These Things Take Time
Chapter 3
Daniel came back into the living room, tying his tie and walked to the sofa, where DJ was spread out, watching television, clicking the remote.
He looked up and made a face, "Is that the only color tie you own? Purple? And don't give me that 'but it makes my eyes pop stuff!' Why do you even need a tie?"
"Because, we're going to a nice place, DJ. You need one, too. Didn't you bring one?"
"No. I don't think so. You suck."
"What sucks? Me or the outfit?"
"It's a toss up. Fine, let me borrow one of yours, then. Wear the first one. It was a little less lame than that one you have on now, at least."
Daniel looked in the mirror, "Jesus, hurry up, we're going to be late!" He hurriedly changed his tie and handed one to DJ to put on, as they rushed out the door.
Once they were in the elevator, DJ shook his head, "You need to chill, Daniel. I've never seen you so...worked up. Are you nervous?"
"Yeah. I am. And I'm sorry, but purple does make my eyes pop. What's wrong with that?"
His nephew shrugged, as he straightened Daniel's tie and calmly and quickly finished tying his own, then stood in front of Daniel, "Is mine strait? I hate these stupid things!"
Daniel smoothed it down for him and smiled, "It's straight. You look nice, man. Why are you so grumpy? Trouble in paradise? Couldn't you get hold of Valerie?"
DJ sulked, "No. Her phone just keeps going to voice mail! She said she's going to be in London, staying with her father for the next two weeks.
She can never talk to her friends that much when she's with him, because he tells her it's rude, since he doesn't live with her and doesn't get to see her all the time. I'm afraid I'm not going to even find out where she is, now!
It will be too late to ask her to mom's wedding when she returns! I don't want to go alone to my own mother's wedding. I'll look pathetic! Like I couldn't get a date."
Daniel put his hand on DJ's shoulder, "Don't worry, buddy. I'm sure she'll get your messages and get back to you as soon as she can. No intelligent woman can resist the old Meade charm!"
DJ laughed, "Really? That's why you have a huge sweat stain on your crotch?"
Daniel made a face, and looked down, then rolled his eyes. "Funny!"
DJ shook his head, "Mama is right. You are easy to mess with, Daniel!"
"Shut up, you little goofball! Let's see how you like it when someone messes with you, huh? God, you're just like your mom-a real pain in the ass, sometimes, DJ!"
Daniel roughed up DJ's hair, but the teen pulled away and did the same back to his uncle, "There, it actually looks better, now. It's a good thing you finally let your hair grow out a little. It was too short when you first cut it."
"That was your mom's fault. She sent me to some...frou frou…"
"Do not say French stylist...because a man is French, that does not mean he is less masculine! You are just jealous because women like French men better than American ones!"
"Whatever, French boy! We American guys do alright."
"Maybe a thousand years ago. When you were 'Mr. Bachelor of the old people'! Back in New York. But we are not in New York. And you...are an old…"
Daniel looked at his nephew narrowly, "What you say next will determine how much I actually help you track down your little girlfriend, young man. The old part is bad enough. But I swear to God, if the next word out of your mouth was dumbass…!"
DJ laughed, and shook his head, holding up his hands, "I was only joking, Daniel! No, that is between you and mama!
I say only...Uncle Daniel. What happened to my 'cool' uncle? He has disappeared. And now, I see before me this...wimp. This scared little…"
"Let me guess, again with the 'poultry'?"
"I don't even know what to call you. Rabbit, perhaps? Or turtle. One who hides in his shell, afraid to make a move. To come out and declare his feelings once and for all to the woman he is so clearly crazy for? Here. Happy Birthday!"
DJ handed Daniel a copy of the hundred years' anniversary issue of Mode. Daniel looked at it, "Thanks. But, it's not my birthday. Am I supposed to give this to Betty? Just hand it to her and say, 'hey, read this. I was talking about you.?"
DJ sighed, "Mon Dieu! I'll do it for you. I went downstairs and got a copy while you were busy changing your clothes so many times.
By the way, your sideburns are uneven. Did you forget how to shave, too? How did you ever manage to sleep with all those women?
They must all be blind and stupid in New York, to sleep with such a silly man. Or has Betty turned your brain into mush like this?"
Daniel made a face, and kept trying to see his sideburns, checking them out, "I don't know, DJ. Lay off, will you? Yeah, I guess she has. You're right. I can't really think straight. I can't sleep half the time.
I've lost weight, because I have no appetite, even in Paris, nothing really appealed to me. That's one reason I botched up the few interviews I had while I was here. I get all...tongue tied. It's insane; I worked with the woman for four years!
I was with Betty almost every day, sometimes all night, and nothing ever happened, really. Other than a few hugs, holding hands, maybe. But...then, bamn! Her sister says that thing at her wedding, and I can't stop thinking about her...you know, differently.
Then, a few weeks later, I find out she's leaving me. I felt like my whole world got turned upside down. I couldn't really...wrap my head around it. I think part of me is still in shock. I mean, I know she's here now. But, it's like she stole my…"
"Heart? Soul...see, if you would tell Betty this, Daniel, let her know she has captured your heart. You wouldn't be in this mess. Dripping sweat from every pour, smelling like a homeless man that you may become."
"You're just...annoying sometimes, you know that? I pour out my heart to you and you…"
DJ put his hand on Daniel's arm, "I'm sorry, Daniel. I know you are in pain. That's why I told mama I wanted to come with you and try to help. She loses patience with you. But I have watched you ever since we came here and brought you to Paris to stay with us.
You seemed like a man who has lost everything. You had no hope. No confidence. No spirit. But you also helped me. I was having a hard time trying to deal with Lucien.
I have watched them become closer and I felt I would be losing the only parent I've known since my first mother Lucy died, when I first met you and thought you were my father. So, it was hard for me. I didn't want to hold her back from finding love.
She deserves that. Everyone does. But, having you come stay with us was good timing for me. I needed another man around. Someone I once thought was my father. You're the closest thing to a father I will ever have. Although you seem more like an older brother. A very older brother, of course, but one who has not grown in the mind."
Daniel smiled, "Are you trying to tell me I'm immature? Now you sound like Betty. She tells me I'm five years old sometimes."
DJ nodded, trying to hide the tears that threatened, "When you do that stupid 'high five' thing, perhaps?"
Daniel laughed, "Well, maybe. No, she told me that once when I was being a jerk to Tyler. I guess she was right, as usual, of course. I should have given the guy a chance. He's actually not that bad, once you get to know him."
"Yes, I had to tell mama to give him a chance, as well. You and she are very much alike."
Daniel pulled DJ into a half hug, "Thanks, DJ."
"Porquoi?"
"Uh...parce que Je t'aime."
DJ smiled, "Tres bien, Daniel! Remember to say that for Betty. Your pronunciation was actually not too sucky! Byt the way, Je t'aime aussi, maladroit."
Daniel made a face, "Maladroit? Who the heck are you calling a maladwat? Me? Your totally cool uncle Daniel! What does a maladwat mean, again?"
"Goofball."
"Oh. Okay. Shit! I mean, zut alors!"
DJ laughed, "Oh, please, spare the attempt, I know you absorbed nothing in six months. You watched only American television, went online, or spoke on the phone, and barely said two words to anyone other than mama and myself.
You were like in a cave most of the time. Except when we hung out together after school and a little during the summer when I could stop your moping."
"Because...I was trying to figure out what to do. What to say to her. This is...a really bid deal to me, DJ. I don't want to mess this up again. I feel like I screwed up, letting her leave without telling her how I felt.
Then, I froze when I followed her here. Now, it's like...this is my last chance! If I blow it again, I may never see her again. I may never recover. I lost my mind after Molly died. But, I still had Betty. She has always been my safety net. Her friendship kept me from free falling.
If I lose that, and you just know, once I tell her I'm nuts about her, if she doesn't...feel anything for me, our friendship will be over, too. Then, I'll lose her for good. Forever. That possibility scares the shit out of me!"
DJ nodded, "I know this, Daniel. Courage. Perhaps...you could have one glass of wine. To calm your nerves. No more. No Scotch. You drink too much. Then you will act even more a fool. Here she is, now. Make sure and tell her how beautiful she looks."
"Thanks, I think I can manage that much on my own, obi wan."
Daniel smiled, as Betty entered the restaurant, and pulled her into a warm embrace, whispering into her ear, "You look gorgeous, Suarez! You get prettier every time I see you."
She blushed, "Thanks, Daniel. Hey, DJ. Boy, don't you two clean up nice! I feel pretty lucky to be seen out with two such handsome men! All the other women will be jealous!"
She held out her arms, smiling brightly, as DJ and Daniel flanked her, taking her arm through theirs on either side of her.
Daniel held out Betty's chair for her, "So, catch us up, Betty. Tell us all about the launch, and what you've been up to lately. If...you want to, that is! If you're sick of talking about work, you don't have to, of course. It's totally up to you."
DJ rolled his eyes, and put his hands together to tell Daniel he was babbling.
However, Betty didn't seem to notice, and launched into a long, rambling story of how things had been progressing, how difficult it had been for so long to get advertisers and how they were really excited about the ties to the digital tie-in on people's Facebook accounts, ways they had developed to entice online subscribers and link them to the various sponsors.
They ordered drinks, and DJ suggested wine, causing Daniel to roll his eyes, "Yeah, nice try. No booze for the minor. Sorry, buddy. That one's non-negotiable! Can you believe this kid?"
Betty laughed, "I still can't get over how much you've grown up since I last saw you, DJ! Of course, my nephew, Justin has, too. He's a few years older than you. He's so tall and so...well, mature.
It's really strange to think of all the changes that have happened in the past few years. And to wonder what else is going to change!"
"Change can be a good thing, though, Betty. It's not anything to fear. I'm excited for all the changes to come in my life. You should be, as well."
Daniel smiled, looked sideways at Betty, as he put his hand on top of hers on the table, "Yeah, this girl isn't normally big on change, though. Are you, Betty?
That's one reason I was so floored when I found out she was moving to another country. It was so...unlike her to do something that...impulsive.
That's usually my thing, pulling some crazy, spur of the moment thing. Betty's more the type to think about stuff, make a pro and con list, weigh all her options, think about it for a few weeks or more. Then, keep trying to make things stay the same, even after it's pretty clear they can't. Isn't that right, Betty?"
She looked at his hand on hers, and blushed, then bit her lower lip, nodding quietly, "I guess so."
"Yeah, well, I do know you pretty well, Betty. I know how your mind works."
She carefully took her hand out from under Daniel's, and looked at him, their eyes locking for a moment, before she looked away.
DJ grabbed some bread off the table, and began eating, "So, Betty, have you had any chance to catch up on your reading at all, since you got here? Or...have you been just so swamped you haven't say...read this?"
He pulled out the magazine that Daniel had shoved into his jacket, and put it on the table.
Daniel looked at DJ as if he wanted to murder him. Betty's eyes widened, and she put her hands to her mouth, "Oh, my God! I remember hearing about how great this came out from everybody back home.
They all said to be sure and read it and asked me if I had talked to you about it. I guess...you read my article about you."
He nodded, smiling, and grabbed her hand off her lap, "I did. It was amazing, just like I knew it would be, Betty. You're such a good writer, honey. Thank you for what you said, about me, by the way. It was very flattering. I appreciated it."
She blushed, "I...um...sure, no problem, Daniel. I'm...I'm glad you liked it. I see you used that 'posey' picture of yourself!"
He laughed, "Yeah, that was a mistake. I actually told them to use any picture BUT that one and I'm pretty sure Wilhelmina had something to do with it. When I told her I was stepping down, the look on her face was worth it.
You should have seen her. It was like she was waiting for the punchline. Then she asked what my mom thought about her taking over. She's earned it, though. One way or another, it was what she worked her ass off for. Or at least, the part that isn't Brazilian!"
Betty laughed, "Yeah. Exactly! That was...brave of you, to take a chance like that, Daniel."
"I guess I was inspired."
Betty rolled her eyes, "Please, don't let me influence you, Daniel. I've already 'inspired' one guy all the way to Africa!"
DJ looked confused, and they told him a little about Matt Hartley.
"Ah, oui! This is the man Daniel punched at the UN, no?"
They exchanged glances, "Yes!" They both answered simultaneously, then laughed.
Daniel nodded, looking somewhat satisfied with himself, "Yeah, well, he deserved it. He was being jerk to Betty. Nobody does that to my girl here and lives to tell about it. If anybody messes with Betty, they mess with me, right?"
She blushed, "Right. Do you...still feel that way, though, Daniel? I mean, what's been going on in Paris?"
"Nothing. No...girls, if that's what you mean. Have there been any guys for you?"
"Guys? When have I had time? I've been working my butt off, here. All alone."
"Well, I'm sorry, but you didn't act all that thrilled, when I first came here and asked you out, Betty. I thought I was just in your way, cramping your style. So…"
"So, you just took off? One date and then you just run away?"
DJ saw the tension between the two and motioned the waiter over. As he came to take their order, DJ started to order in French, then stopped himself, "Pardonnez-moi. Sorry. I forgot. I would like…do you have escargot?"
Betty giggled, as she looked at Daniel and he smiled, remembering their night together, and leaned to whisper, "Maybe we should get pizza and go up and sing I've Got You, Babe, huh?"
DJ finished his order, then smiled, as he got up, "Daniel, Betty, will you excuse me for a moment? I need to use the restroom."
"Sure, DJ." As Daniel stood up, DJ whispered, "Tell her what you said to me. Speak from the heart, Daniel, and you cannot go wrong. She cares for you.
It is clear from the way she looks at you. Have courage. Show her what you wrote. I'm going to take a while. Relax. Bon chance, papa."
Daniel smiled, and nodded, then sat down, as he looked around, he started tapping on the table nervously with a fork, then accidentally sent it flying to the next table, landing in the patron's soup.
He went to retrieve it, and apologized, "Sorry!" He sat back down, and closed his eyes, "So...uh…you really look...great, Betty."
She smiled, "Thanks. Is there...something you want to say, Daniel? Are you sure you didn't meet a French girl? Is that what this is about? You're telling me you are moving to Paris permanently? Or...you're engaged?"
He smiled, "Why would I have job interviews here in London, then, Betty?"
"Oh, right. I...forgot, you said that. I guess I was...distracted. Well, what is it you're so afraid to tell me, then? Oh my God, is your mom okay? She's not ill, is she?"
He shook his head, "As far as I know, Betty. Everyone's health is good. Mine, Mom's Alexis, DJ...well other than eating like a damn horse and growing twice as tall as me! He's something, isn't he?"
She smiled, and put her hand on Daniel's, "He really loves you, Daniel. You can see it in his eyes. You are his cool uncle. You got your wish."
He nodded, looking at her eyes, "Almost. Betty, listen...have you read...uh, the...what am I saying, you haven't even seen this, have you?"
She shook her head, "I couldn't. It was too hard, Daniel. Too many memories. Everyone told me your letter from the editor was really moving and I would be so impressed by it. But...I just couldn't. It was like saying goodbye to Mode.
You know how hard that was for me. I still feel terrible for the way Marc sent that stupid email. You shouldn't have had to find out I was leaving like that.
I should have talked to you about it. But I was just so scared to tell you. I didn't really want to leave. I mean, I did, but...it was so hard to leave everybody I loved behind. Even for this kind of opportunity.
I just kept remembering what you told me, when you encouraged me to take the job for...um at MYW, that time, that I wasn't meant to always be your assistant. Part of me wishes I could always be, though, I guess. I really miss you.
I see how hard you had to work at Mode, now. I underestimated how much goes into running a magazine. I should have given you more credit."
He shook his head, smiling, "Betty, I had you, though. And I'm so sorry, you should have had me here, standing beside you, too. I messed up. I left when you needed me. Can you forgive me?"
"Of course I can, Daniel. We're friends. We always will be. Now, what's this article you want me to read?"
She picked it up and started to read, and Daniel snatched it away from her, "No, wait...maybe we should just...wait. I...don't know if...this is the right…time. Oh, shit!"
Betty looked and saw DJ, leaving the restaurant with a young girl. Daniel took off after the young man, and Betty wasn't sure if she should stay or get up and go after him, as well.
She waited for some time, and when he didn't return within several minutes, and the server gave her a look, "Will you be...dining alone, Miss?"
She knew this man hadn't seen DJ or Daniel, since he just brought the food, "No! The two men I was dining with should be back very soon. They just stepped away."
"Of course, Miss. Bon apetit!" He looked at her as if she was deluded, and pathetic, eating with imaginary boyfriends.
She made a face, "Thank you!" She sighed, and moved her fork around her own food, then smiled, seeing DJ's escargot.
She decided to read the article Daniel had written and clearly was ambivalent about her opinion. He seemed to be almost nervous about her reading it somehow. She was sure Daniel and DJ would be right back and she didn't want to start eating without them.