A Whole New World
CHAPTER TWO
The rest of the afternoon seemed to loom on forever and Daniel found himself totally unable to wind down, a thousand possible scenarios swirling in his brain as to why Betty was coming back to New York right now and why she had reached out to him to pick her up after all these years of not staying in touch, even as "friends" anymore.
All thoughts of working on his book had flown out the window and he had resorted to pacing, rubbing the back of his neck and running his hands through his hair, so that he practically jumped when his phone buzzed, "HELLO?!"
"Geez! I'd ask how you're doing, but it seems that you're not doing so great, huh? Could that have anything to do with my Aunt Betty, I wonder, Mr. Stud?"
"Justin! Hey, thanks for getting back to me so soon! I know how busy you must be. I really appreciate…"
"Yeah, yeah, let's cut to the chase. I honestly can't believe you had the nerve to go through Marc to get to me! What the hell, Daniel? We USED to be...I don't know, close, didn't we? You were there for me when I was getting over Austin and I called you after you first got back from London.
We hung out...I looked up to you like...I don't know a sort of father figure, or at least a cool uncle! Then you just ghosted me! You stopped returning my calls and started hiding out all the time! Mrs. M. said you shut down and cut everybody off from your life! I guess...I mean, are YOU okay? Are you drinking? Are you sleeping? You're not...I don't know...seriously depressed or anything are you? Should I get you some help?"
Daniel closed his eyes, feeling the hurt he knew he had caused to the young man, "I'm really sorry, Justin! I know I shut you out. You're right; my mom's right, okay? I guess I have gone out of my way to isolate myself for quite a while now...well from everybody! And I won't say I've NOT been drinking probably a little more than I should sometimes. But, no, I'm not drinking all the time and I haven't quite gone off the deep end ...at least not yet! I wasn't trying to cut you or anybody else off, necessarily.
I have been...sort of in a funk for a long time. I get started writing and before I know it, I haven't been out of the house for...weeks...months, even sometimes! I get into my head and let the world around me sort of fade away. As far as being...depressed ...well ...yeah, okay, I'll cop to that, sure. But I'm not suicidal or anything if that's what you're worried about. And I guess I'm not surprised that...you still care enough to ask about me even after I was such a jerk to you! You Suarez's are a pretty decent bunch."
Justin grinned, folding his arms across his chest as he quickly sorted a rack of clothing and waved away the employee, "Sorry, I know I said I needed at least five TRUE RED shirts! Half of those are… SOMETHING, but ONLY this one and...maybe this one are even CLOSE to true red! Try again, please! And don't bring me any more orange or God-awful MAROON ones, okay? Do we need another training on what constitutes red? GO!"
Daniel chuckled, "Are you okay? Do you need a moment to regroup, Justin? It sounds like you're dealing with some idiots over there!"
Justin rolled his eyes, then smiled, "whispering conspiratorially" with one hand to the phone, "I hate to be mean, but I honestly don't know where some of these new interns did their training! I mean, they send me some real winners! Who doesn't know what the hell True RED is for God's sake?"
Daniel laughed out right, "Exactly! It's the color of a Ford Mustang, that's TRUE RED! A Ferrari, while a decent car, is actually more orange-red!"
Justin made a face, "Yeah, sure, whatever floats your boat, Daniel. So, anyway, as far as AB is concerned. I assume you FINALLY called me because you heard from her or maybe your mom that she is coming back to New York soon?"
Daniel wasn't sure if Betty was trying to surprise her family and that's why Justin didn't seem to be aware that his aunt was actually arriving the next afternoon, so he nodded, "Uh, yeah! Exactly! She...called me earlier herself and said she was coming back and she wanted to...talk. Do you know what's going on with her?"
"Of course I do! I'm her favorite nephew. And if you say I'm her ONLY nephew…"
"Well, aren't you? I mean, I know you have a baby sister…"
"You do realize Gabriella is NOT exactly a baby anymore, right, Daniel? My little sister is eight years old now! Mom and Bobby had her right after they got married! One of the many reasons I'm so happy I was away at college to miss crying and diapers! Babysitting and spoiling I actually enjoy! Gabby loves her big brother Justin!"
"That's awesome, Justin! I know I haven't kept up with your family in a long time. But I am happy you are all doing so great!"
"Well, at least your mother has been keeping up with the Suarez/Talercio clan! Mrs. M. and I were going out to lunch and shopping pretty regularly when I first started, up until she retired.
She and I are the main Detty shippers still holding out hope for you two idiots, in fact! Mandy and Marc finally gave up and all the old-timers at Mode lost interest years ago after you first got back from London."
Daniel raised an eyebrow, rubbing his forehead, "You guys are the main...WHAT? What did you say? What the hell is 'Detty'?"
Justin sighed, "Seriously, Daniel? Detty-Daniel and Betty, you goofball! Everyone else has just about given up all hope of you and my aunt EVER getting together after all this time, even Grandpa and Mom!
I swear, I've never met two bigger, more stubborn...blind, STUPID people! Usually, AB is a very smart lady, she always has been...but YOU! OHMYGOD! You really take the cake, Daniel! I mean, what the hell? You...I can't even!"
"Detty?" Daniel thought about the 'power couple' name for a moment, then grinned, "Detty, huh? I like that! It's...cute! Anyway, I'm sorry I messed up yours and my mother's pool, or bet or whatever! ANYWAY… you were saying? About Betty? And why she's coming here now after all this time?"
"Oh, well, two reasons, actually...three! First, her FAVORITE nephew has asked her to be my Maid of honour at my wedding!"
"You're getting married? To...who? I...I didn't even know you were engaged!"
Justin laughed, "Well, no, you wouldn't, would you, since we've already established that you are a lonely old hermit and all, right? Besides, we have only been engaged for a few months. We want to get married as soon as possible. I mean, when you know...you know, right?"
"Uh...right! Well...I guess...congratulations are in order, then, Justin! Who's the uh...lucky guy? Do I know him?"
"No! I mean...I doubt it! Michael is a free-lance photographer. He's a colleague of Cliff, Marc's husband. We met at a club one night. He was visiting New York, staying with Cliff and Marc and came out with us...I think they sort of set us up, because he's closer to my age. He's from San Francisco, but I try not to hold that against him!"
Daniel laughed, "I see. So, after you guys get married, is Michael going to move to New York permanently, then?"
"Well, yeah, of course! I mean...sort of. He travels a lot for his job anyway. He sort of goes wherever the work takes him, you know? So, he has family still in San Fran, but he doesn't really have any ties there. He sold his place a few months ago,when we first got engaged and moved in with me."
"That's great, Justin! I'm really happy for you! You deserve somebody special."
"Thanks! I happen to think so! Michael is so...intense! He's got such an amazing way of looking at things, at people, and nature...everything and seeing the beauty in them, you know? I love that about him!"
"It sounds like you really love him!"
"I do."
"Remember that phrase!' Daniel teased.
"Oh, right!" Justin laughed, then took a deep breath, "So, anyway, onto the next reason AB is coming home. She uh...was worried about Grandpa."
"Your grandfather? Is he okay? What's wrong?"
"He's good. It's just...well...you know, he's turning seventy this year, so I think AB is just missing him a lot, you know? She's been gone so long, she said she really misses everybody...her whole family and...FRIENDS!"
"Friends? Yeah, right...okay. That's...good, I guess."
"You guess? You do understand I'm talking mainly about YOU, right, Daniel?"
"I...guess so. I mean...you wouldn't know it from my end! Look, Justin, the phone works both ways, you know! I DID follow her all the way across an ocean and…"
"And...what? Let her try and GUESS exactly WHY you followed her there?"
"Well, I wrote…"
"Your little 'love letter' in your last issue of Mode before you quit? That was sweet and even romantic, but...why didn't you follow it up with...I don't know, some kind of explanation, person to person once you got there? Maybe KISS her for God's sake? Or at least TELL her you were crazy in love with the woman? I mean, I know my aunt can be stubborn, too…"
"No kidding!"
"LET me finish, please! She can be hesitant to jump into relationships and I get that you might have been afraid she wouldn't have time for you and her to become "more than friends" right away when you got there. So, obviously, you realized that and panicked, then jumped on the first plane back to the states!"
He sighed, realizing Justin was just as smart as his aunt and apparently had his number. "Whatever. So...what's the third reason?"
"You would...probably have to talk to your mother about that."
"My mom? What does she have to do with...wait...did my mother offer Betty a JOB or something?"
"Ding ding….ah, and people say you're pretty and dumb! Or is it pretty dumb?"
"Thanks, Justin!"
"Just kidding! Listen, it's been great catching up and all and playing let's state the obvious, Daniel, but I'm afraid I'm really swamped right now. Can you let me know, when you hear from her again what day she's coming, so Mom and I can have a few days to plan a welcome home party?"
"I would, but...I think maybe she wanted to surprise you guys."
"Oh...I see. So, she asked you to pick her up at the airport?"
"Yeah."
"That's fine. I guess she plans on having it out with you before she does anything else; she'll go ahead and put her cards on the table. That's good, I guess. Get everything out of the way, first thing, get it over with before she starts over."
"Get WHAT over with? Justin, what are you NOT telling me?"
"Look, Daniel, I've already said too much. We never had this conversation, okay? I always liked you and I put up with a lot of your immature behavior for my aunt's sake and your mother's because I love them both. And you WERE nice to me when I was a kid.
But I swear to Prada, if you DARE hurt her anymore in any way...well, Michael is built like Thor! He has his beautiful blue eyes and blonde hair and...well, he does Chris Hemsworth's workouts, and is very...muscle-y. He will kick your ass, believe me!"
Daniel tried not to laugh at the amusing "threat", "Okay, Justin. I believe you. And...don't worry. We never had this conversation. I promise. But...I am happy for you! Michael is a very lucky God of Lightning! No, wait, thunder, right?"
"You're damn right he is!"