Author's Note: Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last chapter. See a timelier update. Things are going better already.
I know a lot of you guys are hoping that Betty and Daniel get their act together sooner rather than later. I will tell you that is coming. I'm personally waiting for the resolution of another mystery and that's coming very soon as well.
Chapter 34: Thanksgiving Epiphanies
"Why am I required to be here?" Jordan asked her girlfriend the moment they made it into the restaurant after surviving the paparazzi. It seemed that everyone wanted to get a picture of Bradford Meade's illegitimate daughter.
Considering the nasty looks that Alexis was getting, Jordan was already starting to find the paparazzi more pleasant. A few of the creative directors and managing editors are pissed off that she was named the new EIC of HUDSON. If only they knew Alexis was the one who started that magazine from scratch in the first place. It didn't matter. Damien was a prick anyway and most of the others were just as incompetent.
"I don't even work for Meade Publications. Actually, I work for one of your competitors. Shouldn't there be a rule against me being here." Especially since, Jordan really did not want to be here and she was not a fan of Thanksgiving. It wasn't something they celebrated in her house growing up. The main reason was her mom was British. But there was also the fact her mom was a doctor who was always on call and that made celebrating most holidays difficult. Mostly because people do stupid stuff when forced to spend quality time with their family. Jordan was kind of happy that last year they were mostly dealing with Alexis's surgery and she didn't have to be dealing with people who gave her dirty looks for moving on from Alex to Jamie so quickly.
"Purely by choice to avoid allegations of impropriety. Jamie said even Bradford wanted you here." Alexis told her as she directed her to the appetizer table, which was fine because she really wanted to try the Farmer's cheese thing with walnuts. She saw that Daniel and Monique were already there.
"Don't be upset, you like us." Monique passed her one of the appetizers. "Besides you have to be here because you avoided everybody at a very dysfunctional Meade Publications Halloween Ball. It's your turn." She would make some snide comment about Jamie not even being there because something fell apart at the last minute but she felt it was best not to.
"And we need someone to keep her from Wilhelmina." Daniel pointed his glass at his sister. Of course, he was drinking champagne.
"And you think I will." She took the glass out of his hand. "Besides you are the one who does stupid things at these events. No drinking." And quickly gave it to one of the waiters. "You still have two or three more weeks before they take the cast off." She said reminding Daniel of what happened last time he got completely wasted at a party.
"You are being entirely unfair." She was being completely fair because the smell of champagne made her want to regurgitate. Actually the smell of everything made her want to start regurgitating. She wondered how long she can go without throwing up on anyone. Seriously why do they call it morning sickness? She was always sick right now.
"And we don't need you to make an ass out of yourself, in front of Betty." Alexis snarked at her brother.
"He doesn't need alcohol to do that." Monique mumbled under her breath.
"Doesn't he need to actually speak to Betty to make a fool out of himself? According to DJ, they have been avoiding each other since Halloween." Alexis replied.
"We talk." Daniel said defensively and Jordan as positive everyone was biding their tongues as not to say something along the lines of "sure you talk about Alex and MODE but not about the fact that you're still in love with each other." That type of conversation with make her really wish she could have drank the champagne and that is definitely a no-no right now.
"Where is Satan the diva anyway?" Jordan asked. It was never a good sign when Wilhelmina was the preferred topic of conversation.
"I would say eating the hearts of the innocents but she has toned it down drastically in the last couple of weeks. She wore blue jeans yesterday. Blue jeans!" Daniel exclaimed.
"How horribly traumatic for you." Monique replied dryly.
"My future stepsister is driving Nico to the bastard's house to spend a very miserable Thanksgiving with the guy who doesn't bother to buy her a birthday present and the trophy wife. Then she's heading over to my mom's house in the Hamptons early."
"Where you on the other hand will be waiting until the last minute to show up using the launch of the new magazine as an excuse." Daniel pointed out bitterly.
"I have to be here. This is my formal introduction as the youngest EIC in Meade Publications history." Monique did not seem very happy about that.
"We don't know that for sure because Mrs. Somers-Suarez refuses to tell anybody her actual age." Daniel shrugged. "However. I'm just happy to not be dealing with the backstabbing right now even if I am the one forced to do all this schmoozing for Mode." Despite the fact that he was good at it Jordan knew that Daniel hated doing that sort of thing.
"Let me just say what a wonderful job you're doing hiding with us at the appetizer table," Alexis quipped.
"I mingled earlier. I can only take Damien for about two minutes at a time before I try to smack him." Monique raised her glass in agreement. Thankfully, she was drinking something that did not make Jordan nauseous. Seriously, why the hell do they call it morning sickness when it's very prominent at one in the afternoon?
"Let me just say again how unfair it is that Wilhelmina does not have to be here when I am being forced to mingle with everyone." 'As I desperately try not to regurgitate on anybody shoes.' However, Jordan keeps that part to herself.
"She is being forced to spend time with her bastard ex-husband and his new trophy wife. I hate her and even I think that's too much for someone to deal with." At that moment, Monique gave her a flute of ginger rail. Allegedly, this was so nobody would realize she wasn't drinking but she almost wondered if Monique figured it out.
"As I stated earlier, I can't get out of this but I'm fine with that because it keeps me from spending more time with my loving mother and sister who will criticize every single thing I do this like the fact that I am an EIC before my 30th birthday." Monique said angrily as she grabbed something fried from the table. They looked cute but the smell was making her sick and just a little dizzy. Why did she volunteered to go through this again?
"So instead you get to spend quality time with managing editors and creative directors who will say even nastier things about you and me for that matter. Let's see you are too young and probably got your job by blowing Daniel and I'm just a beneficiary of good old-fashioned nepotism."
"Don't forget the argument that you allegedly have no experience outside of writing for a blog and have no business running a magazine." Daniel said smiling.
"This is nothing new. Last year the same assholes spent the entire time talking about how I was underqualified to be the creative director of HUDSON because I didn't have to dick."
"Which is ridiculous. Jamie says that you're one of the best he's ever worked with." Jordan told the new EIC.
"I'm sure they are saying the same thing about me now." Alexis complained.
"I don't know. You're probably the only one in the room who understands the true depth of male privilege. That would be an interesting article for MYW." Monique seemed really excited about that.
"I bet they're all staring out me wondering why I gave that up." Alexis grabbed another snack off the table. This time something with it, Paris and Gorgonzola.
"They're all staring at me wondering how I can carry on a conversation with Daniel and his long-lost brother come sister even though I'm now with the guy he punched out." Monique snickered. "None of these people are worth paying attention to. You are better than they are."
"God, I wish I met you two Thanksgivings ago." Jordan felt similarly. Yes she was happy that Alexis was back with her and comfortable in her own skin but he wished she never had to deal with those horrible months where she was convinced that Alex killed himself because he couldn't deal with it anymore. She hated that time.
"I really don't care what the press or work colleagues think about me." Daniel shrugged. "However, just for the record I am perfectly okay with Gio dating Monique. We were never actually together."
"The tabloids don't know about Betty which is what we want." Monique added. "There's so focus on Daniel's pretend love life that they don't see how dysfunctional his real one is." That was true. She's just spent the last month with these guys acting completely awkward around one another. It was just so ridiculous.
"Things are fine." That is Daniel speak for things are not fine at all and I have no idea what I'm doing with her.
"Which is why you're making small talk with your sister, who you're mad up for not telling you that she was your sister; her secret girlfriend; and me, who according to the media you absolutely hate. Although, that part may be true. The only reason why you talk to Damien earlier was so you could not talk to her." Monique said a little too bluntly. Jordan adored the woman for that.
"Which was not a good idea because he started talking about how he wanted to 'tap that'. Think could you maybe whisper the secret girlfriend thing. Faye will get snippy." Daniel remarked and Jordan just rolled her eyes. She wished they could come out publicly but allegedly polyandry was too weird. Actually the fact she had a girlfriend who used to be her boyfriend probably wouldn't go over that well either. She hated the press.
"I know. I barely got you out of there. You punching out Damien would cause more of the scene then somebody hearing the girlfriend comments." Monique pointed out a little too cheerily.
"A woman having a girlfriend is seen in a completely different way than a man having a boyfriend. It still amazes me the difference in how people perceive two women together as opposed to two men together or a man and a woman for that matter. We would have to start making out for people to understand our relationship." Alexis replied angrily.
"Not surprised at all. Now let's get back to getting Betty and Daniel to see the light and get it together." Daniel just rolled his eyes at Monique's words.
"We have it together. Things are better." Daniel argued. No one believed him.
"So much better that you tried to punch out Damien and I'm sure that you were be growling at Marc, if he was not a Kinsey six." She said pointing to Marc and Betty making the rounds. She was sticking very close to Marc probably for her friend to function as a buffer.
"We're making plans to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center next weekend. See things are wonderful."
"With poor DJ and Alex playing buffer and you getting ready to punch out the first cute guy that speaks to her." Monique pointed out bluntly. Alexis was smirking.
"Alexis, Jamie, and I are also coming. Which is a little unfair sense I'm not supposed to go ice skating right now."
Jordan is really thankful that nobody asked her why she's banned from ice-skating. She forgot she shouldn't mention things like that for at least another two months.
"Also why would I hate you for dating Gio? Actually, I adore you for dating the deli guy. You deserve a nice guy." Okay. Jordan was going to throw up now and it wouldn't be the fault of the morning sickness. Actually, Daniel in denial was making the morning sickness worse. She's not sure she can deal with 7 ½ months of this.
"Because if I'm sleeping with him he won't go anywhere near your precious Betty."
"Have you guys tried the mushrooms? This stuff is so good." Daniel said in an effort to change the subject.
"Your future father-in-law provided everything, of course the appetizers are going to be good. And I know you're not going to be mad about that. Actually I'm pretty sure you sent him a condo bouquet. I'm talking about you being upset that I'm trying to poach your assistant." Monique explained.
"It's fine. Betty used to work for you and I know you don't have anybody right now and you're trying to launch a magazine in two months. You're in MODE space anyway thanks to whatever the hell Amanda did."
Jordan is sure the reason why Daniel would be completely cool with that is he doesn't really know how to act around Betty right now; so he's going into avoidance mode. Sometimes, he's so like his sister that it's scary.
"Honestly, I think Betty likes doing work for your magazine better. Sometimes it feels like Faye is trying to turn her into the second coming of herself."
"I'm glad you realize that her hearts not into it." 'I wonder if he realizes that she's only still at Mode for him.' Jordan thought to herself at Monique's words.
"Betty is a hard worker. She just doesn't care about fashion. Not really. However she has Amanda to pick out outfits. But she's great at everything else." Daniel said honestly.
"Actually, my money is on Justin putting that ensemble together." Justin was chatting with the editors of 15 Magazine. Okay even from here Jordan was sure that he was criticizing their fashion spreads.
"You're probably right. Actually I see Justin taking over Mode before Betty. Actually I fully expect for him to be my successor as soon as he graduates college." Daniel paused for a moment. "Or possibly before graduation. It may be a soonest he can be legally employed. He fixed the Tim and Chloe shoot."
"What happen?" Monique asked.
"Everything. I don't want to talk about it." Daniel called over to get a glass of champagne. He better drink that somewhere else other why she will vomit on his shoes.
"That's okay we were talking about Betty coming over to be my assistant at MYW anyway."
"We were talking about Betty helping you out until the renovations were overt not you taking her downstairs." Daniel got defensive very quick. He really doesn't like the idea of Betty leaving him in any capacity.
"Come on you just said that the fashion part of the magazine is not her favorite aspect. She only went there in the first place as a personal favor to Marc." Monique argued.
"Who is stuck with Carlo." Daniel pointed out.
"Because Wilhelmina decided to play musical assistance to fuck with your mind. Personally, I think the only reason why Betty doesn't want to take up my offer is she's afraid if she leaves you alone with Wilhelmina the wicked witch might convince you to go off to France."
"I'm not going to leave Betty and my son behind just because Wilhelmina Slater is making things difficult." Daniel seemed deeply offended at the thought of him doing something like that.
"Maybe you should tell her that." Monique threw her hands up in frustration.
"I will."
"As soon as you are speaking with her again which is the other reason why I offered." Monique remarked. "Maybe it would be easier for you guys to work out your personal stuff if you didn't have to deal with everything professionally as well."
Thankfully for everyone involved that was when Jordan promptly threw up on Daniel shoes. It was so the champagnes fault and she didn't even drink any. It is going to be a long pregnancy but she would be okay with that as long as she got her baby in the end.
X
"I'm so sorry I threw up on your shoes," Jordan said from inside the ladies room. Yes. Daniel followed behind her. Actually, Faye made him because Alexis needed to be on stage right now and apparently it was part of his little brother duties to make sure his sister's girlfriend was okay. He was also given a box up saltines, some mouthwash, and an entire bottle of ginger ale. If he wasn't sure of what was going on with Jordan, he knew now.
"It's fine. Faye is sending Marisol or someone else to retrieve a spare pair of shoes and another suit from the closet. I should be presentable by the time we need to take the Meade Publications Christmas photo." Daniel tried to make Jordan feel better.
"Okay, now I feel worse. I completely forgot about the photo. Although, that explains why Jamie is going to stop by for the last 20 minutes no matter what."
"Jamie will be here soon. He's bringing you another dress and your favorite tea."
"At least this keeps us from mingling with Damien." Jordan said before she started throwing up again. Honestly, this was not a new thing in their relationship. He watched her throw up a lot right after Alex died or rather when they thought Alex died. (It's all really confusing.)
"So how much longer do you think the morning sickness is going to last?" Daniel asked when she stopped making really good use of the toilet. "From what I was told, Betty had it for most of her pregnancy but she did deliver early." There was no need for Daniel to keep pretending. Really, it was obvious to him what was going on.
"If I'm lucky four more weeks. If I'm not lucky 32 more weeks. Actually, if the morning sickness sticks around for 32 weeks, I will still be lucky because that means that I successfully carried this baby to term." Jordan came out of the stall and grabbed the mouthwash from him. It was the special alcohol free type.
"Did Alexis tell you? We were not planning to tell anybody until January." Of course, they would want to wait until after the end of the first trimester, especially with what happened last time. Jordan was such a mess, after losing the baby. If her earlier statement was any indication, she was worried about the same thing happening this time around.
"You threw up on my shoes. It was obvious." Daniel just shrugged.
"Do you think it will be obvious to everyone else?" Jordan seemed a little worried.
"Marc will start a rumor about you being bulimic and it will all be okay."
"I've probably deserve that for messing things up with him and Jamie." Jordan sighed.
"Things were already messed up before Marc got there and you know he loves Cliff." These two were the most normal and stable couple that Daniel knew right now.
"It's adorably sweet." She said grabbing the class of ginger ale he left for her on the sink. "Let's see if this will make me less nauseous."
"So was this an accident or …" Daniel trailed off not sure if even had a right to ask that question. Especially because he somehow managed to get Betty pregnant without actually coming inside of her.
"You may not believe me but we actually planned this. It happened faster than we thought it would because Jamie has super sperm but this was a 100% planned pregnancy." Jordan reassured him.
"I'm a little surprised that you…" Daniel stopped talking because he wasn't sure how to word what he wanted to say in a way that would not make Jordan mad.
"That I was willing to risk the heartache of losing another child. Trust me Daniel, I'm terrified. I was terrified that I would have trouble getting pregnant. I'm scared that I might not be able to maintain this pregnancy. I'm scared that maybe Wilhelmina will have another moment and I'll get pushed down the stairs again." He could see Jordan shaking a little as she spoke
"But you still went through with it?"
"Yes." She replied emphatically. "You're a dad. You have to understand the joy of hugs and bedtime stories. And I want us, the three of us, to have that together. Which means facing my fears and trying to have a family."
"But how do you face that fear?" A part of Daniel wondered if they were still talking about the pregnancy.
"Because if I didn't get over the fear of losing everything again, I wouldn't have the possibility of having something so great." Jordan's hand moved to her stomach.
"It's like you and Betty."
"Let's not talk about me and Betty." Daniel groaned. Seriously, why were his friends so obsessed with him and Betty? He is almost positive that Marc and Monique write RPF stories about the couple.
"The situation with Betty probably hurt you as much as my miscarriage. You lost her and she fucked up by not telling you about the entire Wilhelmina blackmail thing. And I know that it hurt a lot." Jordan grabbed his hand.
"Yes it did hurt." Daniel reluctantly acknowledged.
"And maybe there's some part of you that's afraid of giving her another chance because not only are you afraid that she's going to break your heart again but you're terrified of what will happen if that happens. Because let me tell you I'm so scared of losing the baby. I'm fucking terrified! I won't even go near a stairwell." At a serious look on her face Daniel knew she was not joking.
"That may be wise."
"But if I did not go through with getting pregnant again then I will never have the chance to hold my son or daughter in my arms and I want that. Every time I hold Alex in my arms, I wanted it just a little bit more and that helped me get over my fear and try again. And this may not succeed but it's better to try and get your heart broken then to never try at all."
When Betty showed up with his replacement shoes and suit 10 minutes later, Daniel realized that Jordan had a point. It was time to stop being scared. He needed to give things with Betty another chance. A real chance. Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't but if he doesn't try she may end up with someone else and this time the guy won't be an escort arranged by Faye. Daniel wasn't ready for that to happen.
To Be Continued