Daniel had been having one special day. First the photographer for the shoot arrived two hours late due to airport delays. Then the model picked for the front cover had an allergic reaction to the make-up being used and the back-up model had not shown up because she was told she wouldn't be needed. New York the city never short of models or actors was having a drought. None of the models captured what Daniel or Wilhemina were looking for to represent the November issue of Mode.
"WHAT!!!" The phone in the conference room had announced that there was a phone call waiting for Daniel, he was about to refuse but the new receptionist interrupted him, "It is a woman named Betty Suarez she said it was very important and Amanda said I should always pass her calls to you no matter what." Daniel slumped into the chair behind him, "We need a break. Take her call Daniel I'm going to call Ted and have him meet me for dinner down the street instead, I'll be back in an hour." With that statement Wilhemina walked out of the conference room for some much needed fresh air. "Betty, hi."
Betty had almost hung-up when Daniels voice had finally come thru the speaker. True she had been on hold for less than a minute but she was ready to chicken out from her earlier resolution, besides who would have thought he would still be in the office at ten. "Daniel, hi! How are you?" Betty tried to keep the nerves out of her voice but Daniel knew her too well, "Everything is fine, are you alright you sound nervous?" Betty couldn't help but smile she was trying to cherish the good part of her conversation before it went bad, "Daniel I was calling to apologize for not talking to you before I left. Things got bit complicated for both of us during those last few weeks and before I knew it five months have passed us by, so again I'm sorry." Daniel noticed Betty's rambling but he let it go maybe that was what he needed in order to unwind.
He leaned back his chair and propped his feet on the desk looking out the windows into the city. "That is okay I knew it was bound to happen, grow apart I mean but to what do I owe this call." Betty took a deep cleansing breath and, "Daniel there is something you need to know about what happened in Sweden and I don't think the phone is the best way to tell you." Daniel was half listening to Betty when she began to talk; his mind was back on the issue at hand and what he would be having for dinner. "Daniel do you think you could come visit me down here in North Carolina, even for a day." Daniel stopped his musing and thought about what she had said; maybe seeing her would be a good idea. Betty had been one of his closest friends for a while and his dad had a boat near those waters he had enjoyed sailing once maybe he should try it once more, "Sure Betty how about we make tentative plans for this Thursday." Betty couldn't help the smile that lit her face, "That would be great." Daniel took Betty's information and after they hung up he placed it on Amanda's desk so she could make his arrangements so that he could get away for the weekend. He deserved it after the last couple of months he had.
Betty had been a bit disappointed when Amanda had called her to tell her that Daniel had to cancel because of a matter concerning the latest issue. She had some consolation though, he had rescheduled for the following Thursday. So the following Thursday found Betty at the airport two hours after Daniels plane had been scheduled to land. She had called Amanda but she was also out. Turns out that they had gotten an exclusive photographer for the Christmas issue of Mode and both Daniel and Wilhemina had trotted down to Brazil to make the shoot happen and dragged their assistants with them. The following week would be Thanksgiving and she knew that he wouldn't show up for that. Betty would not be headed to New York until Christmas so she would just have to wait and tell him them.
Betty was picking up her order at Mama Celeste's restaurant for her Thanksgiving dinner. Betty had never cooked a turkey and she preferred to leave it to the experts. She had placed an order for enough portions for four people so she could have some leftovers for the next day since she wasn't planning on going shopping and the paper would be closed for the day. As she was waiting for her number to be called she heard her named being called, "John? Hi how are you?" John disentangled his arm from his sister and waved her and the kids a quick goodbye. "I'm good but what about you, you doing better." Betty had to smile she hadn't made to many good friends in her time at Capeside but whenever John saw her anywhere he would make it a point to stop what he was doing and talk to her for a few minutes. "I'm good, I stopped seeing the nutritionist on Monday and since the last time we saw each other I've gained another three pounds." John couldn't help but smile, he didn't know Betty's situation or who the father of the baby was and he wasn't going to ask her such a private question but he had come to care for her and had begun to wonder about her more each time he saw her.
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First and foremost, please accept my apologies for the delay - as all writers say life got in the way and with my muse on vacation I haven't been inspired enough to update any of my stories. Here is a tidbit, enjoy.
Thank you for your patience.