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Daniel and Betty were in the back of the town car going back to Betty's house after Daniel had taken Betty out. Betty turned towards Daniel
'Thanks Daniel for taking me out tonight. I know you must have had plans and you changed them for me."
"Not really" Daniel said as he shrugged his shoulders "it was just going to be me in that big old apartment. So if anything, you did me a favour" Daniel said as he smiled at Betty
Betty smiled at him and then turned back to look outside the window.
Betty stared out the window of the car across from Daniel who was also looking out his window. Betty glanced at him and then returned her gaze to the window. She knew Daniel kept stealing glances her way and in her mind it was comforting, to know that he cared. It was one of the things she loved about their relationship, they both knew what eachother needed. He knew she needed her time to think about things, knowing he was beside her silently offering his support. He didn't feel the need to fill the air with conversation, he generously afforded her the luxury of sitting with him without having to say anything. Betty smiled to herself, even though nothing was being said between them, at the same time it spoke volumes.
Betty thought of Henry and how much her relationship with Henry was so much different than her relationship with Daniel. Daniel seemed to know her so much more than Henry did. It wasn't that Henry didn't try, he did, but with Daniel it was easier, he didn't have to try, he just in his own way- knew.
Betty's thoughts wandered to Henry. She couldn't understand why she was feeling so much ever since he left. She knew he was leaving, she had prepared herself for it, but somehow it still hurt. It hurt more than she had wanted to admit. She really hadn't talked to anyone about Henry. Everyone in her family, in their own way had tried to make her feel better about Henry leaving but she just couldn't find herself being able to talk about it with them. She didn't want to admit to anyone how she felt about Henry leaving.
"I thought he would stay" Betty said so quietly, Daniel almost didn't hear her.
"What?" Daniel asked as he turned towards her
Betty looked away from the window and turned towards Daniel
"I thought Henry would have stayed. I thought the past few months would have changed his mind about things" Betty said
Daniel remained quiet, silently letting Betty continue
"I know he's having a kid, but somehow I thought maybe it would work out"
Daniel paused for a moment and then quietly said "I don't think you did anything wrong Betty. If anything I think Henry should have been the one to put a stop to things"
"What?" Betty looked at him surprised at what he had said
Daniel looked at her, "what I mean is, well, if I were Henry I would have broken it off with you"
Betty looked at Daniel surprised at him 'what" she asked as tears started to form in her eyes.
"I just feel that if you love someone you should protect them, I wouldn't want you to be hurt and feeling the way you are now, knowing that in a few months you would feel that way, well I would sacrifice my happiness to make sure you don't feel that way. That's why I think Henry should have broken it off."
Daniel saw the tears starting to form in her eyes "I'm sorry Betty- I shouldn't have.." but before he could finish his sentence, Betty reached out and drew him into a tight hug. As Daniel wrapped his arms around her, Betty said softly 'Thank you".
Daniel smiled to himself and wrapped his arms tighter around her.
They stayed like that for a few minutes until Betty released him and moved back to her seat.
When the car pulled up along Betty's house, Betty reached out to grab her bag and then looked at Daniel
"I wish everyone could see the side of you that I see." she said softly and then quickly reached for the door and exited the car. Before Daniel could say anything she was gone and as he sat in the car as it drove along to his house, Daniel thought about what she said and the evening they had spent together.