Daphne stayed for a bit longer and reassured the rest of the family that physically Hector was going to be fine; but she was blunt about the fact that he wasn’t doing well emotionally. After letting them all know that she would convey their love to him, she departed hastily, saying that she had left Hector alone for as long as she dared. Helen walked her to the door.
“Did Hector see you in Pandora’s shape on the beach tonight?” she asked her mother quietly when they got to the front door.
“No. And he can never know,” Daphne said, staring at Helen intensely. “You and I are the only family he has now and he needs to trust me. You both do.”
Helen knew her mother had risked her life to help Hector, but the way Helen saw it, trust was something that was earned, not something that another person could demand from her. Even if that person was her own mother.
“I’ll be in touch with you over the next few days to let you know what the plan is,” Daphne promised as she took her bag down off the hook and opened the door.
“One last thing?” Helen asked as she held the door open. “I’ll stay quiet about what I saw on the beach if you agree to release Jerry from the influence of the cestus. You never loved him, but Kate does, and I think it’s about time you let someone in your life be happy, don’t you?”
Daphne stared at Helen, shocked that her obedient daughter had finally expressed a mind of her own, then looked off to the side distractedly, like she was listening to a faraway sound.
“It’s done,” she said in a brisk voice, snapping out of her momentary trance. “I can’t make any promises about his relationship with Kate working out, but Jerry’s heart is his own to give or to keep as he sees fit.”
“It’s about time,” Helen said coldly.
“All of this pain I’ve caused, I did it to protect you. And it worked. So I’m not sorry for any of it,” Daphne said, giving Helen a sad smile before turning and walking away.
Helen shut the door and wandered back to the rest of the family, forehead furrowed in thought. As soon as she stepped into the living room, Lucas’s head snapped around to look at her. He gestured for her to come to him. Although she knew it was the last thing that she should do, it was the only thing she wanted to do.
“I have to go home,” she told him as soon as she got to him, trying not to shake too much. “I left a good-bye note for my father on my desk when I thought...” She broke off and had to take a breath. “Anyway, I have to get rid of it before he wakes up and finds it. He’s been through too much already.”
Lucas balled his right hand into a fist and shoved it into his pocket. Helen had never seen him make that gesture before, and she realized he was doing it to stop himself from taking her hand.
“Let’s go, then,” Lucas said, turning his face away from hers.
“But I thought you and I were staying away from each other?” She broke off awkwardly.
Lucas shook his head decisively. “Creon had Pandora drag Daphne to that beach because he was going to take her off this island by boat. Which means he was supposed to rendezvous with someone out there on the water,” Lucas said, his expression steely. “When they realize that Creon is missing, they’re going to come looking for him, and when they don’t find him they’re going to come looking for Daphne—and then you. You’re in more danger now than you ever were and I don’t care how hard it is on either of us. I’m not letting you out of my sight for a second.”
“Well, what are we supposed to do then?” she nearly cried out, throwing her hands up in surrender. She had reached the end of her emotional and physical tether.
“Come on,” Lucas said grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the room. Everyone turned and looked at them, but they were too overwhelmed by the losses they had suffered to pay much attention to Helen’s outburst.
“I’m taking her home and staying there to watch over her,” Lucas barked at Ariadne, who was weeping quietly in a chair. As soon as they were outside they leapt in unison into the night sky.
The cold air was like a slap in the face. It knocked Helen out of her confused state and she realized that no matter what she had been through that day, Lucas had been through far worse. It was time to stop feeling sorry for herself and pay attention to him.
Moments later, they landed on Helen’s widow’s walk, and Lucas turned to her with an empty face, letting go of her hand.
“Go in. I’ll be fine up here,” he whispered. Helen took a step closer to him, but he just shook his head.
“I can’t come in,” he whispered, his voice breaking hopelessly. “I’ve lost too much today. I’m not strong enough.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m so sorry, Lucas.”
Helen wrapped her arms around his shoulders, wanting nothing but to console him. She held on to him, propping him up until Lucas was strong enough to stand on his own again. He eased himself away from Helen and gave her a small smile to let her know that he was better.
“Wait here a sec. I have to let my dad know I’m home.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Lucas promised.
Helen flew down to the front yard and noticed that Kate’s car was still parked in the driveway. She landed and went in the front door, not at all sure what she was going to say or do. She found her dad sleeping on the couch in the living room, sat down next to him, and shook him gently until he woke. Jerry looked relieved for about two seconds, then sat up and sighed at Helen in disappointment.
“You know what you put me through, right?” he asked, heartbroken. Helen felt so guilty she couldn’t meet his eyes. She just nodded her head. “You’d better start explaining.”
Helen thought about how so many people in her life already knew what she was, and for just a moment she considered telling her father everything. But if she opened that can of worms she’d also have to tell him Daphne was back, and she couldn’t bring herself to do that. Not after she had finally released him from his unnatural attachment to her. For the first time in almost two decades, Jerry had the chance to have a real life with a woman who actually loved him in return. Helen wouldn’t allow anything to endanger that.
