Helena smiled inside, proud of her love but still beyond annoyed with her mother.  ‘We don’t need a pre-nup, we’re not getting divorced!’ said Helena.

‘Oh don’t be naive Helena, sometimes things simply don’t work out but you’re right you don’t need a pre-nup.  I’ve met enough harlets and chancers over the years to know that our Alexa isn’t one of them.  If you were to be foolish enough to split with her we’ll give her ten million, I doubt she’d challenge for anymore.’

‘Glad to see your marriage blessing comes with discussion of our divorce settlement mummy,’ said Helena and rolled her eyes.

‘Did you ever consider I’m simply looking out for your best interests?  You’re an heiress Helena, these things have to be discussed.’

‘Any discussion is between myself and Alexa, she’ll think you think she’s a gold digger now.’

‘Actually she took it rather well Helena.  Unlike you she doesn’t take every comment I make as a personal attack.  Besides it was a footnote to the conversation mostly we talked about you.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes,’ Peggy hesitated, looking at her beautiful daughter, remembering her conversation with Alexa, determined to reach out to her.  ‘She loves you very much you know darling.’

‘As I do her,’ said Helena her voice softening.

‘Alexa told me about that shelter you’ve been funding.  And that you’ve been organising a charity event with Alice for that gay youth centre.’

Helena just looked at her strangely, not used to her mother’s interest in her life outside work without the air of disdain in her voice.

‘So when and where are you wanting to have this wedding?’ asked Peggy, trying another line of conversation.

‘No idea, soon hopefully but as to where I don’t know. I have a few ideas but I haven’t discussed them with Alexa yet.’

‘Well apparently she doesn’t care how you do it just as long as she gets to be your wife and she doesn’t have to go anywhere near a church.’

‘She told you all that?’ asked Helena, amused.

‘Yes…she’s a good girl Helena, I’ve seen you with some disastrous dalliances over the years but this one really is worth hanging on to.’

Helena caught the distinct note of approval in Peggy’s voice and was pleased despite herself.  ‘It’s a shame her parents probably won’t be there,’ said Helena, confiding something herself.

‘Why ever not?’

‘They don’t approve of her being a lesbian and certainly not of her leaving her life there to move here with me.’

‘How preposterous,’ said Peggy.  ‘They’ll come around, perhaps I could write to her mother.’

‘You’d do that for us?’

Peggy smiled.  ‘Yes Helena. I know what’s its like when you make mistakes that hurt your child, pride builds on both sides and she starts to mistakenly believe that you don’t care and then you have to spend years trying to find the right moment to let her know just how proud you are of the woman she’s become.’

For Helena it was such a unexpectedly poignant moment that she couldn’t find the words to respond

Peggy watched the emotions flicker across her daughter’s face, wishing that shock wasn’t one of them.  She was glad they’d had this talk but she didn’t want to push Helena too far in one day.  ‘I should probably go and meet Randolph,’ said Peggy and got up from her chair.

An awkward moment passed between them until Helena, wrapped an arm around Peggy and hugged her briefly.  The hardened, manipulative business woman fought to stop tears from springing into her eyes as she returned Helena’s embrace, until they broke apart and she turned around to leave the room.

‘The wedding’s all on me of course Helena,’ Peggy said, ‘I’ll see to it that you and Alexa get everything you want.’

Helena nodded in thanks.  ‘You know Alexa and I are having this sort of very small engagement party with a few friends tonight, it’s nothing formal and I’m sure you have plans but if you don’t and you wanted to come, well….I’m sure Alexa would like to see you there.  I mean we’d both like to see you there.’

 ‘I don’t have plans, I’ll see you later Helena.’

Peggy picked up her phone as she left the office. 

‘Brian cancel my dinner date tonight.’

‘Something come up?’

‘Just spending some time with my family,’ Peggy said and felt a warmth spread within her just by using the words.