Thank you to everybody who read or left kudos. I appreciate it. Sorry, it feels like Amanda has been in labor for the last six months. But the end is near, which is good for Amanda because she just wants baby cuddles. However, first, we need some time in New York.

Chapter 93: New York Check-in

Matt #2: Did you meet with Rebecca yet?

Cal: Yes.

Matt #2: And?

Cal: We talked for about 10 minutes. Rebecca allegedly hasn't spoken to Tiffany since she married George. However, she does hate the man. Hopefully, it was his body in the van. It was a male body anyway, per the doctor. She will have more tomorrow.

Matt #2: Thank God. I assume that's what the PI team wanted to talk to me about. I have three text messages from Jerry telling me to call him.

Cal: Most likely, yes. Although I know they're also canvassing Tiffany's old neighborhood. They may have found something there as well.

Matt #2: That's a possibility. Any lead would be good right now.

Cal: They may also want to discuss my plan to audit the foundation. Especially any project your mother worked on. She had to get the money for this game somehow and her bank account is clean.

Matt #2: You're right. I know Victoria spent twice as much on catering as we did for the Black and White ball. We had twice as many people attending.

Cal: At least the food Friday night was edible.

Matt #2: This makes things even more suspicious. The vendors are always her friends and horrible at their jobs. I could see her funneling the money to an offshore account. She probably gives them a cut too.

Cal: This is why your aunt had to fire several team members when she took over the foundation. But your mother still had a lot of leeway. We were not monitoring her as much as we should have. I regret that now.

Matt #2: We're all at fault. It shouldn't have been put all on Aunt Brianna, who already has two full-time jobs. I was too busy running around the world instead of helping her out.

Cal: I wasn't doing my part either. I could've at least had the Hartley Groups HR performed background checks on your mother's direct hires at the foundation. It's time to rectify that. I hope we will find some connection between your mother and George. Maybe he was paid to kill Tiffany, but she killed him first and is out there somewhere, hiding from Victoria.

Matt #2: Is that possible? I know Victoria was sloppy with the flowers that she kept sending Amanda. We knew they came from her, but at the same time, we couldn't prove it.

Cal: There might be proof in the foundation's accounts. She has to be getting the money from somewhere since we know she isn't using her personal accounts. The team already checked that.

Matt #2: I'll do whatever I can to help the investigation.

Cal: I want to use you being new to the organization as the cover for conducting the audit. Although, maybe we should also have HR do some background checks.

Matt #2: We should do that. Coming in new, I would want to know what my predecessor did. Breanna is making me mom's direct replacement. I'm going to want to hit the ground running.

Matt #2: Despite everything going on, I'm still going tomorrow to do my regular volunteer work at the Harlem offices. I will ask Austin to come with me because we can both use a distraction. I'm friends with a lot of the people there. I can ask questions, and I might get answers others do not. Especially since I haven't been formally announced as mom's replacement.

Cal: This is very true. It would be good for both of you to be somewhere else for a while.

Matt #2: Yes. Mainly because I will tell him that the body is not Tiffany's when he gets out of class in 10 minutes. After I called the PI team first.

Matt #2: Do you know when you're returning to New York?

Cal: We'll check with the investigation team and Vivian before making a final decision, but probably tomorrow. Things are progressing well, and they only needed me to talk to Rebecca and grease the wheels with the local authorities. I'm trying to convince Andie to come to Italy with me, but she likes her job.

Matt #2: Imagine that.

Cal: I don't want to leave her alone in New York after what your mom tried Monday when she wasn't even in the country. Have you heard anything else from London?

Matt #2: Cory texted Betty a few hours ago. Amanda is dilated about 7 centimeters and now has the good drugs. We haven't received any update since then, so I assume all is well.

Cal: And your mother?

Matt #2: Still fighting with Monique's aunt.

Cal: That is entirely unsurprising.

Matt #2: Breanna's stepson called Lindsay a spineless weasel in French in front of cameras.

Cal: That is not surprising for any child of Breanna's, stepchild or otherwise. Alexis Junior would be worse because Lindsay is her godmother's uncle, and even I know he hasn't been very good to Jordan over the years. Baby Alexis would kick him in the shin before anybody could stop her.

Matt #2: She would absolutely do that. Jerry is calling again. I need to take that, but I'll text you again later.

Xxxx

"OK, why are you waiting for me with doughnuts?" Austin asked his brother. When he returned from this morning's tutoring session, he found the man sitting at his desk. On Wednesdays, Austin has time with Stephanie before magazine time. At least he gets to take math with Justin. However, he still followed Matt into his office. It was half the size of Cory's office, but at least there was a door, unlike Austin's cubicle. There was also a comfortable couch to sit on.

"I am stress eating because, per the latest text message from England, the twins are not here yet. I thought you could join me." Austin gave his brother a 'Are you kidding me?' look as he sat down.

"I just had several conversations with my dad and the PI team. He did visit Rebecca today." Matt explained.

"Did he find anything?" Austin asked.

"Per my dad, she said that she hasn't spoken to your mother since she married George. She also got them out of her house as fast as possible."

"That's exactly what she said?" Austin asked, finding that wording odd.

"Yes."

"That's not true. Mom and Aunt Rebecca didn't stop speaking to each other for two more years. It happened maybe a week or two after we returned from the Hershey trip. George was unhappy that Mom went to Pennsylvania without him, and there was a bad fight. She had bruises on her wrist the next morning. She said she fell but…" Austin trailed off, realizing that the bruises were hand-shaped and obviously caused by George.

"Anyway, Mom and Aunt Rebecca had a fight because of her fight with George. Shortly after that, Aunt Rebecca stopped calling."

"I'll let Jerry know." Matt sighed as he pushed the doughnut to Austin.

"The New York team is going to start interviewing your old neighbors today. They need a list of who they should speak to first."

"Most of my babysitting clients. I'm sorry I forgot to include those names the first time. I was thinking of people mom was acquainted with not me." if there was something suspicious that happened the day his mom moved out then their next-door neighbors the Rodriguez would've seen it. He probably should've texted them himself. Mrs. Rodriguez keeps asking if he's still available for babysitting.

"Don't beat yourself up about it. You can't think of everything."

"It's still an oversight. Is there something else you need to tell me?" Austin asked.

"There is, but I don't know if you'll see it as a good or bad thing." Austin could see Matt's hand shaking.

"Did they identify the body?" Austin has wanted to ask that question since he saw Matt sitting on his desk.

"They know that the remains are most likely male and closer to your stepfather's height than your mother's." Austin exhaled.

"So, it's George that they found?"

"That's what Jerry believes, but they're waiting for the dental records to be 100% sure. I'll call him in a few minutes to tell him what you told me about Rebecca. Also that you'll be in touch with the neighbors list. Jerry and I need to have a long conversation about auditing the Hartley Foundation anyway. We didn't have time before because he had to meet the team on site," Matt explained. Austin is pretty sure the site refers to where they found the van.

"They need to look at George's account again. Something just felt off about Chicago. He was furious I wasn't going with them. However, I was living with Vivian at that point, and he could do nothing."

"I'll definitely raise that with Jerry."

"Good."

"I'm still gonna do my normal shift at the afterschool program at the Hartley Center tomorrow. However, I plan to ask my coworker some questions. I've heard the center coordinator complain about not getting the money they were promised. Especially after she found out that I'm OK with her calling my mom a heartless opportunistic witch."

"That fits Victoria. I wouldn't be surprised if she was skimming off the top." Stealing from a charity to pay for a hitman seems like something Victoria Hartley would do.

"I wouldn't either, despite Breanna being there. So, do you want to come? Maybe they'll say things to the new volunteer that they won't tell me."

"I don't know if I will be up to that tomorrow. I think I need some time to just think." And he had a lot to think about, like if he was upset that his stepfather might be dead. Or the fact that Rebecca was lying. But why was she lying? Austin wasn't sure.

"I get that. Just know that you can change your mind at any time."

"Thank you for that."

Xxx

Meanwhile, back in London

"You know, I was expecting you to be gone for at least another two hours," Daniel said as Betty returned to the hospital with more goodies, including food. Amanda was happy because she could still eat for at least a few more hours.

"No, you weren't," Betty said as she passed him an enormous coffee. She was the best.

"OK, I thought you would take just an hour, but when you didn't show up again, I told myself you would take your time and return after taking that four-hour nap I asked you to take.

"Lindsey was waiting for me when I got back to the house. I decided I didn't want to stay there long enough for Victoria to follow suit. So, I went and got dinner after my shower." Betty told him as she grabbed one of the sandwiches from the bag. It looks like she brought enough food for the dads as well. There was even a salad for Marc because he probably wasn't doing bread.

Unfortunately, 30 minutes ago, the nurse kicked out the dads because they were making Amanda's blood pressure go up arguing about who cared about her more. Now, Marc is the only one other than Betty allowed back here until after the twins are born. Daniel wasn't sure where the fathers were at the moment and he didn't care. They were exhausting. He will text Marc later. After he eats something because Daniel may have missed lunch.

"I'm not completely surprised. Lindsay's arrival might be related to what DJ yelled at him in French this morning. It was on Twitter."

"Daniel showed me the video. It was very amusing. He deserved it." Amanda said from the bed.

"Lindsay mentioned that. He did apologize and offered me my job back," Betty explained.

"Are you going to go back?" Amanda asked. "You shouldn't. You deserve so much better. Even your former assistant is glad you left. Despite the fact he's now working for the prick directly."

"I said no. Even after Lindsay brought up the visa issue. He also offered to get me a literary agent when I mentioned I wanted to try writing a children's book. So, I'm really confused."

"Your boss is just confusing. Although referring you to a literary agent is the least he can do. Fuck!" Obviously, the cursing was caused by Amanda going through another contraction. Daniel abandoned his cup of coffee and went over to Amanda to help her breathe through it.

"Lindsay is why you're dealing with a no-compete clause issue, I would not use anyone he recommended. Alexis did send a few people you can try here. Once you get your rough draft done." It might be soon because Daniel knows she worked on it while they were here. It's about a little girl waiting for her baby sister to be born. It's an appropriate project to work on right now.

"Which is something to think about later after the twins are born and we make sure I can stay in the country with you now that I am no longer part of Lindsay's publishing group. Eat your sandwich. I'll stay with Amanda while you're eating. I can help Amanda drink the protein shake I brought her. It was on the doctor's approved food list."

"You are the best," Amanda said while Daniel and Betty switched seats.

"You shouldn't really worry about the immigration problem. I asked Candy to set up a meeting with an immigration lawyer or whatever they call them in this country for Friday. Worse comes to worse Breanna will hire you to work at her London offices. You might also be able to work for the Mode Foundation since that's not a magazine. We will work something out." Daniel reassured his fiancée.

"I really think you should just move up the wedding so you don't have to worry about getting kicked out for overstaying your visa," Amanda suggested from the bed as Betty pressed a straw to her lips.

"I got you peanut butter blueberry shake with a hint of chocolate."

"Definitely better than the hospital food," Amanda replied after taking a big drink.

"How are you?" Betty asked.

"Tired, and now I'm dilated to 8 cm. but at least I can still have the shake."

"Which is good."

"Yeah, but unfortunately, Marc left when my nurse kicked out the dads. I will probably not see him again until after his cocktail party at the earliest." At that, Betty looked at him quizzically.

"Since Amanda is getting close to the transition phase, we decided that Marc would cover the cocktail party tonight, especially since everybody knows I'm with my ex-girlfriend as she delivers our babies."

"They use a horrible picture of me on TMZ," Amanda exclaimed.

"I think that's from just after you threw up on Victoria at Monique's wedding, maybe," Daniel told her.

"I take it back. Fuck, I'm never having Condon-free sex again." Daniel is pretty sure that's another contraction. They are much closer together currently.

"I will get you a family pack when this is over. You're doing good. Just breathe for me." Daniel said as he went back over to Amanda's bedside.

"Why did I decide not to have a cesarean?" Amanda asked, almost screaming.

"Because it's a six-week recovery, and you didn't want a large scar across your stomach unless absolutely necessary. You would also have to forsake food sooner," Betty told Amanda as she rubbed gentle circles into her back.

"This is true. I just want the babies out."

"You're doing well. The babies will be out soon." Daniel encouraged.

"I was supposed to have four more weeks."

"I know, but because of this long labor, you were able to give the babies more time to make sure their lungs are developed. That's what we needed."

"You're doing great. It will be over soon." Daniel wiped the sweat from Amanda's forehead.

"And then you'll have two babies to cuddle. Just think of cute babies." Betty offered Amanda her drink once more.

"I'm trying my best."

"That's all you can do."

Xxx

Amanda's cousin: Sorry for the lack of updates yesterday. I wasn't someplace I could text message you until late at night, and I was halfway ready to fall asleep. The time difference is killing me.

Amanda's cousin: Thankfully, I am not invited to tonight's cocktail party.

Tamika: Fortunately, my honorary aunt is and can give updates. Also, my boss is going. He's live texting me. He's also wondering if he can lock Amanda's dads in their hotel room until after she gives birth. They got kicked out of the hospital today.

Amanda's cousin: Now I'm worried about not being at the cocktail party. I barely kept Victoria away from her former sister-in-law's stepson this morning. This feels like something that will blow up in everybody's faces.

Tamika: Candy is there with her boyfriend in addition to Marc. She's good at diffusing explosive situations. This way, you can distract Amanda's fathers. Mr. Tanen wants to meet you anyway. Marc definitely needs a break. He's not a violent person, but they bring it out of him.

Amanda's cousin: The whole family wants to meet him. We've all been curious since Tia Fay confessed that she had her accountant adopt her secret daughter in the 80s. Not that any of us knew about Amanda until I was in college.

Tamika: That doesn't surprise me, considering what I've heard about your Tia.

Amanda's cousin: It took my mom and Tia a while to reconcile. But once they did all the secrets came out.

Amanda's cousin: What has been happening in London over the last two days that I need to know about?

Amanda's cousin: Well, you already know about your honorary aunt. Victoria hates her, and the feeling is mutual. She's rich enough not to care if she gets caught misbehaving by the Daily Mail.

Tamika: That's Aunt M. She doesn't like domestic abusers because of her first husband. He was a manipulative jackass. It's not surprising that Aunt M is going off on the woman. I also got a video from Daniel. I don't know where he got that from, but it's going in the family scrapbook. Aunt Viv sent her sister champagne.

Amanda's cousin: Mr. Mead-Suarez's creative director, was also there. I did see her filming. Victoria also hates her since she left Isabella before she took over. The feeling is very mutual.

Tamika: Because her predecessor was ridiculously incompetent. Yet, somehow, Victoria is so much worse. All the people who left Mode for Isabella last week are already asking for their old jobs back. Monique is kind enough to give them a letter of recommendation but will not hire them back.

Amanda's cousin: This does not surprise me since I want to return.

Tamika: My cousin wants you to come back too. She doesn't like her new temp at all. So you will have a job waiting for you once this is over.

Amanda's cousin: I appreciate that.

Tamika: Did Lindsey ever get somebody to cover the Barbados shoot? We all heard about what he tried with Betty on Monday.

Amanda's cousin: The creative Director from Wedding Bell ended up going. She's being moved over to Isabella because I think Lindsey has given up on trying to get Marc.

Tamika: Oh, Kassandra is fantastic. We've met a few times when my cousin still worked with her. Kassandra doesn't deserve to work under Victoria. She's also lived with her roommate for 20 years, and they wear wedding rings, so you know what that means. Victoria will be upset.

Amanda's cousin: Or, oblivious.

Tamika: Let's all hope that she's highly oblivious.

Tamika: Does she know that Amanda is giving birth to the twins?

Amanda's cousin: Yes, because the press spotted Spencer at the hospital this morning. She called him, and he accidentally confirmed the tabloid reports. I should bring him apology cookies.

Tamika: Fuck! Did she threaten him or Amanda?

Amanda's cousin: Thankfully, neither. Victoria just offered her congratulations and emphasized that they were Daniel's children. I'm supposed to send flowers to the hospital using her usual vendor.

Tamika: We will need that vendor since she loves sending Amanda threatening roses. Maybe they can confirm she was responsible for the threats.

Amanda's cousin: [3 pictures attached]

Amanda's cousin: That is the information for her London florist.

Tamika: I just sent it off to the private investigator. They will look into it. He just told me they have a few people in London watching her.

Amanda's cousin: Thank God.

Tamika: Try your best to keep her away from everybody, but be aware you have some backup.

Amanda's cousin. I appreciate that.

Amanda's cousin: What do I need to know from your side other than I'm in the same hotel block as Amanda's family?

Tamika: Did anybody tell you that Tiffany's van was found in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania Monday night?

Amanda's cousin: Fuck! I didn't know that. I haven't talked to anybody since Monday. That explains why Candy tried to get me alone this morning. Unfortunately, I could not leave Victoria unsupervised to speak to the enemy.

Tamika: That is probably why.

Amanda's cousin: Did they find Tiffany?

Tamika: No, but they may have found George. They're also looking into Victoria's misappropriation of funds at the foundation. The PI team wants you to keep an eye on her expense report.

Amanda's cousin: Lindsay has already asked me to keep a close eye on spending, so I can pass those messages on to you for the PI team. Also, as of yesterday, I work for him directly, not her, so she's not allowed to fire me.

Tamika: Does she know that?

Amanda's cousin: No and I'm not telling her. I think Lindsey is suspicious about Monique letting me go so graciously. I also think he wants his business partner gone at this point and therefore willing to help me make that happen.

Tamika: That's unsurprising. She's horrible at her job.

Amanda's cousin: I'm doing half of it despite being her assistant. That's why Lindsay wants to keep me.

Tamika: Probably.

Tamika: One of us will let you know when Amanda delivers. I currently have 1:00 to 3:00 AM tomorrow in the delivery pool.

Amanda's cousin. You're betting on when my cousin will deliver the twins?

Tamika: We have to distract Austin somehow.

Amanda's cousin: This is true.

Tamika: I should text his boyfriend to do it for us. He's been hiding in my boss's office for the last hour.

Amanda's cousin: I'm sure he would have more fun there if his boyfriend was there.

Tamika: That would mean I would have to have the couch cleaned, but considering everything that's going on, I will just put in the cleaning request, no questions asked.

XXXX

Even though their schedules are chaotic, Justin always tries to eat lunch with Austin if he's in the building. Especially this week. He may have switched projects with Antonella to stay close by. Unfortunately, his boyfriend wasn't waiting at his desk. However, he did run into Cory, who informed him that Austin had been missing since Matt told him that the body in Pennsylvania was definitely not Tiffany's. Cory wants to know where his employee is because he's worried. So was Justin.

Thankfully, after 15 minutes of searching and a well-timed text message from Tamika, Justin found Austin in the baby sweet, a.k.a. Marc's office.

"Cory sent me to come find you. I brought lunch." Justin said, holding up the bag of goodies Vivian's assistant brought over. All handheld and things easy to consume. She's very worried about Austin's lack of food consumption. Even Justin is starting to become concerned.

"And you checked here first?" Austin asked, looking up from his laptop. He was currently spread out on one of the couches editing what looked like an article about some soccer player for Player.

"I checked your office first. However, Tamika remembered seeing you walk into Marc's office. It gave me time to pick up lunch. Vivian sent the good stuff. We can eat on the couches in here. Marc will not mind. You chose a good hiding place." Justin said as he pulled out one of the wraps.

"It is comfortable here. I also like playing with Jade when I'm sad. But she's not here today." Austin frowned as he spoke. Justin just wanted to hug his boyfriend. He's well aware of why he is sad.

"I think Cliff is doing a shoot with the craft magazine, and since he's friends with the EIC there, he just brought Jamie with him."

"That's good."

"Cory may have asked me to come get you, but he understands why you might not want to work with the others today."

"Can you text him and tell him I'd rather work down here from Mode? I want to avoid sad looks, especially from his boyfriend."

"I'll text him as soon as you eat something. Why are we avoiding your brother?" Justin asked as Austin grabbed some of the apple slices.

"The body in Pennsylvania is not my mom but could be George's body." Justin made sure to look appropriately shocked. Probably because he was shocked that he didn't make the connection earlier that it was probably George. Of course, if it's not Tiffany, it was George. "They're sure it's a male body, and it's about his height. They need dental records and DNA samples. Matt broke that news over doughnuts when I returned from morning classes. Obviously, I barely ate any. I don't want to talk about it, and I knew Matt would, so I'm avoiding him." Austin explained.

"I completely understand why you didn't want to be in the Player offices after that. Although you could have swung by my desk." Justin and Antonella share what used to be in the managing editor's office. However, Megan moved into Marc's (Wilhelmina's) old office. So, Monique turned it into the intern suite. There were a few desks for the afterschool and other part-time interns, but Antonella and Justin had the room to themselves this time of day.

"I wanted to be alone to think. It's quiet in here right now."

"I understand. You know it's OK if you are upset that George died. Santos was not a good father. He was trying to get better towards the end, but…" Justin trailed off, not sure how to finish that thought.

"George wasn't trying to become better. He was never a very good stepdad. He never really liked me, and it got so much worse since I came out."

"But it wasn't always like that?"

"I think it was. My conversation with Matt this morning reminded me of my mom being bruised before her fallout with Rebecca. Now I wonder if he was responsible for the bruises, not her accidentally falling off the front steps." Justin reached across the table and grabbed Austin's hand.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's OK. I don't have to worry about George again. It's over." Austin exhaled.

"But a part of you can't believe that."

"I'm worried about what it means for mom. If he's gone, then she has to be gone too."

"Maybe she ran away from the people that were sent to kill them. She could be hiding." Justin really wishes that's what happened.

"I hope you're right about that. There searching with cadaver dogs to see if there's another body."

"I hope they don't find anything." Austin will fall apart when they do, and Justin wants his boyfriend to hold on to hope for a little longer.

"I hope so, too. Aunt Rebecca lied to Cal this morning. I'm hoping her knowing something about Mom is why she lied." Austin explained.

"Of course, Rebecca is going to lie to your sperm donor. I'm sure she saw what really went down at the time."

"Perhaps. Do you think Rebecca would tell me the truth if I asked?"

"She's more likely to tell you than Cal," Justin replied.

"Too bad Vivian wants me to stay here. The most productive thing I've done was call Mrs. Rodriguez, and give her Jerry's number. She remembers seeing a moving truck when mom moved out even though there wasn't supposed to be one."

"That's still being productive. You know you really don't want to be in Pennsylvania right now because Cal is there at the moment. Although I heard my mom mentioned that she might be going up this weekend to keep an eye on things since Andie needs to return to work tomorrow."

"And Cal needs to get to Italy. As Matt said, it's impossible for the man to stay away from work for too long." Austin replied, darkly.

"Or probably London to see his grandkids before Claire."

"He would," Austin remarked.

"Let me see if I can talk our moms into letting us go to Pennsylvania this weekend."

"I doubt that's going to happen. Vivian wants to protect me from the crime scene."

"We're not going to the crime scene. We're going to go to Hershey Park. Then, when we separate from the parents, we can visit Rebecca." Justin explained his plan.

"I'm not sure we can ditch our security team."

"OK, will ask my mom to take us." Because she's actually reasonable.

"Thank you."

"And then if they say no, we ditch the security team." Austin reached across the table and kissed him at that.

"You have really been perfect during all of this. I appreciate it. I would be a mess without you."

"You're welcome. Eat your sandwich, and I will let your boss know you're working down here."

To be continued…