Chapter 19

This chapter is a little shorter, but I really wanted to write a scene like this. I hope you like it, don't forget to leave a review! xxx

I can't stay in here! I have to get out of here. Betty had been sitting in the bathroom stall, head held in her hands. She quickly gathered her things and crept up towards the door, listening for footsteps nearby. She poked her head out the door, hair falling down and stepped out into the hallway, stopping to check around the corner before continuing down the hall. She did this at every turn, not entirely sure where to go when she found herself back in her father's wing. She walked up to the door, at first reticent to go in. She took a deep breath and walked in.

First she walked over to the window, it wasn't much of a view so she took a look at the room. She hadn't really taken the time before. It was small, but it did have room for a couple chairs and an attached bathroom. The walls were a dull light blue, with white border lines halfway up around the room. The privacy curtain was plain beige. It was actually somewhat calming though it had a certain sadness to it. Its use evident from scuffs on the wall and floors.

"Mija? Is that you?" her father's groggy voice called out.

She stepped up to the side of his bed. "Papi? Are you awake?" she was on the verge of tears, her voice nearly breaking. She took hold of his right hand. Ignacio started to try and sit up, but settling for raising his head.

"What's the matter, mi amor?"

"What? Nothing Papi, I just wanted to see you." She smiled down at him, but a parent knows their child and he could see the worry and sadness behind the smile.

"Mija, I know you. What is going on? You look like you've seen a ghost, you're pale." He reached up and cupped her cheek.

"No, not a ghost. Did you know Daniel was here?"

"Yes he stopped in just before everyone else did. He went to get something to eat. You mean you didn't know he was here?"

"No, I didn't have the chance to tell him about any of it before I came here."

"You couldn't pick up a phone and let him know what was going on?"

"I left him a message to call me, but he never did. I thought he didn't want to speak to me."

"He was probably on the flight and couldn't call you. Why wouldn't he want to speak to you? Did you have another fight?"

"No, nothing like that. We definitely didn't…fight." She blushed.

"Mija, what's going on? I'm sure whatever it is you two can work it out. This is Daniel! Aren't you two supposed to be best friends?"

"Yes, of course, but I…"

"But nothing, whatever it is you need to talk to him. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."

"No Papi this is different. I don't know what to do! I really do want to talk to him, but… something happened. I just don't know if I can face him." She looked down, her voice almost breaking. Ignacio reached out to her, seeing that she needed some comfort.

"Betty, I can't help you if I don't know what's going on. What happened?" He looked at her sternly, the two forgetting where they were and feeling like she was a little girl again coming to her father for help. In the back of her mind it gave her hope for Ignacio, even if the stroke had done permanent damage, just sitting there talking the way they were told her that her father was still there. He was always going to look after his little girl. She could feel tension she didn't know she had been holding in her shoulders and eyebrows release. One less burden to carry.

She sat down in the chair next to his bed holding his good hand, but still looking down.

"Tell me mija. Let me try to help."

"Papi I…" she groaned not sure she could say it, "I… I kissed Daniel!" she looked out the window, anywhere but her father. Shame, worry, and a faint smile were written on her face. He knew that look. He'd seen it far too often to count. His little girl was in love with her best friend and he knew exactly what it felt like to be in that position.

"Oh mija, amor, Look at me." He reached over and she stood next to the bed again, he cupped her chin, and she lifted her eyes to his. "Betty, when I met your mami we started out as just friends. Whenever I would cook for them I would wait to see if she would look my way, then one day she did, and we started to talk little by little from then. We had to be careful with her being married to that horrible man, so we began by spending time together, coming up with excuses like picking out menus just to have a reason to talk, and began spending more and more time together, as much as we could get away with. For a long while there was nothing I could do but try and stand by and watch, but I could be her friend, even in secret. It started small then grew into something new, more. Look at Hilda! She and Bobby have been friends since they were kids."

"But Papi, that's different."

"How? Some of the best relationships, and the long lasting kind, start out as friendships. It's hard to know when to cross that line, but you'll know when it comes. Once you do, you might just look back one day and realize it was the best decision you ever made."

"But I don't want to ruin what we have. I don't want to lose him. I already left once, I don't want to say goodbye again. He pulled away when we were kissing. It was so embarrassing! We had been drinking, and I don't know what came over me!"

"Mija, do you think… did he kiss you back?

"I thought so." She blushed again. Her father usually never wanted to discuss these things, perhaps it was the drugs kicking in.

"Do you remember at Hilda and Bobby's wedding?" She looked at him, confused.

"What about it?"

"Do you remember Hilda's speech about being best friends with Bobby, and how love is all about knowing each other better than we know ourselves, and you would do anything in the world to protect them?"

"Yes, it was so sweet and moving." s dreamy look crossed her face.

"Did you notice how Daniel was looking at you?" Her eyebrows furrowed. He shot her a knowing look. "I did, and so did everyone else. And the way you two danced together?" he wiggled his eyebrows. So this is where Hilda gets it from Betty thought.

"What? No. He doesn't see me that way. You, Hilda, and Claire need to stop!"

"So Claire sees it too?"

"She may have mentioned a 'theory' at my going away party at Mode."

"You said he pulled away from the kiss first?

"Yes he broke it off and then we went home to our apartments. I still hadn't talked to him about it when Hilda called and I ran to the airport. He must be so angry with me."

"No he isn't Betty. When I saw him this morning he wasn't mad, though he did seem tired."

"You think so?" she asked quietly. Maybe he hasn't been sleeping well either.

"You should go talk to him. He seemed fine to me."

"What am I supposed to say? Sorry I kissed you and ruined our friendship. Can we pretend like it never happened?

"Do you want to pretend like it didn't happen?

"I… I don't know."

"Something tells me you wouldn't be this upset unless it really meant something. I think you need to be honest with yourself. Betty, look at me. Do you love him?"

"Well of course I love him! He's my best friend. We've been through so much together."

"That's not what I meant. Amor, are you in love with him?"

"What? No… no, I…" standing up then walking over to the other side of the room she looked out the window again, then sank down in her chair once more. Am I? I mean I do love him, and I can't stop thinking about it, dreaming about him. We work so well together. Things have been different lately, and that felt so much like a date the other night. We've been through so much, and he did follow me to London. Oh crap. "I think I might be." She groaned and rested her head on her father's shoulder. He took his good arm and wrapped it around her pulling her closer so he could kiss the top of her head. "Papi what am I going to do?"

"First you need to talk to Daniel and stop hiding in here." They laughed. "After that it is up to you two. Look, Hilda, Claire, myself, everyone can see that you two need to work some things out, but trust me when I say this Betty. That man loves you more than either of you know. I might be an old man now, but I know love when I see it. Real love is hard to come by. If I had given up with your mother because it was too hard, or I was afraid of losing her then I wouldn't have you, or Hilda, or been able to create this wonderful life I've had. Falling in love with my best friend was the best decision I ever made, and something tells me you two are going to be just fine."

"Papi." Betty burst into tears at her father's beautiful speech. "Thank you."

"And Betty?" Ignacio made her look at him again, "Give the poor man a promotion."

"What?"

"I heard from Hilda that you two have been arguing. As usual you were overworking yourself. Why won't you let him help you?"

"I do! I mean he helps me so much. I don't know what I would do without him."

"And you think he's happy working as your assistant? That man was Editor in Chief of a major magazine and owner of a publication company, Betty. Have some more respect for the man's talents. It wasn't always you behind the scenes. He learned quickly, you just made his job easier. He gave you opportunities and look where you are now. That man crossed an ocean to be with you, and now he's working as your assistant. At least give him the dignity of a proper title."

She couldn't believe her father had just said that. He wasn't holding anything back. After all the years of complaining to him about work and particularly Daniel, she couldn't believe she was hearing this from her father of all people. He was right of course. Daniel couldn't be her assistant anymore. She knew what she had to do.

"You're right Papi." She wiped the tears away, and straightened her glasses.

He cupped her cheek once more in that loving way he always had, "Go talk to him." He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Te quiero, Mija."

"I love you too. Thank you." She whispered the last part.

"De nada." He whispered back before closing his eyes to go back to sleep.

Betty gathered her things and started walking back down the hallway to the cafeteria. She took a deep breath when she got to the doors. Here we go.