Sitting now, he observed his sister, the way she would shake out her hair and how her expression would slowly slip from her face while her brain divulged into some hidden and perhaps forbidden thoughts. A nine-year marriage to a man and no previous involvement with any female, one might assume, would be enough proof that Helena was not the slightest bit gay. 

Perhaps it was that hidden, boyish part of himself, the side that got excited by the possibilities of who else was gay around him, that caused Andrew to ponder excessively on these thoughts. He had wanted to ask her about what had happened before he arrived home with Peter and the kids, but Helena had done very well in avoiding eye-contact and conversation and he was curious as to how long she could hold up her silence for. Andrew knew his sister well, and if she did not want to talk about something, she wouldn’t. He let out a grudging sigh and dropped his eyes back down to the paper in his hands, determined to stick out the weight without encroaching on his sister’s comfort, though if she didn’t allow him to speak to her about it soon he feared he would do just that. 

Feeding her fingers through her hair, silently reprimanding herself for trying to recreate the sensation Dylan had provoked in her the day before, Helena sighed and slumped into her chair. The children could be heard playing outside with Peter, who had earlier that morning arrived home with a large paddling pool. Peter stated he was borrowing it from a friend while they went on vacation, and since Nicky and Leah were staying he thought he’d ask if he might bring it back to his while they were away. The distant sound of running water could be heard as the paddling pool was filled up, and Peter telling the children it would take ages yet until the pool was ready, though that news did not seem to deter their excitable laughter and skittish splashing. 

Glancing away from the window, where she could vaguely see Peter standing with a hose pipe and the children skipping around him, Helena turned to face her brother. A blush reddened her chest as soon as she did, and the Brit took in a deep breath to try and calm the redness before it reached her cheeks. Andrew watched her curiously and, for a second, Helena thought he was going to glance back down at his paper, though it seemed luck was not in her favour this morning. Smiling slightly, Andrew asked, “You okay?” Helena nodded, offering him her own smile, and glanced down at the table.