“That’s total madness. Helena ‘Fucking’ Peabody is going after me because I talked to her mother? It’s not like it did any good. Peggy basically told me that it was out of her hands. She’d left the decision to Helena. I honestly believed that Peggy fully expected Helena to give us the grant as promised, so didn’t see a need to intervene. Next thing I know she’s off on her sabbatical with no way to reach her and I’m screwed.”

“Helena’s been jealous of your relationship with Peggy for years. Her mother was always praising your art acumen. Whenever we visited with the children, she would show off the new pieces that you curated for her personal collection. More than once she’s commented to Helena how she wished her own daughter had your sense of appreciation for art and beauty. It didn’t matter that her mother didn’t help you Bette. Just the fact that Peggy gave you an audience was enough. You crossed a line, and she feels betrayed.”

“So, all this acrimony against me is because of my relationship with Peggy?”

“Jealousy is the underlying reason, but don’t underestimate her immorality. Helena likes to fuck with people’s lives for sport. If she can rebel against her mother in the process, all the better. Once she turns against you, there is no limit to how far she’ll go. A couple of years ago she was forced to see a therapist, as a condition imposed by Peggy for some harassment suit that the Peabody lawyers made go away. The plaintiff got a settlement and Helena got therapy instead of jail-time. She was furious but had no choice but to go along. After a couple of sessions, she tried to bribe the therapist into reporting back to Peggy that she was not a threat to anyone. She claimed the occurrence was just a misunderstanding.

Of course, the therapist refused. Helena was showing obvious signs of a narcissistic personality disorder and pathological lying. When the therapist insisted, they continue the sessions, Helena became obstinate. They would sit for an entire hour and she wouldn’t say a word. The therapist would just try to wait her out but no results. Since the therapist had an obligation to report this behavior to Peggy, she mentioned it to Helena.