Betty looked around the MODE Christmas party in full swing. She was thrilled that the party seemed to be such a success. Everyone milled around drinking and talking, seemingly in good spirits. Her co-workers looked relaxed and in good spirits, deadlines and pressures temporarily forgotten. She picked up her snow globe and looked out over the party as she caught sight of Henry.
She had seen him the other afternoon in Daniel's office, talking intently with her boss. Henry had been gesturing to something on Daniel's desk, pointing to it with what looked like anger. She knew it wasn't any of his expense reports, smiling as she remembered the learned lesson from before. Betty hadn't been able to see what it was that had Henry so riled up, but whatever it was apparently Daniel was in agreement with Henry. Daniel had held his hands up as Henry had adjusted his glasses and folded his arms in front of him. Betty had never seen Henry that angry before, but before she could go in and find out what was going on, her phone had rung and Betty had to run downstairs to pick up some layouts for Daniel. Betty shook her head to clear it as Henry looked over at her.
It seemed to Betty that time stopped as soon as she made eye contact with Henry. She caught his look and held it. First
he was smiling at her across the room, then something changed. His expression became serious and intense, his brown
eyes pinning her inside them as she could read his intensity from across a crowded party. Someone walked through
her line of vision. As the person moved slowly past, Betty's eyes focused on the brunette now taking Henry's
attention. Betty dimly thought she had been a fling of Daniel's, but the thought fled her head as she watched the model
pressing her lips to Henry's. Her mouth closed with a shock as she quickly grabbed her things and fled to the safety
of the elevator. She was only vaguely aware of Henry's voice calling after her as she pushed her way into the elevator.
She tried to work the hurt and disappointed look off her face at Henry as the doors closed in front of her.
Betty had failed miserably.
Betty arrived at the office the next morning. Even though it was Saturday, she'd promised Daniel she would come in to make sure that the party had been cleaned up properly. As she arrived at her desk, she spied an envelope on her desk with her name on it in bold block letters. A single pink rose lay next to it. She frowned as she picked up the envelope and opened it.
Betty I have something that I need to give to you. Meet me at Javier's restaurant in the Village tonight at 8. Wear a red sweater.
A Friend
Betty's frown deepened as she looked at the note. She didn't exactly recognize the handwriting, but something about the cryptic note excited her. She hoped it wasn't from Walter.
She and Walter had talked for several hours last night on her father's couch. Betty had finally decided to tell him that she was breaking up with him. She still cared for him and always wanted to be friends with him, but she didn't love him anymore. Betty remembered the hurt on Walter's face as she had told him that. Betty had tried to be as nice as she could to him, explaining that their lives were in two different places now and that she needed more than just what was in her world in Queens. Walter had not been very understanding. Betty knew that he would be upset and understandably hurt, but when he'd grabbed her presents and stormed out, yelling something about Gina Gambarro and how he was better off without her, Betty had known she'd made the right decision. Hilda had raised her eyebrows at Walter's departure, but mercifully hadn't said anything to Betty. Now sitting here with this note, she prayed that Walter hadn't decided to try and change Betty's mind. Betty tucked the note into her purse as she looked around at the office. As she stood up to check out the rest of the offices, her heart jumped into her throat as she realized what the note was about.
"The pictures!" Betty gasped. That HAD to be it!! Whomever sent her the note had to have the pictures. She groaned aloud as she knew she was going to have to have dinner with the new owner of her pictures. She only hoped it was someone who would be sympathetic to her and hand them over. Feeling nervous and anxious about her evening's plans, Betty stood and headed out of the office.
At 8 o'clock Betty walked into Javier's, nervously looking around. As she approached the waitress stand, a kind looking man greeted her.
"Senorita Betty, welcome. We've been expecting you." The man said. He reached behind the counter next to the waitress stand and pulled out a bouquet of mixed flowers and handed them to her. Betty inhaled the fragrances of the pink roses, carnations and daisies as the man smiled at her.
"There's nothing better for a man to see than a pretty lady enjoying flowers. My name is Javier. Welcome to my restaurant." Javier said as he led her back to the rear of the dining area. Betty's hands nervously tightened on the flowers as she wondered whom she would be meeting. She wasn't expecting Marc or Amanda to go to all this trouble, and Daniel would be a real shock. But she was unprepared for the dark head bent over the menu, looking as nervous as she felt.
"Henry?" Betty said. Henry looked up from the menu he'd been studying as he watched Betty walk towards him. Javier watched as the young man's face lit up when he saw her approach.
"Senor Henry, you described her perfectly." Javier said with a smile, "I knew this was Betty the moment she walked in the door."
"Thanks Javier." Henry said as he stood. He pulled out the other chair at the table as Betty stared at Henry. Javier shook Henry's hand as he motioned to the chair.
"Please sit Betty, you two enjoy yourselves and if you need anything let me know." Javier said. Betty slowly lowered herself into the chair as Henry gently pushed it in for her. He walked back over to his chair and sat down across from her. Betty smoothed her hands over her skirt as she looked at Henry. He smiled at her as she picked up her menu.
"So..." Betty said, studying the menu closely.
"Betty, I want to apologize for last night. I don't know who that girl was kissing me, but I want you to know I definitely didn't ask her to do that." Henry said, looking over at Betty. Betty adjusted her glasses, studying Henry carefully before answering.
"Henry, it's OK. Really. I mean it's none of my business who you go around kissing or anything..." Betty said as she trailed off, her face blushing hotly. Henry reached over the table and gently placed a hand on top of hers.
"Betty, I don't want you to think I just go around kissing anyone." Henry said, "That woman just walked up to me and kissed me before I could say or do anything." Henry gently squeezed her hand as he looked intently at her. Betty's mouth went dry as she pulled her hand out from under his.
"Well...I'm...uh...glad you don't go around just kissing anyone." Betty stammered as Henry picked up his menu again, giving Betty a wide smile.
"Ok then, how about we order?" Henry asked, "I'm starving."
As they ate their meal, the two of them chatted happily about everything and nothing. Henry told her about growing up in Tucson, describing the town so vividly Betty could almost feel the desert sun on her face. Betty told him about living in Queens, with Hilda for a sister. They found they liked the same ice cream (Mint chocolate chip) and Betty's mental image of Henry spooning ice cream out of the container slowly into his mouth was enough to make her shiver right there at the table.
She found she enjoyed the ease of conversation and laughter with Henry. Even when recalling an embarrassing incident in school with her older sister, the captain of the football team and some water balloons, Henry laughed with her, not AT her. She felt full and contented from the wonderful food and the wine Henry had selected for dinner that even when they'd rode the subway back to her house and Henry was walking her down her street, she'd almost forgotten what this dinner was supposed to be about. As they stopped close to her house, Betty turned on the sidewalk and looked up at Henry. He cupped her elbows and turned her as he pulled a manila envelope out of his coat. As he handed it to Betty, her lips parted in shock. She took the envelope from him with a shaky hand.
"The pictures...but how did you...?"
"Get them, I'm not sure. They were left in my inbox the other day." Henry shrugged. Betty bit her lip as she looked at Henry's face.
"Did you...see them?" Betty asked. Henry nodded.
"I wanted to get them back to you...before anyone else saw them." Henry said, "and just so you know, those pictures don't change anything between you and I. I still think you're a wonderful person Betty." Betty looked at Henry, speechless.
"You do?" Betty asked.
"Yes, I do." Henry answered, "Daniel told me what the story was behind those pictures and I told him that I would make sure they got back to you and you could destroy them or whatever you wanted to do with them."
"Thank you Henry. This is a big relief after all that's happened this week. I mean with the party and breaking up with Walter and Christmas coming up soon..." Betty stopped as she felt Henry's hand on her arm.
"You...you and Walter broke up?" Henry asked. Betty nodded.
"I didn't love him anymore and I realized he wasn't the one for me. But anyway, thank you for giving me these back. I was wondering if this is what you needed to give me from the note you'd left." Betty said. Henry looked at her, puzzled.
"Um...Betty. That wasn't what I needed to give you." Henry said softly.
"It wasn't?" Betty said, "Then what was it you needed to give me?" Betty asked. Henry took a step forward.
"This." Henry said as he leaned down and kissed her. Betty stood rooted to the spot as Henry's lips gently moved across hers. Henry's lips were soft and warm against her cold ones. She felt him take her gloved hands in his. It was a short kiss but full of promise. He broke the kiss and looked down at her.
"Wow, that was..."
"I know." Betty smiled up at him.
"Can I call you tomorrow?" Henry asked. Betty nodded. They walked the rest of the way to her house. At the top of her porch steps Henry leaned down and brushed his lips against hers one more time. Betty sighed and waved goodbye to him as he walked back out to the sidewalk and down the street. She smiled dreamily as she turned the key in the lock. Henry walked back down the street towards the subway. As he walked he realized he'd finally found the woman his heart had been made to love. He smiled as he thought of the duplicate set of "Betty's" pictures he'd had made, hiding in the fireproof safe inside his closet. Someday he would share another laugh with Betty as they looked back to where those pictures had brought them.
Until then, Henry's Little Secret would just have to wait!!!!!!!
THE END