Betty stretched and rolled over in bed to look at the clock. She was surprised to see that it was after eight because she knew the rummage sale had already started. As she laid there, the events of the evening before played in her head and she let out a loud sigh. At least she had been too tired to be plagued by dreams last night.
There was a light knock at the door and her father walked in.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, dad." She glanced at the clock and then at him. "Why did you let me sleep late ? Hasn't the sale started already ?"
"Yeah, but last night you seemed like you needed some extra rest. I've been sitting with Hilda for the sale. Is everything OK ?"
She scooted over as he sat down on the bed next to her. She smiled; that smile she always had no matter if everything was okay or not. He loved that smile.
"It will be."
"Well, you know if you need to talk, I'm here."
"I know. Maybe later. I should get up and go relieve Hilda, I'm sure she wants to walk down the street and look at what everyone else has for sale."
Her dad leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"Okay, but take your time, I am sitting with her."
"Thanks, dad."
Her father left the room and she sighed again and quietly summoned him to leave her thoughts today.
"Please, Henry."
She got up out of bed and quickly threw the covers together before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Outside, the streets were lined with neighbors out for the annual sidewalk rummage sale. Every year, a couple of months after the holidays they had this sale to get rid of the old and make room for the new. It was a tradition in many Brooklyn neighborhoods and they usually took turns with weekends. Hilda was snuggled up in two blankets determined not to let this year's colder than normal weather ruin her good mood. The sun was doing a good job of quickly melting away the snow from their last winter weather event and the high temperature today was supposed to get to a bearable 50 degrees. She turned her head as her father headed out the front door.
"Is she coming, I want to go down the street to check something out that Justin saw ?"
"Be patient, Hilda, she's coming. I told you, something happened last night. And, it is still on her mind this morning. I tried to talk to her but, I'm her dad and I think it is something to do with a boy. "
Hilda laughed.
"A boy, dad ? She's 22, she's not a child with a crush you know. I bet it is that Henry guy at her work."
"Maybe. Why don't you try to talk to her when she does come out ? And try to be supportive."
"I'm always supportive."
Ignacio looked at her.
"Hilda."
She sighed.
"Okay, okay, I'll try to talk to her. And I'll be supportive."
"Thank you."
Ignacio sat down in the chair next to her and Hilda sat back in her chair and pulled the covers closer. She wondered what was going on with Betty. She hadn't really talked to her since she had broken up with Walter and she did want to be there for her in times like this since their mother couldn't be. Maybe she could get her dad to watch Justin tonight and she would get Betty to go out for a drink.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Betty walked downstairs dressed for the chill that was surely still in the air from last night. She grabbed a mug and got some coffee before heading out the front door. She just hoped she could keep Hilda from giving her the 3rd degree.
Ignacio heard the door open and got up from his chair.
"Here ya go, it's all warm for you."
"Thanks, dad. Sorry, Hilda for being late, you should have woken me."
Hilda looked at her sister to reply and she could tell her dad was right, something was up with Betty. She looked like she had just lost her best friend.
"It's okay, dad kept me company."
"Crap." Betty thought to herself, "She knows."
Betty smiled and leaned back in the chair with the covers her dad had left her and closed her eyes letting the sun give her strength. It was still chilly out but there was something in the light of the sun that always made her feel stronger, more alive.
She heard Hilda get up from her chair and open the front porch door, yelling into the house.
"Dad, I'm gonna go walk down the street."
Betty heard a muffled reply from her father and then Hilda coming back down the steps. She still didn't want to open her eyes.
"I'm going to walk down and look around, see where Justin is. Dad will be out in a minute to keep you company."
Betty squinted her eyes open slightly.
"Okay, anything I should know ?"
"Mrs. Murdoch wants that end-table and I told her $10 firm, don't let her talk you down."
Betty smiled.
"Okay, have fun."
Hilda smiled and left. Yes, she would have to get Betty out tonight and talk to her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Henry woke up to the smell of breakfast and the sounds of singing from the other room.
Charlie.
Betty.
He groaned. How had this happened ? He had like Betty from the moment he met her. There was an energy, a life-force that just glowed from her; especially that smile. It made him smile just thinking about it. It just never seemed like things were going anywhere with her. He was certain she had felt something between them but she had a boyfriend.
He had tried but she was with Walter and seemed to be making that work. If he was honest, after the Christmas party and then the unreturned phone call, he had gone home for the holidays just to try and get her out of his mind
His mother had invited Charlie over for dinner while he was there and while he knew it probably wasn't a good idea they had spent more time together. She was his first real girlfriend but she had broken up with him when he moved to New York saying that the city was not for her.
He had been heart-broken at the time and felt more alone than ever when he had first come to the city. But, then he had embraced it and had landed a great job right away at Meade thanks to a college buddy that was leaving and had the opportunity to recommend a replacement.
He spent a year, nose to the grind, working his way through the accounting department until he was promoted to senior accountant over the magazine division. He still had his hands in the day to day, which is how he met Betty in the first place. It hadn't taken him long to realize there was a connection. She had lived in New York her entire life, yet in some ways she seemed to be experiencing the newness of life and its opportunities just like he had. He could see the eagerness to please in everything she did. Yet, she had none of the cynicism of working in an industry based on the superficial. He prided himself in that as well.
He had been disappointed when she had requested they go to see Wicked as friends, but at the same time, he admired her loyalty to her boyfriend. And, then Charlie had shown up. It wasn't that he was disappointed, he cared about her. It was just that he felt he had moved on. Seeing her during the holidays had been a nice distraction but as far as he knew she will still against living in the city. Apparently, she had changed her mind.
"Sweetie, are you going to get up, I made breakfast."
She had stuck her head into the room while he had been lost in the thought. He looked at her smiling from the entry and smiled back.
"Yes, it smells wonderful, I'll be right there."
She smiled and bounded back out of the room. Ever since her subway experience last night she had been a new person. Whatever fear she had of the city had vanished. Yet, the almost kiss he had shared with Betty had confused him more than ever. She had broken up with Walter. His heart had leapt at the thought.
But then, he had remembered and decided that he had to give this thing with Charlie a chance and he had to let Betty go. His only regret was that he hadn't kissed Betty, hadn't felt that one moment before Charlie had shown up. He had told her it was not a good idea and it wouldn't have been given the new situation but he still wished he had the memory.
"Henry !"
"Coming….."
Fate was awesome.