It took me forever, but here it is. This one's for all those who've helped me through it such as Angel, Purple, Beatrice and the rest of the bunch. Read, enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Chapter 9
As soon as Betty opened the door that night, she heard her family at the dining room table laughing and talking. Pangs of nervousness invaded her stomach as she realized that those familiar sounds would be so distant to her by tomorrow. Walking into the room, her family greeted her with surprise.
Around a mouthful of enchilada, Hilda said, "Betty, I thought you'd be stuffing yourself with ice cream crying over a movie right now."
"Is everything okay, mija?" Ignacio asked.
Betty sat down on her chair at the table. "Charlie went into premature labor. Henry's trying to get on a plane right now to fly back."
Justin's mouth dropped. "Is the baby going to be okay?"
Tears stung at her eyes as the emotion finally started to overwhelm her. "I don't know. He left before he told me anything."
Hilda took her sister's hand. "I'm sure Henry will call you as soon as he knows something."
Betty looked down at the table, sliding her hand from beneath Hilda's. "There's something else I have to tell you."
"What is it?" her father asked, worried.
"I…told Henry that I would go to Tucson."
Hilda shrugged. "Well, it will be expensive, but maybe it would be good to be with him for support."
Betty shook her head. "No, I mean I'm moving to Tucson."
They gasped in unison. "Have you lost your mind?" Ignacio nearly shouted.
"You can't move to Tucson!" Hilda cries.
"Aunt Betty, what about Mode?" Justin asked amidst the rest of his family's admonishments.
Flustered, she blurted, "I'm quitting Mode! I'm moving to Tucson! I want to be with Henry!"
Her father stared her down disappointedly. "You'd give up everything for this man? Someone who hasn't thought twice about moving away from you?"
She threw her hands up. "He has a baby to take care of! I'm not giving anything up. I'm just changing my dreams a bit."
"Betty, do you know how ridiculous that sounds?" Ignacio asked.
She shot off of her chair. "I'm leaving tomorrow."
Her family instantly stopped talking. "So soon?" Hilda asked quietly.
She nodded. "I wish I didn't have to leave you, but I need to be with Henry."
Ignacio's voice slid quietly through his gritted teeth. "You are being so childish. What would your mother think?"
Anger, hurt, and doubt overtook her. "Mom wanted me to find someone that loved me. She told me to keep a hold of that love." Her voice got higher and louder as she said, "And look at what you and she did! You ran to New York and got married!"
Now he stood, his face wrinkled with anger. "We were trying to save Rosa's life. Don't you dare compare this fantasy you've created in your head to what Rosa and I had."
Hilda put her hands up between them. "Basta, enough! Yelling at each other isn't going to make this any better or any easier."
Betty looked away and said, "I'm packing some stuff tonight and then I'm going to go find Daniel."
Ignacio, breathing more slowly, said in a calmer voice, "Please think this through, Betty."
Looking him in the eyes, she said, "I love you, Dad, but I have to go." She turned and went upstairs.
Hilda followed her into her bedroom. "Betty, are you sure about this?"
Betty pulled out her suitcase from her closet. As she put it on the bed and unzipped it, she said, "No, but I have to do it anyway."
Hilda went over to the bed and hugged her sister. "Then you should go. But if it doesn't work out, you can always come home."
Tears welled in Betty's eyes. "I know."
They continued to hug each other tightly in silence for several minutes.
…………………………………………
Daniel cursed when he heard the knock at the door. He had been licking his wounds from his breakup with Renee with a pretty blonde. He went to the door and opened it. "Betty, what are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you."
Glancing back towards the bedroom, he said, "Betty, I'm a little busy here."
"I'm quitting, Daniel."
He stared at her blankly. "What?"
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she stood in the hallway. She didn't want to tell him in this way. Walking past him, she went inside his apartment and began pacing. Rambling quickly, she said, "Charlie's having the baby. Henry's flying home now and I'm moving to Tucson tomorrow."
His eyes bulged. "Tomorrow? Betty, you must be joking."
All the air left her body, her shoulders sagging. "No, I'm going."
He plopped onto the couch, his face getting pale. "What about everything you've worked for?"
Defensively, she fought back. "What have I been working for, Daniel? I get your bagel every morning and make sure your dates are worth taking home every night."
He pointed a finger at her, saying, "You know that's not true. Your writing was starting to get great, Betty. You would be publishing soon if you stay here."
Doubt washed over her. She knew he was right. "Right now, Henry's more important than that."
He shook his head disappointedly. "So you're going to leave me unexpectedly without an assistant on Monday? After everything?"
She looked down at the floor as she came over and sat down next to him on the couch. "Amanda knows how to do my job. She's ready."
Tilting his head towards her, he said quietly, "We've got connections to a publishing company in Tucson. I can probably get you a job."
"Thank you, Daniel."
"What am I supposed to do without you?" he asked, barely able to breathe.
Putting her hand on his, she said, "I wish I didn't have to go."
Quickly, he turned and looked into her eyes. "Then don't go, Betty. You'll miss Henry, but you've got your work, your family, your friends here."
She closed her eyes painfully. "Don't make this harder than it is."
He leaned closer to her and said more forcefully, "You're making a mistake."
She looked him in the eyes with a sad smile. "You're not the first one to tell me that tonight."
"That's because we're right."
Standing up, she said, "I've got to go and finish getting ready. My plane leaves at 11:30 tomorrow morning."
He stood up and hugged her. "Don't ever be afraid to come back home."
She pulled away from him, slightly startled. "When did you start sounding like Hilda?"
He gave her a small smile, his eyes starting to glisten. "When I found out I was losing my little sister and best friend."
She gave him another hug and then left. Once she was gone, he went back into the bedroom and as politely as possible asked the blonde to leave.
He had to have time to decide what he was going to do tomorrow.
…………………………………
Gio opened the van door for Dulce and she got out. They had been dating for almost two weeks now.
As they walked up the sidewalk, he looked over at her and said, "You ready for this?"
She smiled, cocking her eyebrow and saying, "My first Sunday dinner with the family? Well, I've already gone to Mass—might as well make it a round trip."
Grinning, he said, "You've only sat through church. Tell me how sure of yourself you are after you talk to my entire family while trying not to stare at their bald heads."
She took his hand in hers as they stepped onto the stoop and said, "I think I'll amaze you with my abilities."
"I think you already have," he said, turning to her and giving her a quick kiss. Opening the door, he let her step through, following behind her. They found his father, uncle, and Antonella in their usual Sunday spots in the living room and could hear his mother in the kitchen. Gio had already introduced them to Dulce at church, so he sat down on the couch and guided her to sit next to him.
Andre smiled devilishly as said, "So, Dulce, you haven't gotten tired of our boy yet? We know he can be exhausting."
Gio raised his eyebrows. "I'm exhausting, tio? I seem to recall your last girlfriend running off to a retirement home in Florida because she 'wasn't ready for a commitment,'" he said, quoting the girlfriend's excuse as he ribbed his uncle.
The older man, who was a widower and had been dating for the last five years, chuckled. "It runs in the family, chavo."
Dulce spoke up, crossing her legs and becoming more comfortable as she spoke. "Then you must have good genes, because I find it charming." She winked at Gio as she said, "Plus, I can totally keep you in line when I have to."
His father chimed in now, laughing. "This girl's a keeper, son."
Gio lightly punched his father on the arms, saying, "You just want someone to be whipped like you, Pop."
Before Benny Rossi had a time to respond, Gio's cell phone rang. "Hello?"
"Gio? This is Daniel Meade."
He stood up and walked into the foyer. "Mr. Meade? How did you get this number?"
"I had to call Hilda. Look, I don't have a lot of time here," Daniel said. "Betty's getting on a plane to Tucson in a half hour."
There was silence over the phone as Gio paused to take in the information. "She's moving to Tucson? With Egg Salad?"
Daniel said, "I don't think she's planning to take food, but that's not important."
Gio rolled his eyes, frustrated. "Then what is?"
"You obviously know she's making a mistake."
He nodded. "I do. But I don't know what it has to do with me anymore. She cut me out of her life."
Daniel took a deep breath. "That may be, but everyone from me to her family to Christina have tried to talk her out of it."
"And?" Gio interrupted.
"And I think you might be someone she'll listen to. You're our last chance to keep her off that plane."
Gio blinked. He had never expected a phone call like this. Finally he said, "If she wants to ruin her life, that's her decision."
In a curt tone, Daniel said, "I must have been wrong. I thought you cared."
Daniel's words were like a knife through the gut, but Gio said, "I'm sorry I wasted your time."
Daniel hung up the phone without another word.
His family and Dulce had heard most of the conversation, but for once decided not to say anything. Gio looked pale and worried but they all sat awkwardly trying to make conversation.
About ten minutes later, Gio leaned into Dulce and whispered, "Can I talk to you for a second?"
They went back to the foyer. Dulce asked, "So what's up?"
Gio looked at her apologetically. "I need to do one final favor for Betty. Will you be okay with my family for about a half hour?"
Uncontrollably, her heart sank for the first time since she had met Gio. She hadn't heard Betty's name in nearly a month. She had been hoping that chapter had ended. "Go," she said, waving him off with her hand. "But we're going to need to talk when you get back."
He nodded and kissed her on the cheek. "I know. I'm sorry about this, too. But I feel like I need to do this for her and her family."
She handed him his coat. "Whatever it is then, good luck."
He opened the door and rushed to his van.
……………………………………………
Betty stood in the airport with her family, Christina, and Daniel. Each of them was either in the midst of crying or trying not to cry. She hugged them for the third time and prepared to go through the gate.
"Betty, call as soon as you get there," Ignacio said as he picked up a suitcase and handed it to her.
"I will, Dad. I promise," she said, trying not to sob as she wrapped her arm around his neck tightly.
"Email us every night, okay?" Hilda asked, wiping the tears underneath her eyes with her well-manicured finger.
"I'm not going to forget you when I get on the plane," Betty said in the tone she usually used with her sister. "I'll call and write every chance I get."
Christina had tears streaming from her face. "Damn hormones," she moaned. "Betty, you have to come home when I have this baby. I'm not doing this alone."
Betty clung to her friend. "I'll be here."
Daniel looked down at Betty and gave her a fake smile. "I'm not ready for you to leave."
She laughed softly, choking back tears. "Amanda will be a good assistant."
His smile faded as his eyes misted. "That's not what I meant, Betty," he said quietly.
Instead of saying anything, she hugged them all again and the crying continued.
"Betty!"
They all turned towards the shouting in a unified huddle. It was Gio, winded and panicked.
Daniel sighed in relief. He had not been wrong about Gio Rossi.
Gio and Betty stepped aside from the group. "What are you doing here?" she asked, setting down her suitcase and bag.
"Daniel called me this morning. He told me about this huge mistake you're about to make," he said in a rough but concerned tone.
She shook her head. "Don't start, Gio."
Putting his hands on either side of her shoulders, he said, "Someone's got to make you listen. Henry's meant to go to Tucson. He's got a baby there. But that's not your place, Betty. There's nothing for you there."
Her brows furrowed. "Henry's there. That's enough."
He couldn't deny that he felt jealous and hurt. But telling her now wouldn't help anything. "You're barely out of college," he exclaimed. "You're 23. You really know want you want for the rest of your life?"
More firmly than she felt, she said, "I know what I want right now."
He raised an eyebrow. "And that's good enough reason to leave everything and everyone you know?"
"Yes, it is."
He looked at her disappointedly and dropped his hands from her arms. "Can't you hear how naïve you sound?"
She gave him an icy glare. "My plane's about to leave. Is being a jerk the last way you want to talk to me before I go?"
He stared into her face before speaking. "No," he said swiftly. "If this is what you really want, then go for it. But don't be afraid to admit when you've made a mistake either."
"I'm not making a mistake."
"Good, then I guess I'll never see you again."
His words hit her unexpectedly. Even though she had promised Henry not to see him, she never had thought it was a possibility that it would be forever. "You don't have to be so happy about it," she said tersely, trying to mask her own unexplainable disappointment.
"I'm not." The words had escaped before he could stop them. To save face, he smiled cockily, and said, "Who am I supposed to piss off with you gone?"
She squinted and gave him a smile. "I guess that's your way of telling me goodbye."
His smile drooped a little as he said, "Yeah."
She gave him a hug and said, "Goodbye, Gio."
He closed his eyes as he squeezed her back. "Goodbye, Betty."
Pulling away, she picked up her bags, told her family goodbye once more, and then went through the gate.
Daniel went over to stand next to Gio as they watched her leave.
"It didn't work. She didn't listen to me," Gio said.
Daniel put his hand in his jacket pocket, saying, "You tried. Thank you for that."
After the plane took off, they all left. Their eyes were red from crying as the deep sadness of her departure swept over them.
…………………………………
Betty had been in the air for what felt like days. It had landed and now she was waiting for them to let the passengers off the plane. As she sat there, she wondered about tomorrow.
Tomorrow was a scary concept. She would wake up with Henry. She would get to know his baby. She would find a new job. She would meet Henry's mother.
But she wouldn't see her father tomorrow. She wouldn't argue with Hilda or help Justin with his homework. She wouldn't go to Mode and see Daniel or Christina.
Tomorrow, she would start a new life. Today she just wanted to see Henry, find out about the baby, eat, and go to sleep. She had refused to admit it to anyone, but she was afraid of Tomorrow. She wanted to be with Henry, but she had just given up her world for him.
As people started to stand and get off the plane, she decided not to think that way. She loved Henry and would start a life with him. She refused to worry. She chose to be happy.
She exited the plane and went through the gate. She found Henry waiting for her at the exit in his red sweater, waving and smiling.
She stopped for a moment and smiled at him, but she couldn't help the words that forced their way into her mind, words that she had heard Gio say months ago.
Wow, you are being stupid.
Shaking the words from her mind, she smiled brighter and ran up to him, throwing her arms around him. "I'm so glad to see you, Henry."
"The baby's here," he gushed. "Let's go home, get you settled, and then head to the hospital."
She put her arm around his waist as his went around hers and they walked to the baggage claim. They were headed home.
TBC
