Merry Christmas, Darling
The gentle sound of the rain outside and the train whistle blowing in the distance was soothing. Betty closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind and just listen, telling herself to relax and get some sleep. It wasn't all that late, but she was exhausted.
And it wasn't like she could do anything to change the course of the coming storm that the news stations were all predicting. The temperatures were supposed to continue to drop overnight and the rain would turn to snow. Lots of snow.
Her thoughts returned to that night, years ago when she had talked about just such an event. A blizzard in New York that would shut everything down and make the city, with all its traffic and people turn suddenly quiet, and tranquil like some magically enchanted fairy tale land that had stopped in time.
She felt in the dark for her phone, starting to quickly do the math to figure out the time difference before smiling to herself when she remembered she no longer needed to bother.
"Hey! Are you here...where are you?"
She rolled onto her stomach, biting her lip and feeling somehow like a teenager, flirting with a boy she liked. But she raised an eyebrow, whispering slightly, trying to sound sexy, and hoping he didn't laugh at her attempt, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
That earned her a chuckle, "Uh, yeah. I would. I mean...are you still in England or are you back in the good old USA?"
"Do you care?"
"Betty...come on, you know I do! Are you here yet? Can I see you? WithOUT an eight hour flight, I mean?"
She let out a breath, finding she was happy and excited to know that he indeed wanted to see her as much as she did him.
"I'm at Papi's house. I just got here a few hours ago. I tried to get some sleep, but I'm too wired. I slept a bit on the plane, but then I had a few coffees right before we landed and I'm…"
He laughed, "High as a squirrel on crack? You sound like Alvin!"
"Alvin?"
"You know, the chipmunk?"
Her eyes widened, "OHMYGOD! My voice being high? THAT'S why Bobby calls me chipmunk? I always thought it was just because he thought my cheeks were fat or something and because I was really young when he and Hilda used to mak…"
"Betty, sweetie. You're babbling. I mean, this is VERY interesting hearing about your hot brother-in-law and how you had a crush on him as a kid and kissed him for your Fearless article and all, but can we please skip to the part when you tell me to come over before we both get snowed in and don't get to see each other for a week after all this time? Is it okay with your dad and step-mom if I come see you? Tonight? It's been ten years. I can't wait!"
She sighed, grinning, "You remember my Fearless article?"
"I remember everything that happened when you worked at Mode, Betty. I also remember what happened after you left and how I had to wait for you to reach your goals and make your dream come true before you had time to date me or anyone."
"Daniel, let's not go over that again. I never said I couldn't date."
"You pushed me and every other guy away until you had been working non-stop at Dunne for at least five years, barely putting your head up to breathe, let alone have time for a social life and you know it!"
"That's not true! Entirely." she sighed, "Well, okay, maybe it's a little bit true."
"You know it is. But that's okay. I missed you, and I wanted to stay and wait for you, because I was scared to death you would meet some stupid British dork, and go through the whole routine like we did with Henry and Gio and Matt and...all those losers I had to chase away...I mean…"
"You had to...what?"
"You know what I mean. I know you like to have more than one guy fighting over you. You're kind of like that Bridget Smith in those damn chick flicks you made me watch that turned out to be kind of funny, mainly because of the crazy fights between the guys."
"Bridget JONES! And I am NOT!"
"Well you sound like her now. Miss Brit!" he laughed. "What happened to your New York accent? You sound more like the Queen than the girl FROM Queens!" he teased.
"I don't sound British! Ten years isn't that long."
"It is, too! It's a freaking DECADE, Betty! I'm in my damn FORTIES now! I'm almost forty-six! I'm an old man, waiting around for you to have time for me."
"Well, nobody told you to...waiting for...ME? You were? Really?"
"Don't sound so surprised! You knew I followed you there and stayed as long as I possibly could without knocking you over the head and carrying you off to my cave. You also knew that ever since I got back to New York, I kept calling and checking in with your family while you were gone.
I'm practically an adopted Suarez member now! I got a bunch of free food and cooking lessons from your dad, since I've been to so many 'Tuesday Tamale Nights' at your house. He even showed me how to make his Mole, although I've never tried it on my own. I've gone out drinking with Bobby several times and Justin is definitely an adopted Meade since my mom adores him and fights over him with Wilhelmina."
"That's all very sweet, Daniel."
"So...can I see you? Tonight? Please? It's going to be Christmas soon and I HAVE to see you before Christmas! Do you want me to beg?"
"Daniel, I don't know. I mean we've been friends for such a long time! I told you specifically NOT to wait for me! I never knew if I was even coming back to the states. I had originally planned to stay at least until Mr. Dunne retired, maybe another five years or more."
"What made you come back now?"
"I missed you...um...the U.S.!"
His grin spread at her slip, "You missed little old ME? Well, in spite of you trying your best to tell me to stay in the permanent friend zone, Miss Suarez, I happen to hear from Christina, from Justin, and even from that Eunice you work with in England that you talk about me...a LOT! So, I'm going to take you flying back to New York as you making the first move. A very big move, granted. FINALLY!
So I'm making the second move. You stay right where you are. In your bed. Do you still have those Disney Princess sheets? Kinky!"
She laughed, blushing in spite of herself, "NO! I would hope my dad changed the sheets before I came home! Besides, I'm only going to be here for a few weeks, until I find my own place."
"I have room. You could stay with me."
"Just like that? I'm back in New York, so I should move in with you?"
"No. Don't be silly. We should sleep together first."
"DANIEL!"
He laughed, "You're too easy, Betty! You are so damn adorable when you're all embarrassed. I bet you're blushing, aren't you? Maybe I'm not TOO old after all, if I can still make you blush after all these years. By the way, I'm already texting my driver and getting my coat. Are you in your PJ's or do you sleep naked, too?"
"Cut it out! You're just trying to make me embarrassed!"
"Is it working? Send me a selfie."
"Dream on!"
"Oh, trust me, I have been. Every night for ten years, girl! That's why I'm on my way. I wish you would have let me come pick you up from the airport. I could have just brought you home."
"I am home."
"I meant MY home!"
"Daniel...I don't know if you coming over tonight is…"
"It's happening. Deal with it, Betty. You came back. You called me. So don't tell me you don't want me to come there. Even after all this time, you know me better than to think I wouldn't come when you called. I told you even when you were in the UK, all you had to do was call and I would be there or bring you back here."
Her face was getting more and more flushed with every wonderful thing he said. Daniel had tried many times to tell her his feelings for her had changed while he was in England, but he respected her decision to stay single and work on her career.
He never came right out and said those three little words before or after he left London, but she had to admit, she wouldn't have known what to do if he had done so at any time during the past ten years.
He told her (and her family) that he never wanted to get in the way of her success and perhaps have her later resent that he had kept her from achieving her goals. But now...SHE had been the one to return. So did that mean she was ready to finally face him and figure out where they went from here?
Coming back to New York after being out of the country was going to be a huge "culture shock" she knew. But there were many things about America that she had been missing for quite some time and one had the bluest eyes she had ever seen! Oh crap, did she just say that out loud?
She heard a laugh, "What did you just say? You like my blue eyes? Thank you! The feeling is mutual. I can't wait to take off your glasses and see your beautiful brown eyes, and kiss you and get one of your sexy hugs, either! I think I must have hugged the stuffing out of all my pillows! Not to mention...well, never mind. I want to SEE you blush in person next time!
Listen, Betty...I'd better stop flirting like this or I'll be way too embarrassed myself to have your old man opening the door because I'm so turned on! By the way...welcome home! And...Merry Christmas, my darling Betty!"
She bit her bottom lip, did she really hear him right? Did he just call her darling and say he wanted to KISS her?