Claire Meade clasped her hands behind her back, approaching Betty's desk with caution. The young women had been absent for some time but had returned calm and composed, urging Claire to take the next step. "Betty, could I see you in my office for a moment?"
"Ummm... sure, I guess-" Betty stuttered, feeling her cheeks burn as the older women turned on her heel. She couldn't exactly deny the request. Avoiding Daniel was one thing but his mother was CEO of the company and despite their friendly relationship, she had an obligation to remain professional around her.
Standing to full height, she hesitated wishing the ground would just open up and swallow her.
When it didn't she gave an almost painful sigh, dragging her feet towards the ominous oval office. Daniel's mother was waiting patiently by a tall stained-glass cabinet in the far corner of the room and Betty closed the door, proceeding to take a seat in the large oak chair opposite the desk.
Claire unhooked the latch revealing an expensive range of crystalware and removed two glasses from the display. "Drink?" She questioned, the insinuation being that it was alcohol she was offering.
Betty stiffened wondering if it was some sort of test she needed to pass. The older women certainly looked sincere -particularly as she started pouring her own vodka neat- but it still felt like a trap. The unspoken catch being that if she agreed, her ability to perform her job may come into question. "I'm fine, thanks."
"Betty, you can relax." Claire flexed her shoulders, mimicking the suggestion as she filled a second glass. She wasn't unaccustomed to holding an intimidating air, especially where the media or Wilhelmina were concerned but in this instance she was surprised to see Daniels ex-assistant looking so apprehensive. "You're not in any trouble-" she reassured with a gentle smile, "Daniel's out to lunch and what he doesn't know won't hurt him."
Betty accepted the glass, still being wary as she nestled it in her hand. She still wasn't sure how to respond to the alcohol or the blatant disregard for Daniel's opinion and sat patiently waiting for his mother to continue.
"Sometimes I think men equate their level of care to how loudly they can raise their voices-" Claire took a sip of her drink, enjoying the rare opportunity to give insight into her family, "I know my son and I've been on the receiving end of his temper enough times to know how frustrating his protectiveness can be."
"And overbearing-" Betty added, feeling colour rush to her cheeks as she realized she'd made the admittance out loud.
She wanted to be honest but the fact she was talking to his mother made her hesitant and she swallowed the embarrassment under a large sip of vodka. Not sure what to expect after the action, she was surprised to find the older women's gaze remained warm and understanding.
"He just doesn't understand..." Betty defended softly, "all I need is some time."
Claire nodded, relieved to feel the air of tension lifting between them. It was unfamiliar territory to her as well, having never really gotten close to a women so integrated in her son's life before... but she wasn't biased towards either of them. Both had there faults, all she wanted to do was urge them to work together to overcome them.
"Time to do what exactly?" She asked curiously, recognizing the excuse as one she'd used before. It was all very well and good to ask for space but if it wasn't utilized in the appropriate way time could become a dangerous thing.
"I don't... I-" Betty hesitated, not really sure how to answer.
Time to see the world differently? Like how she used to... when people didn't frighten her and going outside was just a normal occurrence. That's what she'd been hoping to achieve but the 'how' suddenly alluded her. She'd been running on autopilot, getting through the days as best she could but she hadn't stopped to consider where they were leading her. She wasn't any closer to feeling safe again, she was just blocking everything out and the revelation left her feeling crushed.
Claire assumed her silence meant they'd both reached the same conclusion and offered a sympathetic smile. Sometimes it was hard to see the obvious through a bubble of denial -she knew that from experience- and reaching into her draw, she pulled out a card pushing it forward on the desk. "This is the name of my therapist, she's not affiliated to Mode in any way... if you choose to call her it will be entirely confidential."
Fear knotted in Betty's throat and she swallowed roughly trying to dislodge the swell of panic. Ignoring the problem was hard enough but the thought of bringing it to light terrified her. Even a trained professional could deem her anxiety as irrational or worse 'unfixable' and the notion spurred a wave of apprehension, "I... I don't think I can."
Claire could see she was struggling with the idea and refilled both their glasses before gently broaching the subject of her fears. "What are you afraid of Betty? If I'm overstepping the mark or you don't feel comfortable talking about it I'll understand... but I am curious, you've never seemed to let fear hold you back in the past?"
The question tugged an emotional reaction and Betty brought the vodka to her lips downing it's contents. What wasn't she afraid of? The tiniest thing would send her heart racing and she felt tears sting her gaze as she looked away, "I'm scared of everything... going to my car, talking to people... I panic all the time and for no reason." It was like a weight lifting off her shoulders as she finally admitted the truth, "I don't know what's wrong with me but I feel like I'm going crazy."
"Oh Betty-" Claire stood, her heart filling with sympathy at the younger women's anguish, "there's absolutely nothing wrong with you and talking to a professional will only help you to realize that." Careful not to invade any personal boundaries she perched on the arm of Betty's chair, relieved when the women leaned into the comfort, "would help if I came with you?"
Betty wiped her eyes, breathing in deeply, "I couldn't ask you to do that."
"Nonsense-" Claire admonished, offering the gesture sincerely. After everything Betty had done for her family and the company it was the very least she could do and it was a small consolation knowing she was helping her son in the process.
Betty let the reassurance sway her, nodding her head with a small smile, "I would really like it if you came."
"It's settled then." Claire stood with one last comforting squeeze, deciding to make the phone call before the younger women could change her mind. "Does anytime work for you?"
Panic rose in Betty's stomach but she squashed it down, nodding as the phone was picked up off the receiver.
Clearly Daniel's mother was a women of action and deep down she was grateful, knowing that if she waited there was a higher chance she would back out. At least this way she had to keep the appointment.
Reaching for her drink, she tried to quell her nerves as the CEO of Mode went through the appropriate channels. When a time and date echoed around the small office she felt her heart beat quicken but she forced herself not to think about it as the phone landed with a click. "Thank you-" she mustered a deep breath, "I'm sorry to cause so much trouble."
"Please, have you met my family?" Claire asked with a chuckle, drawing another drink from her glass, "you're a walk in the park compared to just my son's antics alone."
Betty's mind flew to Daniel, recalling their argument and feeling guilt twist in her stomach. Through his mother she was now starting to see where he'd been coming from and as much as he could have approached the situation differently, she knew he only had her best interests at heart. "I really wasn't very fair to him-" she breathed out sadly, "was he... I mean, has he been ok...?"
"Aside from resembling a bull charging a red flag all week-" Claire joked, trying to deflect from the real answer. She knew her son was hurting but she also knew he wouldn't stay mad for long... call it mothers intuition but she had a feeling everything was going to sort itself out for the better. "He'll be fine-" she assured with a smile, "and besides you know he would forgive anything you did, I just wish it was that easy for the rest of us."
She followed the comment with a wink and Betty felt her cheeks flush at the insinuating tone.
It had to be the alcohol making his mother so candid but she could feel herself opening up too and for the first time she realized she hadn't told anybody about what happened between them, not even her sister. Her excitement had been smothered under a rush of emotions and it was only now that she felt the tiny spark start to surface again. "We did sort of... I mean, he kissed me that's all... but then things got kind of weird."
Claire had to fight to keep the smile off her face. Of course she was irritated by her son's bad timing but she was relieved to see a faint flicker of the old Betty sitting across from her. Clearly she was struggling with it all but the fact she'd even mentioned it gave Claire hope that the two of them would eventually figure it out. "He does care about you Betty, I'm not sure he even realizes quite how much yet."
She nodded mutely, absorbing the information as she took another drink. It was something she couldn't dwell on, not yet... not until her head was sorted out and she deliberately changed topics, surprised to find herself unwillingly to leave. "So, ummm... did anything exciting happen after we left on Friday?
Claire leaned back, pleased they were engaging in a lighter topic. She didn't know if it was the alcohol catching up or just the fact she didn't have that many friends with whom she could share womanly gossip but it felt almost therapeutic. With the drama circulating around her family, friends had always been allusive at best and she refilled their drinks with a telling smile, "actually, now that you mention it..."
Betty listened as Daniel's mother regaled her with tales from the night, even pulling out genuine smiles as the vodka worked to loosen her up. The whole week she'd been trying to avoid people at all all costs but it actually felt good to be in the informal environment and she made a promise to herself that tonight when she called her sister she would actually 'talk' to her, not just palm her off with another excuse.
The story of how Marc and Amanda had tried to pick up the same man faulted suddenly and she watched Daniel's mother lift her eye-line towards the door.
"Uh-oh-" Claire breathed, trying to keep the amusement from her face, "incoming bull alert."
Betty knew who she was referring to and her stomach did an anxious flip... but when the older women made no attempt to hide her drink, she followed suit barely flinching as the door burst open.
"What the hell is going on in here!" Daniel eyed his mother with a look of disbelieve. He'd trusted her to talk some sense into his ex-assistant not get her hammered and annoyance welled tightly in his chest at the less than orthodox approach.
Claire waved her hands towards Betty signalling a red flag and it had the desired effect sending them both into a fit of giggles. When her son stamped his foot angrily, she had to force herself not erupt again.
"I can't believe you think this is funny? He raised an astonished eyebrow, "I'm gone for an hour and what, you've decided to team up and give Linsday Lohan a run for her money?"
"Relax darling," Claire regarded her son with a slightly more serious demure, "come in and sit down, have a drink with us."
His mouth dropped open too shocked to respond to the suggestion. Of course he wasn't going to sit down and have a drink, had she lost her mind? She'd be lucky if he didn't have them both kicked out for inappropriate conduct.
"Daniel," Betty turned to him, a soft sigh falling from her lips, "I know what this looks like but your mother really has been helping me. She made me realize how unfair I've been and I'm sorry, I'm really sorry... you didn't deserve that."
The conviction behind her tone caused his anger to simmer down but it didn't erase his annoyance. Apologies under the influence of alcohol didn't exactly hold a lot of weight and he'd been burned by her smokescreens before. "Forgive me if I'm not jumping through hoops to believe that's true."
The blatant dig cut through her but she understood his apprehension. Even though she thought she was doing them both a favour by hiding the truth she could see how much it had hurt him and she pushed herself up from the chair with a nervous proposition, "Mrs Meade, could we have a moment... if that's ok, I know this is your office-"
"It's fine Betty," she stood issuing her son a warning look, "I'll just go make us some coffee."
When the door closed Betty turned back to him, keeping her gaze downcast to the floor. She knew she couldn't excuse the way she'd spoken to him but that wasn't her biggest regret. She should have been honest with him and she crossed her arms protectively, trying to explain why she had been so reluctant to accept his help.
"I shouldn't have lied to you Daniel-" she started, finally bringing her gaze up to meet his, "but you weren't listening to me. You were drawing from your own mistakes and fitting me into a 'box'. You didn't try to let me work it out, you just made me feel like I was being stupid and childish."
The honesty behind the allegations made his chest tighten in response. She was right, he hadn't really thought the different circumstances were that important. He'd been more concerned with what she was doing rather than 'why' and he could see now how that had been a mistake.
"I'm sorry, I might have jumped to some wrong conclusions but you didn't exactly point me in the right direction-" he defended, scrubbing the side of his face, "I mean what am I supposed to think when you won't talk to me?"
"I should have-" she admitted, feeling the guilt well up, "I thought I just needed time to figure it all out...but that was never going to change anything, not without help at least." She understood now where his anger had stemmed from. He could see that she was circling rather than moving forward and even though it had taken his mother's more subtle approach to bring her to the same conclusion, she was still grateful to have his support.
"I've made appointment to speak to someone. I think you're right, I think it might be a good idea."
He felt an immense weight lift of his shoulders, the fear in her voice proving that this time she was being honest. He could that see she was afraid but he could also see regret in her eyes and he softened his voice with a gentle smile, "I know it's not easy but I can help, you just have to let me... you don't have to do it alone."
She breathed in deeply, his forgiving tone giving her confidence to ask the hardest question. "Does this mean we're ok?"
He stood still for a moment, realizing that at some point they'd actually had actually breached the wall between them. They were finally being honest with each other and it sent a wave of relief crashing through him. They were going to be ok and he stepped forward drawing her into his arms.
She reciprocated, squeezing him tightly and he let out a slow breath.
They still had a way to go but at least they were heading in the same direction from here on in.
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AN: Eeep, nearing the end :D Thanks again for the the reviews! XxX