Life In London - Chapter 6
Fair warning, this is a shorter chapter without much plot at all, but there will be chapters like this that show these in-between moments. Don't worry though, I'm doing my best to get the story to where it needs to be.
Daniel walked towards the bistro Betty had named in their phone call that morning. After a night of tossing and turning, he had given himself a proper pep talk. It was ridiculous how nervous he had been acting. It's just Betty, he reminded himself. If he couldn't get ahold of himself, he might just ruin things before they even had the chance to start. He needed to focus on rebuilding their friendship first. One step at a time.
He approached the corner of the street, noticing the French style café tables and chairs underneath the red awnings she had described and knew he had made it to the right place. He looked around and checked the corner just in case, but he didn't see her yet. He was a couple of minutes early, but he took out his phone to see the time so he could be sure. He started pacing back and forth slightly, nodding at people as they passed by. He had decided to keep it relatively casual and was wearing his jeans again, with a light blue button-up shirt and grey sweater over it. Deciding against a heavier coat, he wore a blazer instead. He caught eyes with the hostess and awkwardly waved his phone in his hand, "Just waiting for someone." She nodded at him, but still eyed him curiously.
The door to the Bistro swung open and he instinctively turned towards it. "Daniel!" Betty practically shouted. She practically ran towards him, and if she hadn't wrapped him in a hug so tight, he was almost positive he would have lost his breath anyway at the sight of her. She looked amazing in her black dress and colorful block print coat, with black heels and a red purse. Her dark hair was left loose, and it shined in the sun.
"Hi, Betty." Daniel said as he sunk into the embrace, grateful she couldn't see his face yet as he was definitely blushing. He would blame it on the chill.
"Ready to eat?" she asked as she stepped back from him, keeping a hand on his bicep.
"Definitely." He nodded, and they headed inside together. He nodded once more at the hostess, who was now smiling at them.
"Wow! That was amazing!" Daniel said, sitting back from the table as he dropped his fork onto the now empty plate.
They had enjoyed a lovely meal and easily fell back into friendly conversation. Only a couple of times did Daniel catch himself staring at her, but he did his best to keep his nervousness at bay. It was certainly a challenge, but it felt wonderful to be able to talk and laugh together again. He asked more about her work, and how her family was doing. It hadn't been that long if you did the math, but it felt like a lifetime had passed since she left Mode, and he wanted to know everything. She asked him about Mode and how things seemed to be going with the transition, and he answered as honestly as he could. In many ways, he had let himself fully step away and let Willhelmina take over. It wasn't his business anymore, and he was looking to the future, not the past. Betty tried to be encouraging, but she couldn't help but find it a little confusing. She wanted to ask for more details, but it didn't feel like the right time, and she was enjoying their time together far too much to push him on why he was in London and what his plans were. Hopefully, he would stay long enough for her to find out. Of course, if he left London that would be an answer too.
"Told you so." Betty smiled, approvingly.
"I could eat here every day!" he was far too happy about it, but Betty just smiled finding it amusing.
"I'm glad you like it. I eat here a lot, especially for lunch. It's pretty close to the office." She leaned onto the table, placing her chin in her hand.
"Oh yeah?" he asked her, looking into her eyes, and unknowingly he mirrored her body language.
"Yeah! It's just a couple of streets over!" she pointed in its general direction and his eyes followed for just a moment before looking back at her.
"I'd love to see it sometime."
"You would?"
"Of course! As long as I won't be in the way." He said, lowering his voice slightly.
"You wouldn't be in the way, Daniel. I'd love to show you soon." He smiled at her, unsure if he should push to see it then or wait until he was invited. Just then the waiter came with their check, and Betty tried to pay but Daniel insisted. He asked if he could at least walk her back to the office, and she heartily agreed. They left the bistro in a good mood and began walking down the street heading towards her office. She really had only been on her lunch hour, but it never felt like enough time with Betty. He would take every second he could get. He offered her his arm as they headed down the street together.
"How about Monday?" she asked him.
"What about Monday?" he asked her, bringing himself out of his thoughts.
"Do you want to see my office on Monday?" she looked at him waiting for his reply.
"Monday? Hmm, let me check my schedule." He joked. She laughed, which made his smile grow wider. "Let's see, breakfast at the palace, polo with the prince, then there's my knighthood ceremony. I don't know, Betty… I'll see if I can fit you in."
"Daniel!" she laughed and slapped his arm to which he could only laugh more.
"Monday sounds great, Betty."
"Great!" she clapped excitedly. They walked further, pointing out little things here and there that they noticed in window shops or particular outfits that Betty liked. He could tell that her tastes had grown, if not already evident by her style change, but he was surprised she still seemed so interested in fashion, considering she didn't work in the field anymore.
"So, what sights have you seen already?" she asked him suddenly.
"Well, not as much as I would like, but I've been to some of the main attractions." He answered honestly. If he was very honest, he would tell her that he had been waiting to see a few things because truthfully, he wanted to see them with her, not all by himself.
"So, you've seen the Tower and the Bridge and the Eye?" she asked.
"To be fair, I have been in London before, Betty, but no I haven't seen the Tower."
"What? You have to see it! Did you know that's where they keep the crown jewels?" she couldn't contain her excitement. "It's also where they imprisoned a lot of the royals and high-ranking officials before it became what it is today. It's where they beheaded Anne Boleyn!"
"What? Beheaded?" he shuddered. He remembered reading about some of this in his history classes, so it was ringing a bell, but why on earth would he want to go where someone had been killed?
"I don't know if it's really my thing." He shrugged his shoulders. "Have you been?"
"No! I haven't had the chance yet, unfortunately." She looked down, disappointed. He suddenly had a thought.
"Are you busy tomorrow?"
A flash of excitement crossed her features, "Actually, I'm free!"
"Really? Well, do you want to go then?" he wouldn't mind going if that's what she wanted.
"You'd really go with me to the Tower?" she asked, not entirely convinced.
"If that's what you want." He shrugged his shoulders as if it should be obvious.
"Wow! Then yes, let's go! Please?" she pouted a little, but the smile was overtaking it.
"Alright. We'll go to the Tower. Just no beheadings please?" They laughed together.
"No beheadings, Daniel. I promise." She made the 'cross your heart' motion and smiled at him.
"Okay good." they both giggled a little.
They had stopped walking now. Betty's office building was just a couple of doors down.
"Well, I have to get back to work now, but you'll call me, and we'll decide on the details for tomorrow?"
"Of course, Betty. I want to spend as much time with you as I can." He admitted.
A flash of worry crossed her face, but he didn't have time to register it as she smiled again.
"That's sweet, Daniel. I do too." She leaned in for one more hug, and Daniel had a hard time letting it end. What he didn't know was that she was struggling with the same thing, and had to make herself end it. She started to walk towards her building, and he watched her walk away, yet again. When she entered the doors, he sighed a little and started walking back in the general direction of his hotel, thinking of the Tower and Monday when he could finally see where Betty works now.
Betty entered her office tucked away in the corner of the building, much like Daniel's at Mode. She walked towards the window that faced the street. She sat down in the seat neatly placed into the wall beneath the large window and looked down. She saw Daniel crossing the street at the corner and smiled as she saw him walking away. From that far up, it might have been hard to tell the pedestrians apart, but it was only the fourth floor. Anyway, she knew. She knew exactly who it was. There was no way she couldn't. She smiled to herself and placed her chin in her hand once more, watching until he was completely out of sight.
She still wasn't sure how long he would be here, but he wanted to spend that time with her. That's something, right?