Thank you to everybody who read or gave kudos to the last chapter. You're all wonderful. I would love to know what you're thinking about the new material.
Congratulations, we've made it to July 2010.
A text message key will be at the end of the chapter.
All times will be EDT unless otherwise stated.
Chapter 41: Baby Steps
June 30, 2010 3:32 PM EDT
Daniel the prick: I know Brianna told you that one of us would send you updates about the pregnancy. Because your aunt is on Alexis duty, I volunteered to do updates. She had her check-up with the new doctor today. Dr. Sawyer says everything with the babies is going well.
Daniel the prick: Her gestational diabetes seems to be under control, and her blood pressure is back in the normal range. The doctor is also happy with that. Although Dr. Sawyer is still upset that we didn't have Amanda come in sooner.
Matt: You actually volunteered to contact me? What does Breanna have on you?
Daniel the prick: She's taking care of Alexis Sr. in Cleveland. Her surgery yesterday went well, by the way.
Matt: I know. I do talk to my aunt. I was kind of expecting her to give me these updates.
Daniel the prick: I didn't want her in the middle of this with everything else she's dealing with. So, it was going to either be Betty or me. For the moment, it's probably better that it's me.
Matt: Because apparently, Betty hates me. I still can't believe she cursed me out.
Daniel the prick: Amanda is her best friend. Betty is naturally going to be overprotective.
Matt: That's definitely Betty.
Daniel the prick: You should probably know that was Amanda using Betty's phone. She didn't appreciate the 45 messages you left her, and she may have broken her phone.
Matt: I thought she just change the number because of my mom.
Daniel the prick: Amanda had many reasons to change her number. Most of them were related to you. Your mother essentially threatened to kill her if she didn't stay the hell away from you.
Matt: I know. Cliff showed me the note.
Daniel the prick: That was after what she said to Amanda at the wedding. Thankfully, your aunt was in listening distance. I think your mom is getting sloppy.
Matt: Or she's just too rich to care.
Daniel the prick: That's entirely possible.
Matt: Did they do another ultrasound?
Daniel the prick: Not this time. They would have if Amanda's other vital signs did not improve. But she's doing well. I think the move has been good for her.
Matt: I'm glad.
Daniel the prick: We did get to hear the babies' heartbeat. Betty made a recording. Although I think I'm going to have to ask Justin to download it to the computer for me because I have no idea how.
Matt: Teenagers know everything.
Daniel the prick: They really do.
Xxx
July 4, 2010, 2:35 PM EDT
Fashion King: Even though we're in another country, aunt Betty has decided we have to have a tacky Fourth of July party.
Fashion King: I don't even know where she managed to get the American flag bunting in London. It's so gaudy.
Austin: She probably special ordered it, or maybe she picked it up last month while she was back in New York.
Fashion King: That's entirely possible. I think she made a craft store run during the wedding preparations.
Fashion King: I still wish I could be looking at fireworks with you at the Mode party. I'm sure the highlight there won't be red, white, and blue cupcakes. Although Daniel did get them from an excellent bakery.
Austin: I wouldn't know since I can't go. The stepdad said no. Instead, I get to go to the neighborhood Fourth of July party. I'm sure there will be red, white, and blue cupcakes there and not from a good bakery.
Fashion King: Well, of course, they would be in NYC, but in London, that's just weird. Daniel had to custom ordered them just to make Betty happy.
Austin: I'm sure my stepdad is up to something. This family bonding stuff seems weird. He usually likes me to be somewhere else.
Fashion King: What are you wearing?
Austin: I can be wearing nothing if you want.
Fashion King: Tempting, but I really want to know what you're wearing. No boyfriend of mine can look bad at a party, even if it's a neighborhood Fourth of July party. Do you still have that turquoise shirt I got you from the closet? I think that shirt will make your eyes pop.
Austin: Fine, I will wear what you want me to wear. I will even have mom take a picture and send it to you.
Fashion King: You're such a good boyfriend. I have you very well trained.
XXXX
Two hours later
Pretty boyfriend: As promised, I am wearing the shirt you got me. Yes, there are red, white, and blue cupcakes. There's also a red, white, and blue parfait along with significant amounts of patriotic bunting and crate paper. The centerpiece was a giant Jell-O mode of the American flag.
Justin: That's worse than what Aunt Betty did. I knew that shirt would make your eyes pop. You look good. You always look good, though.
Pretty boyfriend: I'm glad you at least enjoy the outfit. I wonder how much longer I have to stay here until I can leave. I just got a text from Antonella. The Mode party is so much better. Apparently, at least one former MLB player is there, but she doesn't know who because she doesn't follow baseball. She is trying to get me a picture.
Justin: Obviously, you are not having a good time.
Pretty boyfriend: No. Especially because I could be hanging out with baseball players and other celebrities.
Justin: I think this is only because this is doubling as a launch party for the new restaurant, per Marc. There were no celebrities at last year's party. Although Amanda did lose her top at one point.
Justin: Actually, that happened again this year because nothing fits due to pregnancy. They are actually bigger.
Pretty boyfriend: I still hate it here. I know nobody here, and my stepdad keeps introducing me to every girl here remotely close to my age. I'm currently hiding in the stairwell to avoid the redhead that I can even remember the name of. Although I am 90% sure she's at least a D cup due to the number of times I've seen her cleavage. It keeps popping out every time she bends over me.
Pretty boyfriend: Did I mention that we ended up sitting at the same table? I'm waiting for her to leave so I can at least enjoy the food at this thing.
Justin: I bet she's not even wearing the right type of bra. Number one fashion mistake.
Pretty boyfriend: She is wearing a flag bikini that's at least a size too small. See, I am learning.
Justin: That is extra tacky. Instead of hiding, just tell the annoying redhead that you have a boyfriend. Or if you're not ready to out yourself, just tell heard you are dating someone else or even that you have a girlfriend.
Justin: Okay, I would be a little mad if you refer to me as your girlfriend, but I understand. Someday I have to tell you about that time Marc had Aunt Betty pretend to be his girlfriend. This happened because Marc's mom is super homophobic and extremely toxic.
Pretty boyfriend: I've been briefed. It's not that I don't want people to know that I have a boyfriend. However, the stepdad doesn't want his friends to know that his stepson is one of those people.
Justin: I'm sorry.
Pretty boyfriend: It's okay, at least I can talk to you. Even though I know it's past midnight where you are.
Justin: The best way to end the day is by talking to you.
XXXX
July 5, 2010, 7:22 AM GMT
Tyler's idiot brother: I ran into Spencer at the Mode Fourth of July party at Ross. He gave me a blackeye.
Daniel: I hope somebody got a video of that. Was Tyler there?
Tyler's idiot brother: He opted not to go because there's too much alcohol. Unlike at the wedding, Amanda wouldn't be there to be his sober friend.
Daniel: That's probably the best choice.
Tyler's idiot brother: Although I'm sure Marc got video footage of it.
Daniel: I'll check with Justin later. Why are you telling me this? Not that I don't enjoy hearing about you getting punched out by various people that care about Amanda. It actually fills me with joy.
Tyler's idiot brother: Right before he punched me, Spencer blamed me for Amanda leaving for London because of the bad break up. Instead of being in Puerto Rico, like Monique was feeding the media.
Daniel: Which I'm sure you already realize because I'm the one giving you baby updates.
Tyler's idiot brother: Unfortunately, my mom was also at the launch party. She knows that Amanda is in London.
Daniel: We knew that the misdirection wouldn't work forever. Besides, anyone who knows me would realize that London's going to be the obvious place for Amanda to hide. I'm going to take care of my children.
Tyler's idiot brother: They are not your children.
Daniel: Unlike you, that doesn't bother me. It also doesn't make me any less protective. Amanda has known from the beginning that I'm willing to be 100% involved in whatever capacity she wants me when it comes to the twins. I was with her at the doctor's office when she broke into tears when she got confirmation. I was the one with her when she was freaking out and figuring out what to do. I held her hair back for her during more bouts of morning sickness thing you could count.
Daniel: You wouldn't have even come back to the United States if you didn't know about the pregnancy. DNA doesn't mean anything. I suggest you have a long conversation with Tyler if you still believe it does.
Tyler's idiot brother: I did not come back because Amanda was pregnant. I came back because of Tyler. I didn't even know she was pregnant until I got here.
Daniel: Because you broke up with her due to Megan lying through her teeth. I think you were just looking for an excuse to break things off. You have never trusted Amanda. That's been evident since the start.
Tyler's idiot brother: She told you about what happened at the wedding?
Daniel: Amanda didn't have to. I saw what happened at the wedding. Unfortunately, I had to keep Monique from punching out Mercedes. They make me and Alexis seem stable.
Tyler's idiot brother: So, I'm not supposed to assume she may have slept with somebody else during our breakup when she claims you're not the dad of the twins?
Daniel: She tried the same thing on me, but I knew she was lying.
Tyler's idiot brother: Because she doesn't want to break you and Betty up.
Daniel: Yet I still knew she was lying, and you didn't. Maybe you need to ask yourself why?
Tyler's idiot brother: Because she actually tells you stuff and not me. It's weird when your current girlfriend is best friends with her ex, who happens to now be dating your ex. That's not even getting into the fact we share a half-brother. Also, Amanda's biological mother had a decades-long affair with your father.
Daniel: It's weird, but it really doesn't matter. Maybe you should ask yourself why Amanda and I have a more open relationship than you and her? Or better yet, talk about it with your therapist.
Daniel: Really, spend some time with your therapist; you need it.
Xxxxx
July 5, 2010, 1:43 PM GMT
Fashionista BFF: So you should know Spencer punched out Matt at Monique's Fourth of July party yesterday.
Mandy: And you wanted not to go. Please tell me you got pictures? Why didn't you text me yesterday?
Fashionista BFF: Because it would've been after midnight your time, and you need your baby sleep.
Mandy: Point, I hate when you're rational.
Fashionista BFF: Cliff was with me, so of course I have pictures. Excellent ones. He was doing some publicity shots as a favor. However, we're making sure this doesn't end up on Twitter.
Mandy: How kind of you. I was already dealing with pictures of me at Betty's party yesterday. Daniel told her not to invite anybody from her staff, but she did anyway. So I'm sure everybody knows I'm in London now.
Fashionista BFF: I think they would have figured it out by now anyway.
Mandy: But I don't want to add to the paparazzi speculation. I'm glad Cliff isn't like that. Now I'm happy you went anyway even though you didn't want to go. Someone else would've totally put that on Twitter.
Fashionista BFF: I didn't want to go because that meant that Jade would be spending another night with Jody outside of the regular custody arrangement. I want my daughter around her as little as possible. However, Wilhelmina, Monique, and Cliff said I need baby-free time.
Mandy: I get it. I'm sure I'm going to be freaking out the first time I have to leave the twins alone with Betty and Daniel.
Fashionista BFF: But you can at least trust Betty and Daniel. I'm not entirely sure about Jody.
Mandy: I understand. But this is only temporary until she begins serving time. How much longer?
Fashionista BFF: A few more weeks at least. I'm not exactly sure when. We do most of our communication through our lawyers or Cliff.
Mandy: I'm sorry. It will get better soon, though.
Fashionista BFF: We did have fun tonight. It was actually good to just be us and not have the baby. Maybe Willie and Monique were right about that. Not that I will ever tell them.
Mandy: Did you kiss him? I need details. I'm going to have to live vicariously through you.
Fashionista BFF: We are just friends. There will be no kissing of any type.
Mandy: Daniel and Betty said that for years and they're engaged now. We saw what was going on years before they did. There was lots of kissing at Monique's not-a-Christmas party. This happened when Daniel actually thought we were together.
Fashionista BFF: Because they are idiots. At least Daniel is.
Mandy: This is true.
Fashionista BFF: I'm off to pick up my kid. Fingers crossed I don't throw coffee on whatever hideous outfit Jody is wearing.
Mandy: Regardless, I want pictures of my God baby.
Xxx
Four hours later
MTS: I heard you got revenge on Matt.
Monique: Your dad got revenge on Matt, your biological dad. Your adopted dad is still holding the IRS against him like a guillotine.
MTS: I know. I've seen the pictures
Monique: This does not surprise me. I know they made it to Twitter, not the Cliff version, but the ones Wilhelmina took herself. Wilhelmina thought it was good publicity for the restaurant, and Gio surprisingly agreed with her.
MTS: It's okay. It was better than the pictures of me at Betty's party yesterday. I need new bras.
Monique: That is fueling some interesting speculation. I'm actually a little freaked out that Wilhelmina and my husband are getting along so well. Mostly when he was so against bringing her in in the first place. She's actually been useful at the restaurant.
MTS: Marc always says Wilhelmina is not as evil as she seems on the surface.
Monique: Sometimes, her heart is only one size too small, but I'm used to it dealing with the country club set.
Monique: Speaking of the country club set, I have lunch with my mom in five minutes. I have to talk her out of throwing a baby shower for her ex-husband's soon to be ex-wife. I also have to convince her to give Betty and Daniel the December 26, 2011, spot at the hotel for their wedding.
MTS: I wish we could do one for Marc. That would be so much fun, and he deserves one. Good luck. I managed to convince Betty to hold off until after the babies are born for my shower.
XXXXJuly 7, 2010, 10:23 AM EDT
Mandy cakes: What's a good apology present for Betty?
Marc: What are you explicitly apologizing for? I know the press started up again because of the Spencer thing Sunday. I'm not sure hallmark makes an "I'm sorry I got pregnant by your fiance before you got together" card.
Mandy cakes: I know I can't apologize for that. I'm not sure I need to.
Marc: That's a change.
Mandy cakes: I have been here a few weeks, and I don't feel like it's become Charlie Part 2. It's like I'm just another member of the family. It's nice.
Marc: It helps that you're not actually trying to break them up.
Mandy cakes: I'm doing the opposite, actually. I'm taking DJ and Justin to the movie Saturday just so they can have teenager free adult time.
Marc: I think that is an apology present in itself. Maybe do that a few more times, and I'm sure you will be forgiven for whatever transgression you believe you have made.
Mandy cakes: I don't think that's enough. Being here made me realize how awful we were to Betty the first few years at Mode. The things we did on the website are still coming back to hurt her. We were assholes.
Marc: I deleted It, but apparently, nothing on the Internet is gone for good.
Mandy cakes: This is true.
Marc: Silver lining, the site does prove that Daniel isn't shallow and is actually with Betty because he loves her.
Mandy cakes: or the sex really is that good. Justin and DJ say they're very loud. They also have concluded that they need more friends so they can stay out of the house as much as possible. DJ is definitely regretting not getting here until the end of the school year.
Marc: This is definitely not becoming Charlie Part 2. Not that I want those sorts of details.
Mandy cakes: I live on those sorts of details, and I'm only getting them regarding Betty and Daniel. Becks and Candy aren't sharing whatever is going on there.
Marc: What do you think is going on?
Mandy cakes: I saw him sneak out again this morning. Candy and I avoided talking about it over breakfast.
Marc: I bet you hate being surrounded by couples?
Mandy cakes: Not really. What I had with Matt wasn't right. I knew he wasn't right for me, but I fell in love anyway. But I have babies to focus on for the moment.
Marc: Maybe it was just the wrong time. Maybe sometime down the road, you two can be friends. He's definitely sticking around Mead publications.
Mandy cakes: I wonder why?
Marc: Honestly, I think he's still furious at his mom for how she treated you. Cliff said he was irate that she went to the press with Daniel being the father of your babies.
Mandy cakes: It was the truth, so I can't really be angry.
Marc: He is. Also, according to Cliff, she hates that he is a shareholder in the competition.
Mandy cakes: Spite is always a good motivation.
Marc: Speaking of spiteful mothers, mine has been trying to contact me lately. I'm just thankful she doesn't know where I live right now.
Mandy cakes: Why? She hasn't wanted anything to do with you since she found out that you're really, really gay.
Marc: Me having a 3-month-old conceived the old-fashioned way maybe has given her hope. Or perhaps no one can say no to their grandbaby. I don't really give a fuck.
Mandy cakes: If she knew how Jade got here, it wouldn't give anybody hope. It would just make her furious. It made me furious. Jody better be glad I'm in another country right now.
Marc: She doesn't know the truth, and I don't want anybody to know the truth. I just want to move forward. It could've been a lot worse, and it wasn't, so I'm letting go.
Mandy cakes: Is that because you don't want Jade to think that she is unloved?
Marc: That and I had to sign an NDA as part of the deal to get custody.
Mandy cakes: Jody shouldn't have done that, but at least you got Cliff out of the deal. That's the only thing that she's done right.
Marc: We're friends, just friends.
Mandy cakes: I don't believe that, but I'm sure you think that. You shouldn't after the Betty and Daniel show.
Marc: I wish this was a video call so you could see me shaking my head. Now Monique is glaring at me.
Mandy cakes: Monique is with you? Are you in a meeting?
Marc: We are waiting for her soon to be former stepmom to show up to show off the new nursery/office. Monique had her take over renovations as a "sorry you're getting divorced" distraction.
Mandy cakes: Send me pictures. I want to see your new space.
Marc: I will.
Mandy cakes: I'll let you go now since you probably should focus on that. I will call you later.
Marc: Not at 3:00 AM my time. Today is a Cliff day.
Mandy cakes: I promise. We can talk more later.
XXXX
"Who were you texting that was so much more important than the final walkthrough of your new office/nursery for your beautiful baby daughter? Maybe Cliff? I know he's going to have a little space in your office for himself for between photoshoots."
Monique was actually smirking at him. Monique has backed off slightly from the matchmaking since she was informed that he and Cliff would co-parent Jade together. But not so much as to not needle him any time the opportunity presented itself.
"It's for practical reasons such as the fact that we have a three-month-old together. I hate to break your shipper heart."
"My shipper heart is already happy about the co-parenting. I'm sure this has been the plop at least a few stories." Marc responds by rolling his eyes at Monique.
"So will your fellow co-parent be joining us for the nursery walk through?"
"Maybe. It depends on if Cliff can get done with his Player shoot on time. He wants to talk to you actually about one of the editors. However, that was Amanda texting me." Marc explained.
"Probably the same editor Cory wants to talk to me about," Monique told him, referring to her replacement EIC. Corey was somebody that Monique was grooming in-house to take over, which seems consistent with her leadership style. (Now that the Hudson consolidation is complete and the other guy left)"I'll deal with that later. I am so happy that you two are talking to each other again. You seem happier."
"I feel better being able to talk to her. You and Daniel kept telling me she was fine, but I had trouble believing that until…"
"You couldn't trust us to actually tell you the truth. You were worried that we were sugarcoating it." Monique finished for him.
"Exactly."
"Trust me, I get that. I did have a best friend that tried to hide cancer more than once." Marc just looks at her for a moment.
"I was just worried about her because of Victoria," Marc confessed.
"I know. But at least while in another country, Victoria can't message her directly. Although Daniel is convinced that Amanda is getting paid extra at the temp job, so she'll stay there."
"Again, not surprising. When was Britney supposed to get here?" Marc asked. He really did want to see how the office space came out. They made many last-minute changes because Cliff would be joining him and needed a different type of workspace than what Amanda needed.
"5 minutes ago," Monique told him, looking at her phone.
"Although she told me she was meeting with my dad's lawyers before coming here. So, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if she's running late. An hour probably wasn't enough buffer time." That divorce was going very badly even though Vivian and Monique took Britney's side. Actually, it may be going bad for that reason.
"If they're anything like Jodie's lawyers, probably not." They were awful." Marc is ecstatic he won't have to see them again until Jody serves her time, which will probably be 3 to 5 years now that the papers were signed.
"I've met with Jody's lawyers. They were recommended by Brianna before we knew what was really going on. We thought Jade's dad was Jody's boss at the Yeti program, not a subordinate she forced to fuck her."
"You make it sound tawdry that way."
"I'm not sure how to make forcing your mentee to have sex with you for a job placement not sound bad. Because it's bad. I figure you working with Wilhelmina on the article would have helped you come to that conclusion. That will be done in time for the next issue, right? Now that we are slipping this into a retrospective about Wilhelmina's time at Mode, I don't want it to run too long after her departure. The August issue would be best."
"Which needs to be locked Monday. I know, and I promise it will be ready. Wilhelmina is just giving it one more read through. I should be able to send it to you late tomorrow at the latest." Marc reassured. Monique decided it would make more sense to drop the Renée truth into a more extensive article about Wilhelmina instead of an article just about what happened. Marc personally preferred this approach.
"Working on the article did put a lot of things in perspective for me." Like reaffirming his desire to not let Jade become another Nico. "But I'm even less inclined to see what happened with Jody as sexual assault. Because I could have always said no. Plus, Jody only did it as revenge for me screwing over Cliff."
"We are going to have to talk about your victim-blaming tendencies, especially when you're the victim," Cliff said as he walked into the hallway.
"You made it." Marc smiled at him.
"I told you I would. I really do wanna see our new workspace."
"And the nursery. Jade really hates the playpen right now." Even though Marc preferred to work with Jade in the baby wrap against his chest, sometimes he did have to put her in the travel playpen. For nap time at a minimum.
"Where is Jade right now? I thought she would be with you." Cliff asked.
"In the playpen with Tamika." Marc is so happy his assistant doesn't mind a little babysitting despite the fact she's working for both him and Monique right now. La Manda is doing more security stuff at the moment. Although they would have to get a nanny/assistant for Marc soon.
"The space is still a little unfinished, so we thought it best to not bring baby girl with us just yet," Monique explained.
"I thought we were going to be moving in next week? Shouldn't it already be done?" Cliff asked.
"True, but that doesn't mean that there's not still paint cans in the middle of the office," Marc remarked.
"This walkthrough is to make sure we don't need to make any last-minute changes. Like adding more meeting space or an extra changing table."
"Hopefully, it will only be little things. The construction team is already mad that you added a second door to the bathroom and had it expanded." Marc remarked.
"You were right about the lack of changing tables in the Mead controlled part of the building. I'm planning to add a few more over time, but having one family restroom is a good place to start." Marc was a little sad to be losing his private executive washroom but understood why. Besides, it wasn't like he would be able to have sex in there anytime soon. Because there is only one person he wanted to have sex with now, and that's not something that can happen at the moment.
"I may have made that call to the designer when I thought Antonella was still pregnant. But at a minimum, I'm probably going to be watching the new baby sibling a lot. Also, I'm going to make as many excuses as I can for Daniel to bring the twins to visit us." He is sure that Monique would. "That room will be used."
"You'll definitely be watching baby pudding pop more than your dad, that's for sure," Brittany said, walking into the room looking very stressed out. "Unless I give birth to a boy. I'm kind of glad pudding pop decided that they were not going to cooperate."
"So obviously, the meeting with my dad's lawyers went really badly?
"So badly. I'm sorry, I'm late. This is totally unprofessional, and I don't want to get a reputation of always arriving late."
Monique put Brittany in charge of renovations of the space. Britney barely agreed to that, but with how bad the divorce was going, apparently, Brittany realized she needed an independent income coming in even if that income was the result of nepotism.
"As somebody who has recently gone through a very messy custody negotiation, I understand," Marc said reassuringly, and Cliff nodded his head in agreement.
"See, the key difference is you actually want your daughter." Brittany retorted angrily as she started to dig through her purse. She was most likely looking for the keys to the new office.
"He really did propose different custody arrangements based on the gender of baby pudding pop?" Monique asked, using her soon to be former stepmom's name for her baby.
"Yes. The prick really doesn't want to raise another girl." Brittany replied darkly, pulling out the keys as suspected.
"He didn't really raise us the first time. So honestly, I didn't expect anything very different." Monique scuffed.
"After the meeting I just had, I'm 99% sure that was because you were not a boy. I think he got me pregnant on purpose just to try for a son even though I told him point blank I did not want to have biological children. I thought that was the great advantage of falling in love with a 70-year-old who already had kids older than me. If he got the baby itch, there were grandkids for that." Brittany explained.
"Unfortunately, Mercedes has only had girls, and I can't have children." Monique reply darkly.
"Okay, you're giving me that look like 'Oh, she's such a selfish Bitch. She should just shut the fuck up and be grateful because some people want kids and can't have them.'" At that point in Britney's remarks, Marc wondered if he and Cliff could safely run to his current office to see Jade. This is obviously a private family conversation.
"I am not giving you that look," Monique argued.
"You are, but it's my fault because I never told you about my mom."
"I met your mom at the wedding. She's kind of cool, and she hates my dad as much as I do." Monique smirked.
"I know. Mommy Tatiana warned me not to marry your dad. She told me he was just using me. She was right, but I didn't want to hear it at the time. Tatiana is never going to let it go now that I actually am getting divorced. However, Tatiana is technically my stepmom, but she's the only mom I ever knew. My biological mother died during childbirth. My dad didn't handle it well, and Tatiana was kind of the rebound. They were married by the time I was one, and he was gone by the time I was three. Tatiana did say your dad was too much like my dad. I didn't listen." Brittany explained.
"Now I wish I would have known this stuff before the wedding," Monique said as she walked over to hug Brittany.
"Because then you would have actively tried talking me out of it. I did actually marry for love. I just didn't realize it was one-sided." A tear was streaking down the side of Britney's face.
"Don't worry, the other side of the family will take care of baby pudding pop. We can even have the lawyers put it in writing. My mom even wants to throw you a country club baby shower."
"I rather share custody with you than your dad. I mean, at least you would be involved. Of course, she still wants to do a baby shower. I told her no country club baby shower. I can't stand those people."
"Non-traditional families are all the rage. You'll be fine, Brittany." Cliff said, giving Brittany a smile.
"I've heard. Congratulations on your new daughter."
"I promise no country club baby shower for you. I successfully talked her out of it."
"You are the best." Brittany smiled, pulling out of the hug.
"However, Marc, you are now getting a baby shower on July 25 at whichever hotel my mom's assistant gets for the event. We support non-traditional families here. Apparently, my mom and Wilhelmina are sort of friends. Well more friends than her and Victoria. They bonded at the Fourth of July party, and it was too late at that point. She likes the new Wilhelmina more than the version she was presented with when she was dating Willy's father." So did Monique, for that matter. Marriage and grandmother Hood has mellowed her a bit.
"You are the worst," Marc pouted.
"They'll be good food and lots of champagne that you can actually enjoy. Also, I am sure the people there will be less pretentious. At a minimum, no one will be talking about your divorce." Brittany remarked. "Better you than me."
"I am mostly inviting members of the Mode staff. I also plan to invite some of Cliff's friends from the photography world because this is a shower for both of you. Although I'm pretty sure I have to invite Terry." Monique added.
"Who is the opposite of pretentious," Cliff mumbled under breath so that only Marc could hear him. He couldn't help but laugh.
"At least this way, you will all get ridiculous amounts of presents because baby Jade deserves all the presents," Monique argued.
"No country club vultures, so definitely better than anything I would've had," Brittany remarked.
"Unless my mom shows up. Although technically she was never a member of a Country Club." She tried to call again the day before. Tamika cursed her out. Bless that woman.
"You don't actually have to be a member of a Country Club to give off a Country Club mothers for intolerance kind of vibe." Monique quipped.
"My mother definitely gives off that vibe. I think she is only talking to me now because of Jade. She wanted nothing to do with me after I came out." Marc confessed as Cliff grabbed his hand in support.
"Well, she will definitely not be on the list," Monique reassured him.
"Okay, no more talk of dysfunctional families or things that we all do to keep Vivian Wyndham West happy. Let's go see the office nursery." Brittany said as she wiped away her tears with the tissue.
Moments later, Brittany unlocked the room. The nursery definitely had less glass than the other offices in Mode, which would definitely make it better for baby Jade's naptime. (Or other activities that Marc will not be able to engage in at the moment.) Regardless it was beautiful.
It was done in blue like he asked, with a space just for Jade. Also, comfortable couches that were also fashionable. He discovered that it is more critical for a couch to be comfortable than beautiful when feeding a small baby.
"In addition to all of this, there is also a mini kitchen behind that wall there," Brittany said, pressing a button that pulled the wall back. "That way, you won't have to go up to the staff kitchen to make a baby bottle.
"This is good even though our kitchens are mostly empty upstairs because very few people actually eat here," Monique remarked.
"I feel like the numbers are improving. The eating disorder support group has excellent attendance." Marc remarked.
"Then that means I'm doing something right, at least. This looks really good. You did a fabulous job." Monique praised Brittany.
"It really does, Brittany, thank you."
"You're welcome. I enjoyed the project. I didn't have to change the original plans too much. Although your contractor is still furious about changing the bathroom."
"We need a family bathroom," Monique said forcefully.
"I know, especially with Claire getting 2 new grandbabies," Brittany remarked.
"Technically, they'll probably be living in London, but they will visit. Besides, Jade and pudding pop will get to hang out here. That way, you can do your design thing. I am definitely recommending you to all of my business friends."
"Thank you. I will be taking you up on that offer a lot. I already feel bad for whatever nanny you hire." Brittany remarked.
"Are you still hiring me a nanny?" Marc asked.
"More like an assistant that is okay with childcare duties. They will only be helping you out while in the office." Monique explained.
"It's either that or Wilhelmina coming in all the time. Don't get me wrong; she did a wonderful job filling in for you during your paternity leave. But as I start to make Mode my own, I would like her here as little as possible."
"That is a good point."
"Let her play with my husband at the restaurant. She's actually really good at it." Much to everybody's surprise, the leadership skills needed to run a magazine can be transported to restaurant management to some degree. Wilhelmina was so good at the front of the house stuff that Monique was really able to just be a silent partner.
"Find, we will go with a nanny." Because even though he adored Wilhelmina even, he wanted some space to make Mode his own thing.
To be continued…
Fashionista BFF is Marc
Mandy and MTS is Amanda
Pretty boyfriend is Austin
Tyler's idiot brother is Matt
Everyone else has something close to their actual name.
When editing this chapter, I remembered that Hudson still existed in the first story, and Monique was trying to end up there. So I had to rejigger some things around for other plans I had.