ONE DAY AT A TIME

Written by: Joei Cassidy

Betty was in her new flat in London, nervously waiting for Daniel. He had called as promised and now she was waiting for him so that they could go to dinner.

They both decided something casual was what they were in the mood for, so Betty had suggested that they go to the bistro around the corner from her flat. Daniel had agreed. He said he'd come by for her at eight o'clock. It was now five minutes of eight and Betty had been long ready.

Now she sat in her couch, her TV on, but ignored, just waiting for him. "Why am I nervous?" She thought, biting her nails, something she hadn't done in a long time. "This is Daniel. We used to have dinner practically every night together. This shouldn't be a big deal."

But it was a big deal. She didn't want to admit it, but it was. Ever since she ran into Daniel this morning, she had been distracted. What Mrs. Meade told her during her going away party kept playing in her mind like a scratched CD. Well, okay, she didn't put it in so many words, but it was obvious what she meant. Mrs. Meade thought that her son had developed feelings for Betty. Romantic feelings.

Betty didn't believe it then but now she didn't know what to think. She didn't want to hope. Hope? Was she really hoping that Mrs. Meade was right? Betty sighed and she glanced at the clock again. It was only 7:57 pm.

She resumed her inner monologue. Daniel was here in London. Daniel gave up his position as co-editor in chief in Mode. He was in London. The same city she was and he was taking her to dinner – on their first official date. Date? What this a date? Or was she just reading too much into his invitation because of what Claire Meade had told her?

Just then, the intercom buzzed. Her reverie was broken. She abruptly stood up and with one giant step she was at the intercom, buzzing Daniel in. A minute later, there was a knock on her door. She took one last look at herself in the mirror, took a deep breath and opened the door.

She took in the sight before her - of Daniel standing there, holding a plant. A bonsai tree. And of course, of Daniel looking gorgeous as always wearing dark jeans and a thick gray sweater.

A sudden thought popped into her head. "I wonder how it'd be like to kiss him."

Shocked that she had even thought that, she shook herself mentally and then to cover up the embarrassment she felt she smiled brightly at Daniel. She hoped she hadn't blushed.

"Hey. You made it."

"Of course." Daniel replied. "This is for you." He handed her the bonsai tree. "House warming present."

"Thank you! Oh my God!" Betty clapped her hand over her mouth. "I'm being so rude. Come in, come in."

Daniel laughed and accepted her invitation by walking in. He took in her flat but most of all, he looked at Betty. She looked happy. And pretty. He guessed being happy makes one beautiful. He discreetly checked her out as she found a place for the tree. She was wearing a classically cut little black dress with a polka dot red belt. Her hair was loose around her shoulder in waves. Her makeup was natural. Her new glasses showed off her twinkling brown eyes. She really was a far cry from the girl who walked into Mode 4 years ago. Yet she was still the same girl - beautiful inside and out. He really was a lucky guy.

Suddenly he was aware that Betty was asking him something. "Oh I'm sorry, Betty." He laughed. "I think I'm still jet lagged. What did you say?

Betty laughed. "Yeah I hate jet lag. Makes me feel I don't know – like I'm an airhead. You get the duh feeling from it."

"I know what you mean. Anyway," he said, standing up, "Shall we go?"

"In a minute, Daniel. Please sit down. I want to ask you something first." The smile she had earlier was replaced by a serious expression.

Daniel sat back down and looked at her intently, replied, "Sure. What is it Betty?"

She looked at him straight in the eye, not saying anything for one moment. Daniel looked at her right back. Her brown eyes searched his blue ones as she asked, "Is this is a date?"

Daniel was speechless at the blunt question at first but then he realized he had been expecting it. Mistaking his silence for the negative, Betty started to stand up and apologize. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have assumed…it's just that..."

"Yes it is."

Betty stopped and then looked at him again, sitting back down and repeated, "It is?"

"Yes Betty, it is."

Betty was silent again and now Daniel was the one who started to think he made a fool of himself. He began to second guess his answer and said, "Well, unless you don't want it…"

"No I want it to be a date." Betty interrupted him, and Daniel looked up and saw that she was now smiling.

He smiled back. And all at once the atmosphere in the room was lighter and a whole lot happier.

"Great." Daniel paused and then took a deep breath before speaking again. "Actually, I guess it would be better to tell you this now before anything. You see… Betty to be honest, uh, I came to London not just to find myself but also because of something my mom told me."

"Go on."

He took her hands into his and Betty didn't resist. "She told me the reason I couldn't say goodbye, that I had such a hard time letting you go is because I had feelings for you – not just friendly feelings but romantic ones – romantic feelings."

He paused. Betty didn't say anything this time but just waited for him to continue.

Now it was his blue eyes that searched her brown ones. "Betty, I think she's right."

At that, Bety tried to interrupt him. But Daniel put up his hand and said, "No, please let me finish. Betty, you know I just lost Molly and I just gave up my job. And I really don't know where I'm going to be in the next week or the next year. But I do know this. I know that I came to London to find you – to see what we can be. Because you and I made a great team – whether as boss and assistant or as friends, you know me and I feel I know you. Now, I just want to discover if we could still be a great team – but as more - to each other. But I don't want to rush into anything. I want to take this one day at a time. After all, you are also starting just starting a new career and a new life here too and I don't want to hold you back in any way. So, I hope you're okay with taking this slow, because I can't even think of what I would do, if you are not."

Daniel paused again and took another deep breath, still holding Betty's hands in his, still looking at her directly. "So what do you say?"

Betty looked down on their hands that were clasped together. Her eyes had misted over beneath her glasses. After a moment, she raised her head and she smiled that big gorgeous smile of hers. "I would love that. I'd love to see where this goes because I know I've always wondered too, to be honest."

"Really?" Daniel's blue eyes were sparkling.

"Yes really." Betty affirmed in a tender, soft tone but with conviction.

Happiness flooded within him and impulsively, Daniel leaned forward and gave her soft, gentle kiss before pulling back. They gazed into each other's eyes, both had smiles on their faces.

"Anyway…" Betty spoke up, "Your mom talked to me too, you know." She smirked remembering Mrs. Meade's expression and the way she had told her about her "theory".

"She did not!" Daniel exclaimed, but he gave a little snort of laughter.

"Yeah, she did but I'll tell you about it at dinner!" Betty riposted. "I'm starving!"

"You better."

"I will." Betty grinned at him.

"Shall we?" Daniel asked.

Betty nodded and replied, "We shall. And Daniel?"

"Yeah?"

"I really am glad you're here."

Daniel smiled. "So am I."

They stood up and as they walked out the door, Daniel offered her his hand. Betty looked at it for a quick moment, and then smiling, took it in hers.

***