Betty's First Trip To Rome – The Return - Chapter 11 Frigid Tea and Sour Lemon

Just after three on Saturday afternoon, after buzzing the Meade family into the building, Marc and Wilhelmina finished preparing refreshments in her sleek, modern apartment kitchen waiting to hear them knock at the door.

Wilhelmina, handing a platter of assorted cheeses and crackers to Marc, said, "Put these out and I want you to be ready to light the candles just before I open the door."

The dining room table, visible from the apartment door, was elaborately decorated with a lace table cloth, elegant napkins, assorted glasses and stemware, tall candlesticks, and a feast of refreshments.

The oven timer chimed and Wilhelmina pulled out a tray of freshly toasted baguette slices, picked up a jar of caviar and followed Marc to the dining table, setting them out.

"It looks fabulous, Marc," praised Wilhelmina. "You've done a great job here."

"Thanks," said Marc suspiciously. He was always on guard when Wilhelmina was nice to him.

"Marc," said Wilhelmina, "I've been thinking about the nanny situation."

"Yes?" replied Marc apprehensively. This was a topic that he didn't want to talk about, having still failed to find one.

"If you haven't found one by the time the baby is born, I was thinking that you could care for it, until you do find one. We can move the nursery into work."

"Ah," said Marc, not sure how to respond. This was what he feared hearing. "I suppose I could."

"Then, you'll have even more incentive to work hard and find one," said Wilhelmina, brightly. "So, what do you think?"

"I haven't given up," said Marc. "And the baby isn't here yet. Hopefully, it'll be moot." He figured there was no point in resisting while it was still a hypothetical situation.

They heard a knock on the door and Wilhelmina went to answer it while Marc stood at the table and got out some matches.

Wilhelmina turned to watch Marc and once he had lit the candles she threw the door open wide.

"Daniel, Renee, Claire, Daniel Jr., how nice to see you all!" said Wilhelmina gaily. "Oh, and Alexis too … how lovely you could all make it."

Wilhelmina air kissed her sister Renee on both cheeks, and shook hands with everyone else, welcoming them into her home.

Renee's eyes soon fixated on the burning candles on the dining table, pointing at them and exclaiming fearfully, "Daniel!" Helplessly mesmerized by the flickering flames, she put her hands in front of her eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry Renee, I can't believe I forgot about your aversion to fire," said Wilhelmina contritely. "How could I forget? Marc, please extinguish the candles at once!"

"Thank you," said Daniel to Wilhelmina, putting his arm around Renee's shoulders and comforting her.

"Let me offer you something to drink Claire, would you like a martini?" asked Wilhelmina.

"No," said Claire coldly. As a recovering alcoholic, Claire never drank anymore. She loved martinis but relied on sheer willpower to refrain. Her bitterest rival was torturing her and she was doing it right out in the open.

"No? Maybe you'd like something stiffer?" suggested Wilhelmina, arching an eyebrow.

Claire, tense and angry, was too upset to answer. Everyone stared at Wilhelmina.

"Oh, I remember, silly me!" said Wilhelmina, satisfied that she had made it clear to everyone she knew Claire's weakness. She said in an overly sweet tone, "Would you like lemon iced tea?"

Daniel hurried to Claire's side and patted her arm to calm her.

"Yes, she would like iced tea," answered Daniel for her.

"Marc!" called Wilhelmina, "one iced tea for Claire!"

Wilhelmina looked at Danny, and said "Avez-vous faim? Voici les fromages à manger." She pointed to the plate of assorted cheeses.

"Oui, merci," said Danny, picking up a plate and taking several pieces of cheese and a pile of crackers.

"Hungry, just like the first time I met him," said Wilhelmina, smiling slyly at Daniel. That was the day Daniel had rejected the boy giving Wilhelmina a chance to befriend him, making Daniel look like a total fool. "Don't you ever feed him?"

"Boys his age are never full," said Daniel, gritting his teeth and remaining calm, refusing to be baited by her, willingly 'turning the other cheek' because he loved Renee.

"I underestimate you again, Daniel," said Wilhelmina, pursing her lips and looking him up and down - a reference to the time he'd been at her apartment with Renee and Wilhelmina had accidentally seen him naked - but this time she was saying it to acknowledge his forbearance, "perhaps you have matured."

"Now you've had your little fun, let's get down to business," said Daniel. "I have the form with me. If it is signed and faxed in before five, when the office closes, Renee will not have to go back, ever. Otherwise her day pass expires at eight. And we can't do anything about it tomorrow because it is Sunday. I expect we will be able to answer all your questions in two hours, don't you?"

"I guess, it's possible," replied Wilhelmina, strolling towards the table haughtily. "But it behooves me to be as thorough as I can since Renee's future may depend on it."

It had been far too long since she'd wielded this much power over the Meade family's happiness. This was even better than kicking Daniel out of his job and taking it over, locking him in the dungeon of accounting, and throwing away the key. And the chances were good that she'd rile them all into a brawl before five, throw them out, and be able to do it all over again on another day. "Please, everyone, help yourselves to anything you like and we'll take this to the living room."

As Daniel ushered the rest of his family into the living room, Wilhelmina walked to the dining room windows where Alexis was admiring the view.

"Nice shoes," said Wilhelmina, glancing down at Alexis' cherry red spike heels.

"Manolo Blanhik," replied Alexis, proud to be wearing the outrageously expensive brand. "I suggest that we check out their adorable bridal shoes for the wedding issue."

"I feel for your poor feet," said Wilhelmina, clucking her tongue sympathetically. "They're used to wearing roomier men's footwear."

"Excuse me," exclaimed Alexis, stung by the thinly veiled jab her foot size, large for a man and very large for a woman, and unfortunately not something a plastic surgeon could do anything about. Turning to go to the living room, she added icily, "Do not forget I'm your boss, Wilhelmina!"

The Meade family sat in Wilhelmina's luxurious but cold and sparsely decorated living room waiting for the next round. They would not have been more ill at ease if they'd been facing a firing squad. Wilhelmina had leave to ask them whatever she wanted to know, no matter how private or personal. The field was wide open, everything fair game, and there wasn't a damn thing they could do about it.

Wilhelmina, arms folded, stood and surveyed each of them with contempt. Unencumbered by sisterly affection as she was, this was the opportunity of a lifetime! How worthless they all were, the bane of her ambitions, squirming before her, ready and waiting to be skewered. Wilhelmina pursed her lips, taking her time considering the next card to play.

"Can I have a look at the baby's room?" asked Renee cheerily, breaking the awkward silence.

Marc, delighted to get out of the room, jumped to his feet to show Renee the way. Soon everyone, grabbing the opportunity to delay the inquisition, stood up and followed the pair down the hallway.

The bright nursery's walls were decorated in warm and colorful tones and the windows were covered by frilly curtains with a pretty pattern of rainbows and clouds. The tasteful crib, basinet, change table, and comfortable rocking chair were loaded down with piles of brightly colored fluffy blankets, tiny t-shirts, diapers, and miniature socks.

"Wow!" said Renee. "I'd never have guessed you'd have bought such beautiful baby things!"

"I didn't," said Wilhelmina flatly, unimpressed by the charming room. "I hired a consultant, of course. See what you get when you don't supervise every detail?"

Renee picked up a pair of the baby's socks, holding them up close and examining the tiny pattern embroidered on them. "Daniel, look at them, they're so precious!"

Daniel took a sock from Renee and they huddled over the pile of tiny clothes. Renee started to cry and Daniel put his arm around her, pulling out a handkerchief and giving it to her.

"What's wrong with her?" said Wilhelmina to Alexis, wondering whether Renee's mind actually was as unhinged as Wilhelmina had been pretending it was.

"Renee wants to have a baby but she can't because of the medication she's taking," answered Alexis.

Wilhelmina saw Marc motioning to her, holding his arms like he was cradling a baby and pointing at Renee. When Marc looked like he was about to burst, possibly exposing her nanny crisis, Wilhelmina put a finger to her lips indicating that he should keep his mouth shut.

Seeing Claire notice the interaction between herself and Marc, and desperately trying to make Marc stop his pantomime while the wheels of thought slowly revolved in her head, Wilhelmina said curtly, "Marc, what's wrong with you?" Marc obediently dropped his arms and turned his back to everyone, picking up a couple of pillows from the crib.

Quickly, Wilhelmina plotted a new plan, something that could take care of her nanny dilemma and be sure to aggravate Daniel, something pure evil. She wanted to cackle but suppressed it.

"I could cancel my nanny," offered Wilhelmina to Renee, "a little sacrifice but I'd willingly do it for your benefit, my dear sister, if you want to look after the baby. You could live in Nico's old room and I'll look after you. I'll sign the form this minute if you want to do it."

"No," said Daniel to Wilhelmina, distressed. "Renee is coming to live with me!" Then he took Renee's hands and said softly, "Unless you want to, of course, it's up to you, darling."

Astonished by Wilhelmina's gambit, Marc clenched the pillows in his hands, holding his breath, desperately hoping Renee would decide to live with Wilhelmina and take care of the baby.

Wilhelmina gloated as Daniel stood by nervously, while Renee deliberated over her choices, torn between wanting to care for the baby and to live with Daniel.

Claire tapped her chin thoughtfully and said slowly, "Wait a minute, perhaps there's another option."

After a long discussion with Betty about a month ago, Claire had surprised everyone by announcing she loved and welcomed the baby, her late husband Bradford's unexpected third child, conceived after his death, despite the fact half of its genes came from Wilhelmina and entitled her to one third of the company.

Everyone turned to look at Claire.

"The baby could live with Renee and Daniel," said Claire. "And Wilhelmina would still keep her third of Meade."

Wilhelmina considered the concept - technically she'd still be the baby's guardian, retaining those privileges no matter where it lived. And it was true that the only reason she wanted the baby was to get a piece of the company, it was her 'plan B' when her marriage to Bradford was derailed, she didn't actually want the baby. The idea of sending the mewling, puking creature to live with Daniel and Renee was appealing, in fact it was very appealing, burdening Daniel with not only Renee but the infant as well, was an even more nefarious plan than the one she'd thought of!

"I'm fine with the arrangement," said Wilhelmina as coolly as if she was negotiating a business transaction. "Does Daniel agree?"

Daniel looked at Renee and said, "Whatever you decide, darling, I'll support you a hundred percent."

Renee's eyes sparkled with excitement and she said happily to Daniel, "I want the baby! I want the baby to live with us!"

Daniel turned to Wilhelmina and said gravely, "I'd be honored to give my father's child a home." Then he looked at Renee, and said tenderly, "I'd love to raise the baby with you."

Wilhelmina signed the form immediately and gave it to Daniel, overjoyed she'd soon see the last of the frilly curtains with rainbows and clouds, "I'll send the baby's things over to your apartment as soon as I possibly can."

Marc tucked the pillows he'd been holding back into the crib, ecstatic to have to nanny problem solved.

Wilhelmina kissed Renee, and said "Congratulations! You're out of rehab!"

Turning to Daniel, Wilhelmina said, "Congratulations! You're going to be a father!" then looking at Danny, added, "again."

Marc's cell phone rang and he answered and talked for a few seconds, turning to Wilhelmina. "Christina's in the hospital, in labor, we need to go!"

Everyone immediately rushed out of Wilhelmina's apartment to go to the hospital, Daniel stopping to fax Renee's form on the way.

Exactly thirty one and a quarter sleepless, nerve wracking, anxious, and tiring hours later, Claire took a picture of five-minute-old Marina, still wet and sticky from birth, sleeping peacefully, cradled in the arms of Renee and Daniel, their faces suffused with joy.