Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last chapter. You are all absolutely wonderful. It's time for some hard conversations.
This was a hard chapter to write. I ended up rewriting a lot of parts. Not necessarily what was in this chapter, but what's to come. We are approaching a crossroads soon.
Chapter 53: Family Meetings and Other Important Conversations
Justin: So, Marc called and asked if you were as good at child care as your résumé said you were. Don't worry, I said only good things. Why did he need to check up on your babysitting skills?
Austin: Monique has, per your mom, "a family situation." Marc has to take over a meeting for Monique. Your mom was roped into babysitting, but I know how much she wants to spend time with her dad, so I volunteered.
Justin: OK, I'm glad my mom will still get to hang out with grandpa. But do you know why Monique had to cancel the meeting? Have you texted Antonella yet?
Austin: No, because I thought it would be better to wait until she reached out to me. For all we know, Monique may need to break some bad news to Antonella. I don't want to break something prematurely.
Justin: Point. I will wait for Antonella to reach out to us. At least until decent text messaging hours tomorrow.
Austin: I accept this. I am now in a town car with Jade safely strapped in next to me. I have also received six text messages from Marc to ensure that the driver is driving safely and Jade is still in her travel car seat.
Austin: [attachment 1]
Justin: Marc is very overprotective. It's sweet.
Austin: It is, mostly. Although now I know why I'm getting paid $15 an hour for babysitting services. Actually, I think I need another five if I'm going to be putting up with panicky parents all evening.
Justin: Marc believes in paying well. At least you're out of the house for the evening.
Austin: Definitely. I hate it there. I know for a fact they are not telling me stuff.
Justin: Like what?
Austin: They're planning to leave New York.
Justin: What?
Austin: I found some stuff in the trash. George is looking for work in Chicago. I'm going to do some more digging before I talked to my mom. Probably tomorrow since I'm going to get back so late tonight.
Justin: Uncle Daniel just said that he can have HR completely redirect your paycheck to a separate account. Uncle Daniel also has a good real estate agent he can get you in contact with. This is after he mentioned you should call his lawyer and look into getting emancipated. He will even schedule you an appointment.
Austin: I'll consider it. Is your uncle reading your phone again?
Justin: I showed him this message voluntarily. However, no deed goes unpunished. He threatened to take my phone away if I don't go to sleep soon. Apparently, I'm not supposed to be in Daniel's office working on projects at this time of night.
Austin: I don't think talking to me counts as a work thing.
Justin: Well, I would go over swag bag options for the ball, but you have baby J to contend with.
Austin: This is true.
Justin: I'll text you in the morning. Good night.
Austin: Good night. I really miss you and wish you were here. I really don't want to move to another state away from you.
Justin: I'll be back soon. You're not going anywhere unless you want to.
Austin: I don't want to leave New York. I don't want to be away from you again like this. I really do miss you.
Justin: I don't want to be far away from you either. The summer has been brutal. However, I'm hoping you'll star in my dreams.
Austin: OK, I started laughing so hard that the town car drivers glaring at me.
Justin: I'll consider that an accomplishment.
XXXX
Mercedes: So, mom called. Apparently, dad's an asshole who forced Britney to get pregnant with fertility drugs, and she now wants to give you the baby. Congratulations.
Monique: You're really going to do this. Because you know my entire life does not revolve around me trying to get a baby or make up for the fact that my uterus is gone. I have a lot of other things to worry about.
Mercedes: Like finding a new nanny. Chad's sister Skye applied for the position, by the way. I like her a hell of a lot more than her brother right now, so please consider her.
Monique: I will keep that in mind, but HR is doing the first round of the selection process. They already flagged the possibility of an ex NYPD officer with a background in child development as well. Lord knows we need security.
Monique: But I will take the recommendation of the CEO of Wyndham West worldwide into high consideration.
Mercedes: Well, if you take baby pudding pop, you can get two nannies—one for the morning shift and one for the afternoons. Trust me on this as one mommy CEO to another.
Mercedes: Besides, your baby will get to socialize with Jade which would be good. You and your number two need reliable childcare. Get two. Although, unlike me, you do have a teenager for emergency backup care. Chad is not a reliable backup. Even though they're his kids.
Monique: You're not wrong about possibly getting two nannies, especially because we need someone to do admin stuff too. I don't even know if we're going to accept Britney's proposal. We're waiting for Antonella to get back from work so we can discuss it as a family. If she's going to end up as our emergency babysitter, she should have a say in everything.
Mercedes: You're going to say yes.
Monique: Because I'm desperate for a baby?
Mercedes: Because you're a good person, and you don't want our baby brother or sister in the foster care system when you are perfectly able to take care of him or her.
Monique: And you wouldn't?
Mercedes: I want to, but I know I shouldn't. I can't bring another child into this house, not after what Chad did.
Monique: What did your husband do?
Mercedes: You can't tell mom if I tell you. She'll kill him.
Monique: I feel like you mean that literally, which normally means he slept with his assistant. However, the last time I heard his assistant was somebody named Ryan.
Mercedes: It turns out I'm Chad's beard.
Monique: I want to make a high school musical joke, but I'm going to control myself.
Mercedes: Thank you
Monique: This doesn't mean you actually are Chad's beard. Cliff, who has escorted me to many family events, is bi, and so is my new protégé Justin. Also, Daniel, a.k.a. your ex-boyfriend, considers himself about a Kinzie 2 and Betty sexual at the moment. So there's a whole rainbow of options.
Mercedes: That makes more sense than I thought it would. Unfortunately, this isn't like Daniel screwing his tutor to mess with Bradford and discovering he likes it. Chad is very gay. But he would like for us to stay married because it would be better for his career.
Monique: He really went with career and not for the children? What an asshole.
Mercedes: Yep. He didn't even have the decency to say my career. It was all about him.
Monique: You can do so much better. Daniel is like the only ex that you had that I didn't hate.
Mercedes: I couldn't be with someone long-term that had more daddy issues than me. It turns out Chad had a whole different set of issues.
Monique: Most of which are apparently internalized homophobia.
Mercedes: Yes. There's probably a racism element to it as well. I am the right race and gender to be a trophy wife when Ryan is neither. Chad's father barely recognizes Skye as a blood relation. He's always cold to you.
Monique: Like you were ever a trophy wife. Your father-in-law is definitely a bigot.
Mercedes: Definitely.
Monique: This happened, and you're still recommending his sister as my potential second nanny?
Mercedes: Because she's the one who told me about Ryan, and she's taking my side. This is why Chad fired her from his company's daycare center.
Monique: He really is cold-blooded. To do that to your own half-sister, that's evil. If she makes it through the first round, I will put her at the top of my list.
Mercedes: That's all I ask.
Mercedes: Also, can the kids come to stay with you this weekend? Chad and I have a lot to talk about, and it's going to get ugly. Freddie and Lil Mo do not need to see this.
Monique: You know I'm at a hotel right now? The loft is being gutted and redone so Gio can have his dream kitchen.
Mercedes: It's my hotel. I can get the kids in the suite next to you. They could use hot fudge sundaes on-demand and a children's massage treatment. I can actually get a suite there for a while; it's closer to work. Chad can keep the house. I always hated it.
Monique: I have a farewell dinner party for my friend moving to California on Saturday. Antonella was invited because she is friends with his grandson. But I can see if Tamika is willing to babysit and get a pedicure with the kids.
Monique: Or mom for a couple of hours.
Mercedes: It would be better if it's Tamika. I think Freddie knows what's going on, and you know she will tell mom because she's a really precocious eight-year-old.
Monique: She would.
Monique: OK, I will get Tamika, or Antonella will stay home, and I'll have Austin stay with her.
Mercedes: You're going to let your almost daughter babysit alone with the teenage boy?
Monique: A really gay teenage boy. Also, Gio says if he doesn't need to be working, he can stay with the kids. He wants to be supportive.
Mercedes: Point. Thank you.
Mercedes: You're the best.
Monique: I am trying to be. I'm just telling myself that your bitchiness for the last few weeks has been all Chad-related.
Mercedes: And Dad related. He wanted me to side against Britney in the divorce.
Monique: How the fuck did we end up related to that man?
Mercedes: I don't know. Mom is usually not fooled by bullshit.
Monique: She did date Wilhelmina's father for like three years. They even got engaged.
Mercedes: And then she dumped his ass.
Monique: Point. Antonella is here; I have to go. We'll talk more later about kid arrangements.
xx
Antonella was exhausted after her second day of photo shoots in a row. There's nothing worse than shooting coats in August. At least it was only in the 80s today. Fortunately, Megan treated her like an actual employee and not a glorified gopher. Thankfully she wasn't the intern sent on ice water runs. Although that might be because her sister-in-law and guardian owns the magazine.
Regardless Antonella was looking forward to taking advantage of the room service menu and Jacuzzi tub. The fact that she would be home alone until her aunt made it back from her business dinner was a bonus. Antonella quickly ran her key past against the card reader only to realize that she wasn't alone.
She saw her brother looking at the room service menu as her sister-in-law dictated what seemed like text messages. Apparently, she was just volunteered to babysit Mercedes kids this weekend. There had to be a story there.
"OK, why are you both here waiting for me? I thought there was supposed to be a business dinner at the restaurant today, and I was on my own for dinner?" Antonella asked as Monique walked into the living room of the suite. The suite was actually quite large; it might even be bigger than Austin's apartment. Of course, this is what happens when you're guardian owns a hotel chain.
"I was planning to actually make good use of room service. Also, did I just get volunteered for babysitting duty?"
"I was going to ask Tamika first. Mercedes and Chad are having some problems, and we are going to distract the kids this weekend. Unfortunately, I don't think I can bring them to Ignacio's going away party."
"You could ask."
"I'll check with Claire," Monique said just as she tossed the room service menu to Antonella.
"Actually, we're still going to order from room service tonight. I love the cheese fries here. Choose what you want."
"You said my cheese fries are the best." Her brother said with mock offense.
"They are the best, but these are the cheese fries of my childhood. You know nostalgia is always a factor. These fries got me through a lot of tough times during my teenage years."
"OK, what's going on? Did something happen today? Because I know that you had a meeting with grandma." And that can mean something big happened.
"We did." Her brother answered.
"Something came out of that, didn't it?" Antonella asked.
"Yes. You know that Britney has been really apprehensive about the pregnancy?" Monique asked.
"I know. Britney is afraid that if she does make it all the way, she's going to die in childbirth. If she doesn't die then, Britney is afraid she'll make all the mistakes her biological father did. Except she won't have enough common sense to marry a good person." Britney confessed a lot to her during those few days when they both felt trapped in a pregnancy that neither wanted. Antonella got lucky. It was literally all in her head. She was making her body think that she was pregnant. She and her therapist are still trying to work out the reasons why that happened.
"That pretty much describes the situation. Of course, the fact that she killed the practice baby twice in the parenting class hasn't helped things." Antonella's eyes went wide at Monique's words.
"How do you kill a practice baby? Matt says they're pretty durable, and he's been taking parenting classes for the last few weeks."
"By dropping it and causing the head to pop off." Her brother supplied.
"That would do it. I guess I should tell you that Brittany took the open adoption literature from the night we were going over options for me. When we thought I was actually pregnant and not that my mind was tricking my body into thinking I was pregnant."
"Britney mentioned that to us today. She actually proposed an open adoption," Monique explained.
"She wants Gio and you to raise her baby as your own child?" Antonella asked because that seems the most likely option.
"Yes. Britney even brought her lawyer and a full proposal on how she wants the open adoption to work." Her brother said just as Monique handed her a folder.
"What's this?" Antonella asked, grabbing the folder.
"Her proposal," Monique answered simply.
"We both want to know what you think about this possible arrangement because it's going to affect you as well." Her brother explained.
"We don't want you to give us an answer immediately. We've had a few hours to think about it." Monique added.
"And what have you decided?" Antonella asked.
"We are leaning towards accepting her proposal, but we want you to think about it too. This is going to affect the entire family, and you're part of this family too."
"So if I say no, you're not going to do it?" Not that she would say no because she knows Monique wants to raise a child. More importantly, she knows that Monique and her brother would be good at it. It's why she wanted them to raise her own baby.
"We would take your opinion under advisement, and if you have a good argument, then we might not do it." With anyone else, that would seem like a double-edged answer. But she knew that Monique would really value her input.
"OK, let me read. Also, order me the appetizer sampler.
"The one with the chicken fingers?"
"Boneless wings with the sweet honey sauce," Antonella replied back.
"OK, we will order in 15. That way, the food will be here in an hour, and then we can talk." Monique smiled at her.
"OK,"
Xxxxx
"I'm glad you invited me." Her father said as he arrived at her loft with six bags of groceries. "I brought all the ingredients to make my signature dishes." And possibly more than that. She keeps thinking about her previous conversations with Marc. Her father has always shown that he cared with food. This was a lot of care.
"Good, because the deep freeze arrived this morning." Bobby may have ordered it for her as a surprise.
"I always wanted one of those." Her father remarked.
"Maybe you can get one at the new place," Hilda said, not really wanting to think about her father actually moving.
"Let me bring everything into the kitchen. Where is Austin?"
"Babysitting Jade." She answered simply. He doesn't need to know she arranged for Austin not to be there so they can have the conversation she really doesn't want to have.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Monique had a family emergency. Marc and Cliff had to take her and Gio's place this afternoon for a business dinner. I actually just got here about 10 minutes ago because I had to give Cliff a makeover." Breastmilk did some interesting things to his hair, but she dealt with it.
"You still got here before me. What happened? Is everything OK? Did Britney go into labor early? I know her mom was worried about that." Of course, he would be worried about Britney. Her father is sweet like that.
"Everything is relatively fine. Britney has not gone into labor; considering the type of family emergency going on, that's a good thing. Britney essentially asked Gio and Monique to adopt her child, and they are deciding what they want to do." Hilda explained. She might as well be honest.
"I could see how that would be an emergency, but I am sure they will take the child."
"You are?" Hilda asked
"Being able to raise a child that needs you and provide them with a good home is a very worthwhile thing. It is one of the best things you could possibly do."
"And you would know," Hilda mumbles the word under her breath, but her father still hears her. This is obvious by the look he's giving her. So she might as well start this conversation now. Otherwise, it will never happen.
"When we were cleaning out the house, I found my birth certificate. Bobby pointed out that I was born just a couple of months after you and mom got here. He said that you two had lucky timing, but I knew better. So I had a DNA test done."
"Oh," That was the only response she received, which told Hilda he knew what the DNA test results would tell her.
"Why didn't you tell me I wasn't your daughter?" Hilda tried to ask the question as neutrally as possible. She wasn't entirely sure if it came out neutral or not, regardless of the fact she's been practicing for days.
"Because you are my daughter." He answered emphatically as he grabbed her hand. "I was with you from the moment you were born. I was the first person that held you beside your mother. I was the one who stayed up with you all night when you had colic. I was the one who took you to your first pediatrician appointment. I was there with you when you broke your leg in third grade. I was with you when you confronted Santos after he got you pregnant. I was the one holding your hand through 23 hours of labor. I was there when we had to bury your mother, and I was there when we had to bury Santos. Your father isn't the one who contributes to your DNA. Your father is the one that raises you. That was me."
"I know, but you're leaving. You're moving to the other side of the country. You decided to do it after Betty left. So maybe there was this part of me that thought your real daughter is gone, so why would you stick around. Why would you even bother to come back." Hilda knew she was crying at this point but didn't care.
"Whatever you're thinking is not what's going to happen. I'm always gonna be here for you no matter where I am physically," He responded. He also grabbed one of the tissues off the coffee table and handed it to Hilda.
"You and your sister mean the world to me along with Justin. But you're both grown women with your own lives. Even Justin is almost an adult; if he wanted to, he could probably rent an apartment. He could afford to anyway."
"He could. He might actually want to if he thought it would get Austin away from his stepdad. Does she want her 16-year-old living on his own with his boyfriend? Not really. But she's willing to agree to a lot of things if they kept Austin safe.
"What's going on with Austin's stepfather?" Her father asked.
"Nothing good. It's messy, very messy, which has been putting even more doubts in my head. But Marc said I needed to talk to you." Hilda explained.
"Did Marc tell you about the special provision in his lease?" Her father asked.
"Yes. I think he pretty much did it for the sticky buns," Hilda joked.
"I do make excellent sticky buns."
"Can we go make some now because I don't want to keep talking about this?" She's had enough emotions for the next month.
"We do, though. I'm sorry your mother and I didn't tell you that I adopted you. There were a lot of dark emotions associated with that information. I should've told you the truth after you found out about her first marriage. But I didn't want you to think any less of me. Or to feel like you matter less than your sister."
"I don't think less of you."
"But you think I treat your sister differently. Is this why you haven't been talking to Betty recently?"
"Partially." Hilda reluctantly acknowledged. There may be was some jealousy or anger, or concern on my part.
"You shouldn't be jealous of your sister."
"But she is the real daughter," Hilda acknowledged.
"You're both my daughters." He repeated again. "You always have been. I love you both so much. And I hate that you're feeling like this right now."
"I know, but it's something that's going to take me some time to work through. And I probably need to talk to Betty about what's really going on in my mind. It's just doesn't feel like something that can be worked out in a phone call, and it's not like I'm going to see her for a while. Even if Daniel still comes to NYC for September fashion week, Betty probably won't come with him. Especially with Amanda ready to pop."
"You don't know. Twins do come early, but Amanda should have a few weeks left. Betty may still come with him. Or you could end up doing a job in London." Her father suggested.
"I doubt that. Monique is staying domestic and close by for a little while. Also, with Daniel turning things around in London, they don't actually need to send somebody from the US office to cover London fashion week this cycle." Hilda explained. "Besides, Marc has first dibs on all London assignments. I'm just a hair stylus."
"You never know, though."
"Teach me the secret of the sticky buns," Hilda said, changing the subject.
"I will. Although will you tell me why Justin might want to get an apartment just to get his boyfriend away from his stepfather. You just said it was messy." Her father asked.
"It's a long story."
"We have time." Held aside, knowing she would have to.
"It begins with the fact that Austin is actually Matt's half-brother, and neither Austin nor Justin know that. Although Austin doesn't know because Matt's mom is fucking insane." Hilda confessed because she needed to tell somebody, and she wasn't allowed to tell Austin. She really wanted to because nobody wants to find out who their biological father is by accident.
"I'm aware. It's why Betty and Daniel are taking care of Amanda in London. The part about Victoria Hartley being unbalanced, not the other part."
"Other than Daniel getting her pregnant," Hilda remarked.
"DNA tests matter little, especially when they can be faked." At first, she didn't understand what was meant by that. But then she thought about the fact that Matt was still taking parenting classes. He was also so adamant about protecting Austin from his mother. Then there was the fact that her father instantly accepted the situation with Amanda and didn't criticize Daniel at all for getting someone else pregnant.
"Daniel is just pretending that the twins are his? That's why you're not freaking out about Betty's fiancé having a kid by someone else. Not like with Henry." Hilda asked.
"Henry was an idiot." Her father remarked. "Where did you put your bar in this new place? I think I need to make my signature hot chocolate to go with the sticky buns." Which was essentially authentic Mexican hot chocolate with high quantities of liquor.
"That would be good. I feel like there's a lot that I don't know about the situation." She really needed that hot chocolate with two shots. She also wants that recipe.
Xxx
"I see the boyfriend cleans up nicely," Wilhelmina said as she greeted them at the front of the house. She kissed each one on the cheek before walking them up to the private dining room that overlooks the rest of the restaurant.
"It was all Cassandra and Hilda," Cliff said humbly. Marc felt that was a lie. All they did was bring out what was already there.
"They do good work. It's nice to see that Monique found a permanent replacement for Christine," Wilhelmina added. They actually had several "permanent" replacements, but no one wanted to stay at Mode long-term. Most saw the job as something to do to pay the rent As they tried to break into the industry. Cassandra wasn't that type of person.
"It really is. Cassandra is absolutely wonderful. Is the rep from Alexandria lingerie here?" Marc asked. He's done hundreds of these dinners before but never by himself. Technically wasn't by himself this time, but Cliff is different than Wilhelmina, Daniel, or Monique. He is the Mode representative this time.
"The rep's assistant texted Heidi a few moments ago. They should be here in 10 minutes which will give you both time to sit down, have a drink and look over Monique's notes in the private dining room."
"She really does have a private dining room," Cliff remarked as they made it to the stairs up to the private dining room that overlooked the main dining room. (Yes, there was an elevator as well because Monique was always concerned with accessibility.) Marc has already been here a few times for lunches. One of which involved bringing Jade. Thankfully, that was with the company that has a separate child apparel brand. They sold a lot of ads that night for Mode and the parenting magazine.
"Vivian insisted upon it during the design. That way, she can do private business lunches here. We can seat up to 20. We occasionally rent it out to others, but the room stays mostly booked between Monique, Mercedes, and Vivian. This is good for us because we get a lot of return visits from the clients that they wine and dine here." Wilhelmina explained.
"I am sure that you do," Marc remarked.
"Are you going to need me to stop by?" Wilhelmina asked. Marc wanted to say no, that he had this, but it wouldn't hurt for Wilhelmina to stop by. It was her restaurant.
"Maybe you can come with dessert, but I think we have this. It's normal for the management to visit at that time." Marc added.
"Text me if you need me."
"We will," Cliff reassured Wilhelmina as she prepared to leave.
Xxx
Antonella: So, Britney wants Monique and Gio to raise the baby.
Austin: I guess this is the family situation Hilda was referring to earlier.
Antonella: Yes.
Austin: And how do you feel about this?
Antonella: I feel a lot of things. I want to tell my brother and sister-in-law that, yes, they should take the baby immediately. However, they want me to think about it for a while.
Austin: Which is why you're texting me to get my opinion on the matter?
Antonella: I am killing time after reading through the agreement. Which is pretty solid. As soon as we're done talking, I will tell them to go through with the adoption.
Austin: You're not worried that they'll love the new baby more than you? I know George would love a new baby more than me. I know they tried a few times.
Antonella: Considering what was done to my ex, I don't think that.
Austin: Nothing says I love you like committing a felony.
Antonella: It's more like they're punishing him for being an asshole. Gio and Mo still decided to have an emergency family meeting even though I know they want to say yes. Mo even missed an important business dinner for this because my opinion was so important to both of them.
Austin: Don't worry, Marc is handling it. Although I did wonder what actually led me to babysitting baby Jade. A part of me thought this could be another attempt by your sister-in-law to set those two up.
Antonella: The group went on hiatus after they decided to raise a child together. Mo says that they don't need her and that they'll figure it out eventually. Although it may take them a few years. I can see her deciding to hold an emergency family meeting for something that really is not an emergency to force those two to spend more time together.
Antonella: We could've talked about this in the morning. Or they could've just told me that they were adopting directly. I didn't need to be part of the conversation.
Austin: Do you want to be part of the conversation? If you're going to be affected by something, you should be part of the conversation. I'm pretty sure mom and the stepdad are planning to leave New York soon. They are looking for new jobs outside the area without saying anything to me. The only reason why I know anything is I found some job listing printouts in the trash.
Antonella: Do they realize yet that you don't have to go with them? You're pretty much paying for rent by yourself right now.
Austin: I'm not going with them. I already have a meeting at 10 AM Tuesday to talk with the lawyer about emancipation. I'm done.
Antonella: I don't blame you at all.
Austin: Besides, if this works out tonight, I'll have a regular babysitting gig in addition to the job at Player. Marc and Cliff have decided that they want to do grown-up things with each other, like going to movies and museums together.
Antonella: So, date nights?
Austin: Yes. Not that they actually called it that. Which is why I think they'll actually be together by Christmas.
Austin: You should've seen them when they handed the baby over to me. They're like the most in sync couple I've ever seen. They even finished each other sentences. It was so surreal; even their check-in text messages complement each other.
Antonella: I'm not surprised. Have they been texting you a lot?
Austin: Yes. I hadn't responded yet because before you started texting me, the head of security called. Good news, I don't have to worry about Marc's mom showing up because she was arrested this afternoon. This is so far the strangest babysitting experience I've ever had.
Antonella: I think they're just very protective of Jade because of the whole situation with Jody. Marc is afraid that she'll use any little thing to break the custody agreement. And that's not to mention the mom who is trying to challenge it.
Austin: Per the rumor mill, Marc and Jody don't exactly have a very good relationship.
Antonella: Would you have a good relationship with the person that essentially raped you?
Austin: No, not really. Which explains the situation.
Antonella: She used custody of Jade to keep Marc quiet about what she did to him.
Austin: That's horrible. How do you know all this?
Antonella: You're not the only one who has your parental figures scheming behind your back. Although they at least tell me the things that affect my life.
Austin: Which is a good thing. What other juicy things have you found out?
Antonella: Matt's mom is evil as fuck and has a PI watching him. He has a burn phone now. Monique is trying to convince him to get a restraining order.
Austin: I am not even surprised.
Antonella: Also, the reason they were all so freaked out for Amanda's safety when they still thought he was the dad was Matt's father got his assistant pregnant back in 93 or 94. Anyway, she mysteriously took a trip down a flight of stairs and had a miscarriage. Rumor has it Matt's mom was the one who did it.
Austin: Again, I am not surprised. Do you have a name?
Antonella: Tina or tiara, something like that. It started with a T, but I couldn't hear everything.
Austin: Could the name have been Tiffany?
Antonella: Possibly, but I didn't hear everything. Why do you ask?
Austin: I just found the most adorable T-shirt for you. It says best aunt ever on it. You should get it; I just emailed you the hyperlink.
Antonella: OK, I'm going to take this highly abrupt subject change as you're trying to avoid a big conversation. Although the shirt is adorable, and I'm definitely ordering it. Or make Monique order it for me since I don't have a credit card yet.
Austin: Good plan. There's no point in having a big conversation when you're not sure. I need to consult someone else, possibly Tiffany, maybe Matt.
Antonella: And you're not going to tell me?
Austin: I will eventually. Just not today.
Austin: Also, Marc's text messaging me again, and I need to respond. Otherwise, he's going to show up here, and that would be bad for Mode.
Antonella: Yes, go calm down the anxious daddy.
XXXX
Marc mode: Hey, when you get to the house, remember to lock the door. With the deadbolt. I'm sure you would do that but security had to escort my mom from the lobby of Mode again today. I really don't want to find out if she tries to follow you and the baby back to the apartment.
Marc mode: Also, there's breastmilk in the freezer. There are instructions on how to warm it properly in one of the emails I sent you. Let me know if I need to send it again. I also sent you Jade's feeding schedule.
Marc mode: Let me know what you want us to bring you from the restaurant. If you're hungry in the meantime, you can order a pizza. Use Dominique's; they have Cliff's credit card on file. Or we can reimburse you later if you prefer something else. We should have left you with a credit card for emergencies. Do you have company card access?
Marc mode: Although if you can wait, we can bring you something from here or even dessert. I don't know the URL by heart; otherwise, I would send you the hyperlink for the website. But, your young, you'll know where to find it.
Austin: You know you don't have to keep texting me every 20 minutes. Jade is fine. I just made her a bottle of breast milk per the instructions. I may have made myself a sandwich since one of Cliff's text messages said to. However, I'm not against fancy leftovers from Ross. BTW their website does have a menu but no order option.
Austin: Antonella brings me stuff from them all the time.
Austin: Also, Your mother did not follow us. Actually, per a call from La Manda, she is still in lockup for violating her restraining order.
Austin: Sorry I answered your phone, but she kept calling repeatedly.
Austin: Also, sorry I didn't respond earlier. First, I was talking to La Manda, and then Antonella texted. I now completely know why I'm babysitting.
Marc mode: It's OK. I feel better knowing she is still locked up. Also, I am sorry for all the text messages. I probably am being a little bit much. This is just the first time we've left her with anybody outside of her mom, Hilda, Monique, or Tamika. Outside of the force visits with the monster all the other times' Cliff or I have been in the same building.
Austin: I get that, and I understand. And I'm sure having a 16-year-old watch your kid is causing some apprehension.
Marc mode: But you're a really well-qualified 16-year-old. With impeccable references.
Austin: I know you call Justin.
Austin: Your child is fine. She's currently taking her 8 PM nap. Although at this point, is it really a nap?
Marc mode: I call whenever Jade sleeps a nap at this point. They never really last that long. She's a restless child.
Austin: Regardless, you don't need to keep checking up on us. Concentrate on the magazine. You should be selling us.
Marc mode: Cliff is doing that right now. He is in the zone describing his ideals for a lingerie shoot in Paris or possibly Tahiti. The other guys pushing for that. I'm trying to hide the rolling of my eyes behind my wine glass. I rather be at home right now.
Austin: I'm glad you're not home because that gives me a reason not to be home. Also, you have a wonderful cheese selection.
Marc mode: That's good. Cliff needs me again. Call Heidi and tell her what you want. We will bring it to you. I think her number is number three on the babysitting guide that we emailed you.
Austin: Will do.
XXXX
"Hey, the food is here?" Monique said as she knocked on the door of her sister-in-law's room.
"OK, I'll be out there in a second. Hey, can I have your credit card number?"
"Why do you want my credit card number?" Monique asked.
"Because I want to buy a new shirt. Come on in. You can see it on my computer." Monique quickly entered the room only to look down at Antonella's computer.
"You want my credit card to buy a world's best aunt T-shirt?" Monique asked, surprised.
"Of course, and if I get the shirt, that means that you're going to have to give me a new baby niece or nephew." Monique didn't say a word. She just blinked at Antonella for a few moments of silence. "What I'm trying to say is I think you should adopt Britney's baby."
"You do?" Monique asked, still surprised.
"You're a good mom. Or at least the good mom figure to me. I definitely prefer you over sourdough girl. I don't like pyromaniacs." That cause Monique to laugh for a moment. "She would've sent me off to live with my great aunt because she didn't want to compete with me for my brother's attention."
"You know Gio wouldn't let that happen. That's the real reason why they broke up." Antonella snickered at that.
"I think him falling in love with you was a bigger factor. The two of you really love each other and would make a great home for any child. You made a great home for me. " Monique was on the verge of tears at this point. "Also, I really need that T-shirt, so please get me the niece or nephew to go with it."
"I mean, you could technically consider Mercedes' kids your nieces."
"I haven't seen them that much. Mercedes' kids didn't even come to the wedding. I need more." Antonella remarked.
"Mercedes barely came to the wedding." She loves her sister, but it's a complicated relationship. "She didn't want to risk them running into our father in case he decided to show up. That's why we went with Alexis Junior as our flower girl. Monique left them with Aunt Skye over the weekend." Chad was supposed to be there with Mercedes at the wedding, but he canceled. Allegedly, he was working on some last-minute project. In hindsight, Monique is pretty sure that project was Ryan.
"However, the kids will be spending the weekend with us. You'll get to bond." And distract them from the fact that daddy is a Dick that cares more about his image than his family. Vivian's mom would be so proud.
"Bonding?"
"OK, more like babysitting. I called Tamika, and she has plans. I can probably take the nieces to the menu tasting since we will be at Ross. But I haven't heard back from Claire regarding the Suarez farewell dinner. How would you feel about staying with the kids here? I'll see if Austin wants to stay for the sleepover." Monique suggested.
"Which will get him far away from the evil stepdad overnight," Antonella supplied.
"That's just a bonus."
"Do I get my shirt? And I want a coffee cup too." Antonella added.
"After Britney signs the papers. However, you will be completely compensated for your babysitting time. Also, all even order the chocolate fountain to entertain the kids." So they won't realize their parents are probably getting a divorce.
"You're afraid Britney's going to change her mind?" Yes, but her sister-in-law doesn't need to know that.
"I'm not afraid." Antonella looks at her like she knows Monique is lying but doesn't say anything out loud.
"I agree to your terms. Mostly because I rather spend time with your sister's kids than adults that would probably ignore me the entire dinner. Especially since Tamika can't do it."
"Good choice. Let's go get to the food before your brother eats everything."
"This is a possibility."
To be continued…
XXXX
It's been so long that most of you have probably forgotten that Monique's sister is Daniel's high school girlfriend. They were also friends in college but lost touch until more recent years. Nevertheless, they grew up in the same circles.
I completely understand if you can't remember this stuff because I don't remember how much background I gave on Mercedes's husband before but just go with the latest stuff. I also could be running the risk of getting the old version and new version slightly mixed up. Anyway, just go with the information in the more recent chapters. If it's really inconsistent, let me know, and I can go back and fix the story.
Also, I'm going with that some of Daniel's worse behavior developed late in college and early during his adult working life. And it got even worse after Alexis faked her death.