The white corridors of the Mode building echoed with the sounds of a dying day. People were packing up to head home and the steady hum of the workday was gradually fading into soft silence. Betty stood in the hallway leading to Daniel's office, just out of sight. From the safety of the shadows, she watched him working diligently at his desk. She had been waiting here for ten minutes, trying to work up the courage to go in and talk to him. It wasn't something she knew if she could do, but she had no other choice.

With more than a little effort, she pushed herself forward, hesitating a few times before forcing herself to walk the short distance to his office. She knocked softly on the open door. Daniel looked up, his serious expression warming instantly into a smile when he realized it was Betty.

"Hey," he said cheerfully. "I thought you'd gone home."

"No, not yet," she responded, nerves evident in her voice. "Daniel, do you have a minute? I need to talk to you about something."

"Of course," he said, pushing his work aside and gesturing for her to sit down. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," she said hesitantly. "Well, sort of."

Daniel came around the desk and sat in one of the orange chairs directly in front of her.

"Betty, what is it?" He urged her gently.

Betty dropped her gaze to the floor, not knowing quite how to begin. This was one of those moments you could never quite prepare for.

"Daniel," she started. "You know I've been meeting a lot of new people in my YETI classes."

"Of course," he agreed. "You're always so excited when you get back. You can barely contain yourself. I have to admit, I get really excited for you when I hear about it."

"Oh," Betty smiled. "I'm glad all my chatter doesn't bother you. I know I get pretty talkative after a good class."

"Not in the least," Daniel assured her. "I'll always want to hear about your day."

Betty looked up at him, not sure if she could continue.

"What is it, Betty?" Daniel's eyes were kind and understanding.

"Well, about a month or so ago I got the chance to meet the editor of Seventeen Magazine," she began tentatively.

"Ann," Daniel said nodding his head. "I've had the opportunity to meet her myself. She's a very smart woman."

"Yes, I thought so too," Betty agreed. "I really thought highly of her and well, I guess she had a good first impression of me too."

"I'm sure she did," said Daniel without hesitation.

"Well, she . . . she contacted me again recently."

Daniel nodded supportively and waited for Betty to continue.

"Daniel, she's offered me a job," Betty confessed.

Daniel leaned back in his chair, his face unreadable. "Oh," he managed to respond. "Betty, that's . . . I don't know . . . How is that?"

"It's good. Actually, it's really good. I think it's an amazing opportunity," Betty admitted.

"What kind of job is it?" Daniel still seemed a bit stunned.

"I'd be working as the assistant to the celebrity fashion editor. Not only that, but she wants me to be in training as a writer."

"Wow," said Daniel soberly. "That really does sound amazing."

"Yeah," Betty agreed, feeling guilty that she was the source of the sorrow now apparent in Daniel's eyes.

"I always knew this day would eventually come. I guess I just wasn't ready for it." Daniel appeared to be working things out in his head. "At least you wouldn't be that far away," he said hopefully.

"Actually," Betty began reluctantly. "The job is in Los Angeles."

"What?" Daniel's face went white.

"The job she's offering me is out of their Los Angeles offices," Betty confirmed. "You know; young Hollywood fashion, a town full of movie stars. I guess it all makes sense."

"I guess it does," he agreed sadly.

Daniel's eyes searched the floor like he was hoping to find the answer there.

"Betty," he said softly. "You have to do what ever is best for you. If this is what you want, far be it for me to stand in your way."

"Thank you, Daniel."

"So I suppose you'll need to discuss it with your family before you make any final decisions," he added after a short pause.

"I already have," Betty said timidly.

Daniel looked up at her in surprise. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could find the words, Betty spoke again.

"Daniel, I've accepted the offer," she said quickly, hoping that the truth would be less painful if delivered swiftly.

"I see," Daniel managed to say after a moment, his face a mixture of emotions.

A second later, he reached out a hand toward Betty and tried to take her hand in his. Panicking, Betty jumped up from her seat, avoiding his touch.

"That's why I'm here, Daniel. I'm giving you my two weeks notice," she blurted out and stumbling away from the chair and out of Daniel's reach, she hurried toward the door.

She stopped just inside the door, catching herself on the frame. She turned her head over her left shoulder, but did not look directly at him.

"I'm so sorry, Daniel," she said, her voice shaking.

As she ran from the room, Daniel swore he saw a tear escape the corner of her eye; the same tear that now trailed its way down his cheek, landing in his open, empty hand.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Daniel knocked loudly on the large, ornate wooden door. Taking a step back, he wrapped his coat even tighter around him. The air had turned cold and the wind gusted angrily around him.

After a moment, he heard the lock click and a warm glow fell upon him as the door opened. On the other side, the tall, slender figure of Claire Meade appeared. As she laid eyes on her visitor, she stared at him in surprise.

"Daniel," she said in amazement. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Mom," he said solemnly. "I need to talk to you."

Claire looked taken aback, but nevertheless was happy to see her son, so she ushered him in from the cold. They made their way into the large, lavishly furnished sitting room and took a seat on the sofa.

"So what is it you need to talk to me about?" Claire asked, scrutinizing her son's face.

Daniel looked up at her, brow furrowed, not sure where to begin.

"I'm having a bit of an emotional crisis," he began, letting out a defeated sigh that was almost a laugh.

"I see," said Claire. "And what exactly would this crisis be?"

Daniel was staring down at his folded hands, finding it very difficult to meet his mother's inquiring gaze. Their family had never been much for having serious conversations. Emotion had always been something that was best kept inside. Breaking that habit wasn't going to be easy.

"It has to do with Betty," he finally admitted.

"Oh," said Claire with a hint of knowingness in her voice. She smiled at Daniel as he finally looked up, her eyes imploring him to continue.

"She gave me her two weeks notice today. She's moving to Los Angeles," he continued sadly.

"Wow," said Claire in surprise. "I had no idea she was looking to leave."

"Neither did I," agreed Daniel. "This whole thing kind of came out of left field."

"I guess so," said Claire. "So what did you say to her when she told you?"

"I told her she needs to do what's best for her," Daniel admitted, but he seemed unconvinced by his own words.

Claire placed her hand over Daniel's causing him to look her in the eyes.

"You don't want her to go," she said quietly. It wasn't really a question.

"No," he said in a voice so quiet, it was almost a whisper.

"It's just that we've been spending a lot more time together lately and it's been wonderful," he confessed. "I thought that something was happening, that we were . . . I don't know." Daniel looked frustrated and confused.

"Daniel," Claire began. "Does Betty know how you feel?"

"No," he admitted. "I'm not even sure I know how I feel."

"Oh, I think you do know," said Claire, squeezing her son's hand.

Daniel looked at her questioningly, but her expression said everything.

"Mom," he protested. "It's not my place to stop Betty from living the life she wants to live, the life she deserves. What kind of friend would I be if I tried to stop her from living her dream?"

"You can't stop her," said Claire matter-of-factly. "Betty's going to do whatever she wants to do, but before she makes her decision, don't you think she deserves to know how you feel?"

"I just don't want to screw up her life," Daniel said sincerely.

"How can telling someone you care about them screw up their life?" Demanded Claire.

"I don't want to confuse her," he said. "I don't want to stand in her way."

"But you care about her," repeated Claire.

"I more than just care about her, Mom," Daniel confessed.

"What then?" Claire urged him.

"I'm in love with her," Daniel whispered, his eyes beginning to glisten with tears.

Claire pulled her son into her arms, hugging him tightly the way she did when he was a small child. Daniel hugged his mother back, grateful for the shoulder to lean on.

"You're a wonderful man, Daniel," Claire said proudly. "Any woman would be lucky to have you love her. And you know how crazy I am about Betty. I couldn't love her more if she were my own daughter."

"Thanks, Mom," Daniel said embarrassed, his arms still wrapped tightly around her. "But I'm not sure how much of a catch I really am. She might be better off without me."

"How can you say that?" Claire demanded. "You're a good man, Daniel, and Betty needs to know how you feel."

"What if she leaves anyway?" Daniel asked fearfully.

"Then she leaves," said Claire. "But at least she would know the truth. Daniel, don't cheat yourself or Betty by not being honest with her."

"I'm scared," Daniel admitted. "I'm afraid of what's going to happen."

"True love is always a risky business," said Claire with a smile. "But once you find it, it's worth every bump and bruise it caused you along the way."

"I wish I could be as confident as you," Daniel laughed.

Claire pulled back so that she could look him in the eyes. Smoothing a hand over his hair, she smiled warmly at him.

"Everything is going to work out," she assured him. "It's hard to see that when you're in the middle of the storm, but trust me. Life has an uncanny way of working itself out."

"I hope you're right, Mom," Daniel smiled. "I hope you're right."