“Don’t be a petulant child.” Peggy admonished her daughter.

“What is she doing here? Where are the children?” Helena ignored Peggy and questioned Winnie. But Peggy is not one to be ignored.

“Is that any way to greet your dear mother whom you haven’t seen in almost two years? I thought you’d be pleased with the surprise.”

“You know I don’t like surprises mother. I never did, even as a child. Where are my children?” She again turned to Winnie, but Peggy answered.

“I’m surprised you are showing so much concern for their whereabouts when you’ve been known to leave them with virtual strangers whenever they’ve been in your charge. You don’t have to worry they are perfectly safe, being looked after by family.”

“What family? They don’t have any family here.”

“Well they do now that I’m back.”

“Mother, how did you even know that we’d be here?”

“I called Winnie to see how the children were doing and she mentioned you two were meeting so I invited myself along.”

“It really was a coincidence Helena. Peggy called right after we hung up this morning. I was thrilled to hear that she was in Los Angeles and of course the children wanted to see her. We spent all morning together at the Peabody mansion and got the opportunity to meet Bette and Emma. The kids took to them right away. I had no qualms about leaving them in their care. They are both going to make wonderful parents when the baby is born.”

Helena tried not to react to the fact that the kids were with Bette and Emma or that Peggy had referred to them as family. Instead she focused on what she considered to be Winnie’s trickery in luring her into this trap.

“You could have told me Winnie. I don’t like being blindsided like this.”
“Your mother asked me not to tell you.”

“I thought it would be more fun to surprise you dear especially when I heard all the things you’ve been up since I left.”

“What things?”

“We’ll get to that later dear. First I want to address this custody battle between you and Winnie. I understand things are getting ugly between the two of you. I won’t have that Helena.”