`IF YOU THINK I NEED YOU/Ch 5
Claire Meade could see immediately how much Daniel and DJ loved each other. She was frankly quite happy to have an excuse to get away for a while and forget all about a certain woman in New York who had made every effort to mess with her family, anything to get her hooks into her precious Mode (just like that bitch, Fey!)
The young gay man who worked for Wilhelmina had let slip to his little blonde girl he hung around who told Betty, who of course told Daniel that the diva had actually had the nerve to STEAL her husband's sperm from his dead body!
That had to be against the law, surely? And yet Claire was the one who got sent to prison? Not to mention that business with Wilhelmina's sister, the one who almost burned poor Betty alive, out of jealousy over Daniel.
The matriarch paced back and forth, trying desperately to rub her temples and drink water, coffee, anything to help her hangover headache. She was extremely upset with herself for slipping and falling off the wagon for the first time in a year. Of course six months of that time probably shouldn't really count because she was either in rehab or jail.
It was a setback, certainly, but she had no intention of letting it defeat her. She was resigned to being back on Day 1. That obviously wasn't ideal, but it certainly beat the hell out of being back in prison (or rehab!) and it was better than giving up, and using it as a reason for going on yet another bender, like she had so many times before over the years. There were always things to be grateful for. A girl like Betty being in her son's life was definitely one of those things..
Both Daniel and Alexis had insisted on treating her with kid gloves since that evening, as if she was some sort of delicate, crazy person and it was driving her crazy! She didn't need her children tiptoe-ing around her as if she needed help tying her shoelaces (or in Claire's case, putting on her Louboutin's).
Now, apparently, they had also cautioned DJ to "take it easy" on his grandmother after Daniel had picked the boy up from school and left him with her while he wrapped up matters back at the office. She had never seen the boy so well-behaved. It was rather disquieting, considering his earlier hijinx ever since showing up to enrich all their lives with his presence, with his joy. She missed "fun DJ". This perfect, quiet child was giving her the creeps.
She went to sit next to him outside and glanced out at her garden, then back at the young boy, "DJ, vous êtes si calme! N'aimeriez-vous pas prendre le drone de votre papa et peut-être bourdonner ces gens? Les regarder paniquer?"
The boy's eyes widened, and a smile crept on his face, "Really? Grandmere Claire! Mais papa et tante Alexis ont dit .."
She rolled her eyes, "DJ, I don't care what your papa and Aunt Alexis told you! Je me fiche de ce qu'ils ont dit. I am FINE! Please feel free to be your charming self, and make all the noise you like! Okay? I love you and we are all so happy you came to New York and found us!" she hugged the boy warmly, kissing him on the forehead, then motioned for him to go, "Now, go, run, yell, have fun!"
He beamed as he darted off to do as she said, getting his father's drone, but first he stopped to hug her back and kiss her cheek, "Merci, grand-mère Claire, je t'aime aussi!"
Daniel had finished gathering his things from his empty office in Player and had given directions for re-remodeling his office at Mode while he and his family were in Paris. He figured it was perfect timing while he had everything to do with Wilhelmina's "nursery'' in his old office taken out and burned. Who ever heard of a BLACK nursery, anyway? Was she really THAT evil, he wondered?
Geez, he HOPED the poor kid wasn't really his half-brother! A chill went up his spine at the thought, as he remembered that nightmare dinner they had to endure with the possible future step-monster, taking holiday pictures together! What the hell had his father been thinking, proposing to that woman? Of course, he had been just as stupid he supposed, getting involved with Renee in the first place. After all, both sisters were extremely beautiful, if dangerous as hell.
Daniel had learned his lesson, falling for women who used their good looks to deceive and get whatever they wanted in the past, women like Renee (and Sofia, of course). Betty wasn't anything like those women. Not that she wasn't pretty, but she would never in a million years be evil like them.
She really was beautiful, in spite of her crazy clothes. He had spent enough time with her to see through her "disguise" and tell that her beauty was real. Not just as she said, on the inside. Yes, of course, she WAS beautiful in her soul, her spirit, true enough. But she also had a smile that was like… sunshine. And her lips were full and pouty and tasted so luscious and delicious, he couldn't wait to kiss them until they were bright pink and swollen.
And he knew enough about women's fashion to recognize as he had watched her backside rather more closely than he should have over the past two years that she had a rather delectable ass. He had "accidentally" brushed against her breasts when he had been drinking enough times to be extremely excited at the possibility of enjoying those lovely assets of hers, as well.
He grinned, thinking how totally cute she was every time he made her blush. He often said stuff about his penis or his sexual prowess for the express purpose of seeing her adorable cheeks flame with embarrassment.
Alexis barked orders to various workers. Betty was thoroughly impressed with how decisive and knowledgeable the woman was. "How do you...I mean...was this stuff...the makeup, hair, clothes...did it always come naturally to you? Before? Or...um…."
The tall woman raised her eyebrows, as she handed Betty several dresses to go try on, "Both. I always FELT like a woman so a lot of things felt natural to me before I got surgery. Clothes, makeup, hair, shoes. Don't worry about the length. Or how tight they are in the boobs or ass right now. We're just trying to find dresses that actually fit that tiny waist of yours and emphasize it.
We can always get Christina to shorten them and take them out a tad at the bustline. You definitely need to start showing off that figure you've got going on under all that…well, stuff you wear.
You actually don't ALWAYS get it wrong. Well, yes, you do. But at least...not completely! There is nothing wrong with liking color, sweetie, but you have to pick a palette and go with it. You don't need EVERY color all competing for your attention at once! You want the clothes to show off your assets to their best, not people to simply notice you like a road worker's vest or something because it's so bright you avoid them! I hear you like purple."
"I do! It's my favorite color!"
She grinned, "Yeah. So does my brother. He actually wore his tie today because he said you thought purple made his 'eyes pop'."
Betty blushed brightly, "Well, yeah. I might have said that. Of course, his eyes look great, actually HE looks great in...anything!"
Alexis rolled her eyes, "Yeah, sure. He's a regular dreamboat. But my point is, Betty. He clearly only has eyes for YOU! So, how about we get one purple dress to make those great eyes of his fall out of his head when he sees you, looking all hot and sexy?
Basically, you need your clothes to fit better. We have an appointment at my salon for hair and makeup, including an eyebrow wax of course. That might take a minute with yours. While we're finishing up there, I'll have your clothes sent to Christina to alter and then sent to the jet so you have something decent to wear in Paris.
I also called in a favor with a friend of mine who helped with my orthodontia work after my surgeries. She's a miracle worker. I call her my tooth fairy! Believe it or not, my smile was the last thing I thought I needed to change, but it turns out I was wrong. It was sort of the piece de resistance in my transformation.
So, naturally this is up to you, but personally, I think...you should wear the contacts you said you already had but are always too scared to put in, but still keep the glasses on at first, then do the whole sexy librarian or teacher, take your hair down, and throw off the glasses routine when you first make your entrance.
After all, to make an impression you often have to go big or go home! In hindsight my own coming out might have been a touch over the top, having Dad arrested! But what can I say, I still liked my whole 'you haven't lost a son, you've gained a daughter' line."
Betty nodded, afraid to protest anything the woman suggested, "Oh, yes I remember that. I thought that was actually pretty funny! And you definitely got a lot of attention from that!"
"Yeah, well, attention isn't always all it's cracked up to be. Anyway, just...try not to trip! I've noticed you're a tad...um...klutzy sometimes! No offense, Betty!" she teased.
She looked up at Alexis and cocked her head to the side, "Thanks, Alexis. Can I ask you something? Why are you helping me? I appreciate the job offer and all of this...gal pal advice, the wardrobe, the free dental...all of it, really. I'm just wondering. Is this to try and make up to your brother for being DJ's real father?"
The older woman looked down shamefully and nodded, "Do you blame me? Ever since I showed up at Fashion Week, I've done nothing but mess up his life in one way or another, sometimes accidentally but usually on purpose. Yet, other than being shocked to find out I was alive and now a woman of course and fighting over control, he's actually been pretty nice to me! I don't deserve it.
I know that's got to do with your influence over him, Betty. Danny was never all that nice to me when we were kids. Of course, I was pretty mean to him, too. So, I guess I deserve what I got. I don't blame him for hating me. You've really helped his character. I mean...I took control away from him after Dad gave him that job just because I could and gave it to that witch, Wilhelmina and he just… rolled with it!
He said it gave him more time to spend with DJ and he actually liked not having to deal with the witch. I know he missed the hell out of you when you were gone, though. But then...just when he starts to really love the kid...I take that from him, too!"
"You can't help what you did in the past. You can't change the fact that you are DJ's biological father. All you can do now is try and be a better sister. Nobody can change the past mistakes they've made. All any of us can do is try to learn from them so we don't keep repeating them. I think going to Paris with your family and showing your support for him and DJ, that's the best you can do right now. You are a good person. But you're the only one who can prove it."
They found one outfit that fit Betty without alterations, a wrap-around dress, then went to the orthodontists, and finished at Alexis's fancy salon, where they both got a facial, then hair and makeup. The more time she spent with this girl, the more Alexis Meade could see what his brother saw in her. She was smart, funny, and simply kind. The more you were around her, you found yourself smiling, laughing, even.
She made you feel good about yourself. That was something everyone needed. It was the main thing the superficial, vain, appearance-obsessed, narcissistic people who worked at Mode, the people who would just as soon tear others down as look at them all needed to actually be happy.
Before Betty came along, everyone there fought for everything, and were mean and hateful. Now, they had all learned to...well, smile for one thing. It was like the temperature had dropped while Betty was gone. It had gotten icy, cold, and dark without her there.
"Like sunshine! I'll be damned, he was right! The idiot was right about you. You really are like...sunshine, Betty!"
Betty didn't quite know what to say. She had never felt all that close to the tall, gorgeous woman. She was hard to get to know. It was as if she was afraid to let her guard down to anyone. This day had been an eye opener for her, too. She had seen Alexis laugh, open up, talk about growing up with her little kid brother and how she always "felt like a freak". That was something Betty could definitely relate to, not feeling pretty, feeling like an outsider.
Daniel was starting to pace. He looked up as his mother came back into the garden, smiling as she patted her son's back, "They just went shopping and to the beauty salon together, Daniel. Don't worry! Alexis is a woman now. She isn't going to take Betty from you!"
"That's exactly what she did!" he fumed impatiently. "She always steals everything, Mom!"
"Oh, please, dear! Stop whining! That's not true. I understand your feelings of competitiveness with your sister, you two have always felt you had to compete for your father's attention, and I admit, Alexis should have been more understanding.
I gave her hell for putting that woman in at Mode in the first place. But I really think, thanks to Betty, she's learned her lesson with not trusting the bitch! See, here they both are now! Safe and sound … BETTY?"
Claire's eyes widened, as she turned to see her lovely daughter, standing next to the petite, gorgeous, well-dressed young woman that she almost didn't recognize. She had to laugh as she saw Daniel's jaw drop on the floor, even more than her own.
"Uh, hi. You look...great, Betty! Um...what did you do to your hair?" Daniel stepped closer, almost seeming afraid to approach Betty.
"You got this, girl! Look at him, he's practically drooling!" Alexis encouraged her, winking and giving Betty a pat on the butt. She walked past her little brother, patting him on the back, then she headed towards Claire and called to DJ outside, "You're welcome. Maybe now you won't hate me so much. Hey, DJ! Are you and Grandma hungry? I'm starving!"
Claire merely smiled as she watched her son walk up to Betty, clearly taken aback and rather speechless at her transformation. The older woman turned to follow her daughter and grandson back to the kitchen, leaving Daniel and Betty to give them privacy.
As he circled her in shock, his mouth agape, he tried to determine what it was that was so different about her besides her clothes. Betty had certainly worn makeup before, and he liked her hair up, but she was still wearing glasses, although he could tell those were new.
Gone were her braces, and ill-fitting, kaleidoscope-styled clothes. Instead, she had her hair in a loose-fitting bun, wearing new glasses and Jimmy Chou's, with a purple wrap dress that obviously was throwing Daniel's senses into a tail-spin.
He smiled gradually, nodding, "I got it! The glasses are new, Marc Jacobs, I believe? And I liked the hair up like that. It's nice. How do your teeth feel? Please tell me my sister didn't take your braces off herself? She took you to a reputable orthodontist? Your smile looks...amazing, by the way! Although, I always liked your smile. It lights up the room when you walk in. But now...it's totally incredible!
The dress...gotta be Versace! I don't recognize the line it's from…"
She shook her head, smiling, "Actually, it's a McKinney original. Do you really like it?"
"McKinney? Christina designed that? Hell, yeah! You look totally hot! I mean...you know...well, you know you're gorgeous, Betty!" He tried to redeem himself by reverting to his objective assessment of her transformation, "Jimmy Chou's? I like those! Just don't fall! They're awfully high for you, shorty!" he teased.
She shoved his chest lightly, "Shut up! You're so mean!" she started to trip as she shoved him, and he caught her arms to keep her from falling, "See? Told you! Short but...cute. Very cute. I hope you don't think I needed you to change your appearance, though, Betty. Not for me. I always thought you were beautiful."
She bit her lower lip, shaking her head, "No. It's...for me, I guess. I was humoring your sister, and also getting to know her better while we went shopping and went to the salon. It reminded me of going to the spa with your mom the first time I met her. Thankfully, nobody got naked this time, though!
The ortho she took me to was the one she used after her surgeries. And I don't really need these glasses. They're just back ups. I've actually had contacts for a while now, but I've just been too afraid to wear them.
I don't know if you've noticed this, but change is...hard for me sometimes. I tend to hold on to things too long. Even boyfriends. I should have stayed broken up with Walter and never taken him back when he cheated on me. Then, you were right about Henry. I was being stupid! I should have realized how nuts it was to try and hold onto that relationship. What can I say? Change is really scary.
Alexis showed me that I could still be myself but...also be a badass. Her words, not mine." She twirled around, showing off her dress, then took off the glasses, putting them on the table and took her hair down.
Daniel's eyes widened, and he cleared his throat, "SHIT! Um, that was...sexy as hell! Are you TRYING to make me lose my mind before we go to Paris? You do realize I need to concentrate while we're there impressing DJ's grandparents, and maybe talking to lawyers and...I don't know, a lot of boring crap and you are really, really distracting me...looking like that!
How the hell am I supposed to...uh...think straight? Geez, Betty! You're killing me, here!" he managed a grin as he took another step towards her and tilted her chin up with his crooked finger, "Permission to kiss you, Miss Suarez?"
"Permission granted, Mr. Meade."
