“I am Tiffany Morrow and a three letter-wielding and card-carrying anthropologist,” she said, closing the door and looking back at Helen.“Are you aware of what an anthropologist does?”
“You study humankind, biological, cultural and social aspects of what it means to live and survive on this planet,” Helen said.“Are you published?”
“I am.I’ve written a few textbooks, papers, yaddah yaddah,” she said, looking at the housekeeper.“Bella, please take Helen's things to the guestroom.Helen, join me for a tour.”
Helen glanced briefly at Bella, taking note of a few major features she wouldn't comment about, but they were noticeable.It took less than 20 seconds for Helen to change her mind about every negative thought she had about the woman.The first thing Tiffany Morrow, PhD showed Helen was a living room with three separate spaces, all which faced floor to ceiling bookcases, which were filled with reference materials on everything from cyber security, home remedies, thrillers and even a romance section.Windows and glass doors so clean and bright showcased the Winter landscape over decking covered in white powder.She pointed to the romance novels.
“That is Bella's section; although she pretends not to read the smut on the page, I have noticed the replacement of some of the spines,” she said in a droll tone.“We read, but we don't judge.”
“The lighting here is amazing,” Helen said.
“Only during the day.At night, I find it rather creepy,” Tiffany said.“There are three decks out there for better weather, to sun, soak, or sit and read.This way, please.”
They went up the stairs to the sleeping quarters, Tiffany, showing Helen the room where she would be staying.She also showed Helen her room, which over the years didn’t seem to have changed much based on the style of the bedding.Tiffany sighed as Bella went into what Helen assumed was the master bedroom and closed the door.
“I am here in this room,” Tiffany said.“It has a Jack and Jill bathroom, and the second bedroom I use for my office.The office serves as a workspace for the Technician portion of my life as well as where I hold my virtual classes.The bathroom across the hall will be for your use.Bella has the master bedroom and her own bathroom, so, please tidy up after yourself.This way, please.”
Tiffany led Helen down the stairs to a small alcove off the main room, which held a table and a comfortable, bright blue butterfly chair surrounded by vibrant green plants.A floor to ceiling window lit the room, and at the end of space, near a table with four straight back chairs, stood a winding staircase.
“The staircase,” Helen inquired, “where does that lead?”
“To the fitness room and sauna,” she said.“Honestly, it is dated workout equipment that looks like it came from the cellars of the Biltmore, but they work and get results.Why replace what already works.”
“Good enough,” Helen replied.
They stopped in front of the large windows.Helen remained quiet, giving them space to settle the thing which would either piss one of them off and set the tone for three very long months, locked inside the winter wonderland.Tiffany looked at her.
“I hear good things about you.What is your specialty?You look like a housewife, and based on that SUV, evidently Azrael thinks it matches this personality as well.Tell me, Helen, what I don't know,” Tiffany said.
Helen paused, turning to face her.“I am still in training.I have no idea what I will learn with three months of your skillful mastery in cyber, so saying I have a specialty when I am still learning is a bit presumptuous,” Helen said, trying to ease into the new relationship.
“Bullshit and horse puckey sandwiches,” Tiffany said.“Jesús didn't agree to training you and Azrael investing in you to just wait and see.What are you good at doing, Helen?”
Helen didn’t like being put in the spot, which is what the lady was doing.There would be no easy way around this, so she would creep into it and hope it didn’t get her thrown out of the house.“I dunno; reading people seems to work.”
“Oh really?An example of this skill of yours?”
“Honestly, it’s nothing like that.I simply piece together bits of visual information that most people miss and use it to start a conversation,” Helen said.“The conversation lowers inhibitions and people talk to me.”
Tiffany Morrow had three university earned letters behind her name that stated by the State of Minnesota, she was qualified to understand the historical development of humankind.She studied humankind and cultural norms for a living.This slip of a woman had walked into her home with too much attitude for Tiffany’s liking, and not enough information on her via social media to get a handle on what she was about — which was also not her liking.
“So, Helen, what have you observed thus far on your new surroundings?”she asked, adding a bit of snark to her words.
Helen sighed deeply, not wanting to start the relationship like this, putting Sour Grapes on the defensive, but she sure as hell wasn't about to spend three months being patronized by the Chair of The Junior League.She looked about the home.
“This house belonged to your parents,” she said.“The old gym equipment was inherited by your father from his father.You personally don't like the house, but it is familiar to Bella, which is the reason why you stay.Since there are no photos anywhere in the home, I would deduce Bella is related to you, as either an aunt or possibly your mother.She's serving as your housekeeper to keep her in a space familiar to her doing tasks which are mentally easier for her to handle on a daily basis.The scar on the back of her neck indicates a brain trauma of some sort.She also sleeps in the master bedroom, and you sleep in the room you've had since you were a child.The dynamics are in place to keep everything running smoothly, but the least little thing can trigger her, making for an extremely hard night.It is also wearing on you to be the sole caregiver for Bella, which has created a weariness in your eyes you can no longer disguise even though you don't deal with people in person.”
Helen finished what she had to say and turned to see Bella entering the room and announcing lunch was ready.
“Thank you, Ms.Bella,” Helen said.“Are Tiffany and I having tea today as well with our lunch?I would love a hot tea.”
“We have hot tea,” Bella said, looking at Helen.
“I am Helen.I'm Tiffany's bestie,” she told Bella.“She said I could stay for a while working with her on the new project.I promise to be no trouble and stay out of your way and definitely not make a mess.”
Bella nodded and left the room.Helen turned to look at Sour Grapes, whose facial expression she couldn't read.Then her body physically relaxed.Tiffany had nothing to say as she led the way to the dining room where the table was simply set.Bella served the food and departed.
Helen took a seat at the table, looking over the well-prepared meal.At least here, she wouldn't have to cook.On occasion, the things she liked to eat she would purchase and make for herself or even the three of them to give Bella a break, if need be, but more than anything, it seemed Tiffany Morrow needed a break as well.
