of this.” Helena passed her a seasoning among the spice cabinet she was sure her mother largely ignored, preferring bland foods.
“Good idea. I’m making it for tomorrow night. Ray is going to barbecue and I’m on the lasagna. Would you come? It’s been so long since we’ve all been together.”
Helena calculated her hours for the next day, sure she would be able to make it if she finished her last home in time.
“Yeah, I can come! I can’t promise I can bring anything but I’ll try.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that, just bring yourself. And maybe a special someone?”
Her mother always found subtle ways to ask about her love life, disappointed when she was told there was none for over a year. She didn’t have the heart to tell her exactly why, sure it would break her heart. Daniel was a secret she chose to keep to herself and so it would stay
“Well… I wanted to talk to you about that—”
“You met someone!” Her mother almost dropped her spoon in the sauce.
“Oh, really nice. What’s he like?” Raymond called from the couch.
“Well, that’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. I met him at the bookstore when I was studying for my next exam. I didn’t realize it at first—”
“You study too hard. And it’s so morbid!” Her mother shuddered. “I could never do it.”
Helena rolled her eyes. “Mom, focus.”
“Sorry, you met him at the bookstore and?”
“He’s in a wheelchair.” Helena shifted her weight, nervous about a bad reaction. Her family were generally kind people, just a bit awkward when it came to something that was different.
“Oh… I see. Well, I’m sure we can get him into the house… somehow. I think we have some wood planks around here somewhere to use for a ramp?”
Her mother shrugged, bless her heart.
Helena remembered his mention of a travel chair, but still wondered how she would get him in the house. Even so, it was short notice to ask this of Grayson.
“I would have to ask him, it’s a little short notice, Mom.”
“No pressure, sweetie, I’d love to meet him. Do you have pictures?”
Helena pulled out her phone, scrolling through one of the more recent ones of him.
“He’s so handsome! Ray, come and see!”
Her stepfather groaned as he pried himself from the couch, his bad knee probably screaming. He looked at the picture. “Seems nice. Oh, I have to call Jade, she wanted to tell me about something from work.” He kissed her mom on the top of the head, but ruffled Helena’s hair. “See you tomorrow, kid.”
And just like that, he was gone. Helena swallowed the hurt in her chest. His affection for her could only go so far.
“Well, ask him, sweetheart! It can’t hurt. I’m sure we can all pitch in and help him inside. There’s only a couple small steps.”
Helena reassured her mother she would ask Grayson, staying a little bit longer for a visit.
When she returned home, her fingers itched to call him.
“Hey, babygirl, how was your visit with your parents?”
“It was okay, umm listen. My mom asked if you would possibly want to come by tomorrow; they’re having a big dinner. I told her about you and she said there could be some planks around somewhere to get you in, but you don’t have to if it’s cutting it too close and it’s too much pressure and—”
“Baby, baby, calm down. I’d love to go.” He settled her down, somehow always knowing when her anxiety was spiking.
“Will we use the travel chair?”
“Yes, I’ll show you how to use it, don’t worry. As for getting in the house, you can tilt me back and lift, if that isn’t too much for you.”
Helena pictured him in her mind. He wasn’t a large man, and she figured she could do it with maybe a little help.
“Okay, I’ll come by in the morning?”
“Sounds good, get some rest okay? Wear something pretty for me tomorrow.”
Helena hummed “I thought you always thought I was pretty no matter what I wear.”
“You are, but you know what Daddy likes.”
His husky demand found its way to her core, making her thighs clench.
“Long skirt it is.”
“Good girl.”