Whatever happened when the book closed on the ending of Ugly Betty? What if Betty's publishing company with Mr. Dunn became a bigger success? What if Daniel stopped being stupid and settled down once more with Betty? Almost 30 years and two kids later, here they are. Maria Meade, Betty and Daniel's daughter, at the ripe age of 22 is setting out to find her own path alongside her brother Luis. What happens when her path collides with everything from not only her parents past, but her family's past in general?
AVERAGE MARIA CHAPTER 4
Maria
I pushed the door open and I practically just saw a cloud of hairspray. Hopefully no one tries to light anything in here. I walk in while coughing my lungs out. How the hell did Tia Hilda not kill mom when her salon was out of their childhood home?
“‘Morning, Maria!” And it already looks like Tia’s already taken a customer.
“‘Morning Tia.” I try the best I can to head to the break room through the hairspray cloud. No wonder the salon runs out of hairspray on a weekly if not daily basis. I look at the 4 other stations that are filled with customers and hairdressers.
Mary Beth’s been working for Tia as long as I’ve been alive. Stef joined the crew 3 weeks after Cherie left to go back to her homeland of Salem, Massachusetts. Freddi joined 10 years ago and her little sister Carrie joined 2 years ago after failing to become an actress. What type of actress? I was afraid to ask. I started working at Tia’s salon when I turned 16 and have been doing it since. I don’t do the actual hair stuff since I don’t have a Cosmetology license. I just help Tio with inventory in the back. And handle the register.
Once I finally get to the break room, I set my bag down. I clock in and head for the storage room. I scan all around the room until I find Tio. I walk over to him.
“Hey, Maria.”
“Morning, Tio. Need any help?”
“Not today, sweetheart. Thank you, though.”
“Alright.” I turn and head for the register. Walking through the cloud created by Tia again. I proceed to practically cough my lungs out at the register. What looks to be a woman actually about Tia’s age walks in.
“Hello…And welcome to…Hilda’s Beautilities…Do you..Have..an appointment?” Still coughing through most of that sentence.
“Yes. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just walked through my Tia’s hairspray cloud. What’s your name?”
“Gina Gambarro. Who’s your Tia?” I type her name into the computer. Why does her name sound familiar?
“She’s actually the owner of this salon. And it looks like her last client is all finished up. You can go to her chair now.”
“Hold up, you’re related to Hilda Suarez?”
“Actually, her name legally is Hilda Talerico but, yes. Her sister Betty is my mom.”
“Really? You’re little Ugly Betty’s kid? I don’t believe it.” And I really don’t care if she does or not.
“Whatever. Just go.”
“Nuh uh. Call her.” I give her a look.
“Call who?”
“Your ‘Tia’ or whatever.”
“You want me to call her when she’s like 10 feet that way?”
“Yes.” Oh boy, this is going to be a long day, isn’t it? I turn my head towards Tia’s chair.
“TIA! A CLIENT WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!” I turn my head back to Ms. Gambarro. I hear the clop of Tia’s heels and the clinking of her jewelry as she comes right next to me.
“Why does a client want to…Oh, Gina Gambarro. I thought you left New York.”
“I did and now I’m back. This little girl here is claiming to be your niece.” Little girl?
“Okay, first, Maria’s not a little girl. She’s 22. And second of all, she is my niece. Like her brother Luis is my nephew. She and her brother both came from my lovely and very successful little sister, Betty! Whom I love very much.” And I’m way too close to Tia’s chest. I know we’re a close-knit family but, not that close!
“Wait a minute, Maria? As in Maria and Luis Meade?” Ms. Gambarro goes into her purse and pulls out a copy of the latest issue of MODE. She opens it and flips to a full spread smack in the middle. She turns it around to show us. Way to be subtle, Grandma.
“Betty married Daniel Meade and had them?” She points to Luis and I in the picture. Just realized my bra is showing a little in that picture. Oops. Well, mom and dad can’t hide our faces from the media anymore. They know what Luis and I look like.
“Uh, yeh! That’s how she’s my niece, Gina!”
“Tia, can you let go of me? Any closer and I’m going to become one with your chest.”
“Oh, sorry.” Tia lets go. Ms. Gambarro looks me up and down. She closes the magazine and turns to look at Tia.
“So, Hilda, tell me what it’s like having Daniel Meade as your brother-in-law while you’re doing my hair.”
“Right this way then.” Tia heads back to the chair with Ms. Gambarro following right behind her. I ring up the previous client that Tia had.
“Your Tia has got to stop using that much hairspray.” I take the money in her hands and put it in the register. I grab her change.
“Try telling Tia that. Have a nice day.” She takes the change and leaves. I look over my shoulder and see Tia giving Ms. Gambarro all of the tea she knows about mom and dad’s relationship.
Apparently, there was a bet between her, Justin, I think Abuelo, possibly Tio, and Grandma regarding mom and dad finally getting together. Grandma won that bet, but Tia won the other bet when they got engaged. And so forth. I hear the door open and snap my head forward. An older man who weirdly looks like Grandpa walks in.
Grandma really needs to get rid of those pictures. The man scans around the salon until his eyes land on me. He walks over to me. I feel like I should be getting Tio out here. Or having Tia standing next to me. Or someone on the phone. Justin’s busy, dad’s at work, Luis’ at school, and mom is with Abuelo at his appointment. For what? I didn’t want to know.
“Hello and welcome to Hilda’s Beautilities. Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but I would like to ask you a few questions.” Huh?
“About?” The man pulls out a notepad? I didn’t think we were scheduled for an inspection today.
“Just regarding your family.” Alright then?
“Ok? What do you want to know about for some reason?”
“Hilda Suarez, sorry Hilda Talerico is your aunt, correct?” I raise my eyebrow and cross my arms.
“Yea. She’s my mom’s older sister.”
“Your mom, Betty Meade?”
“Yes?” The man writes it down.
“Your uncle, Bobby, is it?|
“Yes.”
“He’s your aunt’s husband, right?” Well, duh since I call him Tio.
“Yea. They’ve been married since 2010. A year longer than my parents.”
“When did your parents get married?”
“2011. Is that all?”
“Almost. Is your uncle your cousin Justin’s father?”
“No, step father. His dad died in 2007.”
“What was his father’s name?”
“I don’t know.” I turn my head again.
“TIA!”
“WHAT?”
“What was Justin’s dad’s name again?”
“Santos Reynoso. Why do you ask?” Assuming he didn’t die when he did, I would have a Tio Santos instead of a Tio Bobby.
“Just curious. Thank you.” I turn my head back to the man.
“Santos Reynoso.” The man writes the rest of it down.
“Is that all, sir?”
“Yes. Thank you.” The man puts his notepad away, turns and walks out. That was the strangest conversion I have ever had. And I’m related to Luis! Why is my phone buzzing? I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket. I look at the notifications and it’s a group chat? I click on the message and open my phone. I only recognize two numbers, Grandma and Luis. Based on the conversion, I’m guessing that it’s Daniel. I saved his number real quick.
Grandma M: I need you three to come to Wilhelmina’s office at MODE Why?
Pain In the Ass: I’m in class
Grandma M: Well, then I’ll tell you your news later
Grandma M: Maria, Daniel, get down here quick!
Me: Why?
Grandma M: You’ll find out soon
Frenchie French: Be there soon Looks like Tio’s covering the register today.
“Tia, I got to leave!” I head for the break room.
“Wait, Maria! Why?” I yell from the break room while clocking out and getting my stuff together.
“Something important that my grandma wants me and Daniel there for that she apparently can’t say over text!” I rush out of the break room and head for the door.
“Uh, alright then. Be careful.” Tia turns to her head towards the back.
“BOBBY! WE NEED YOU ON REGISTER! MARIA’S LEAVING!” I catch Tio heading for the register as I turn the corner once I’m outside. Just need to get on the next train to New York City. I run like I’ve never run before, heading to the Subway. I keep running until a car pulls up next to me and a window is rolled down.
“Bonjour Maria.” Daniel? I turn my head.
“Daniel? Why are you over here?” Daniel scooches out of the way and there’s Aunt Alexis.
“We came to pick you up.”
“Really?”
“Yes, now get in the car.”
“No thanks. I really don’t trust you.” The driver’s window rolls down and dad?
“Maria Rosa Guadalupe Meade, get in the car!”
“I thought you were at work.”
“I have a sub covering for me. Driver, stop the car!” The car stops and so do I. Both of the windows roll back up before the passenger door opens. Aunt Alexis and Daniel scooch over as I get in and close the door behind me. The driver starts heading for Meade Publications and I reek of hairspray.
“I’m assuming you walked through your Tia’s hairspray cloud.”
“Unfortunately. Practically coughed my lungs out.”
“I’m sorry. Have you eaten anything?” And here’s dad being dad.
“Yes, dad.”
“Did your Abuelo make you something before you left?”
“Yes, dad.”
“Good.” I catch Aunt Alexis’ look out of the corner of my eye.
“So…You really like being a father, don’t you, Daniel?”
“I love being a father, Alexis! One of the best and smartest decisions I ever made. Besides obviously marrying Betty, the love of my life.”
“What about Molly? Wasn’t she the love of your life also?” Is she really going to bring that up every time dad mentions mom?
“Yes, she was. I loved her all the way to the end. Sadly, it came quicker than it should have but I still loved her. I know in my heart that Maria and Luis would have still existed one way or another. Regardless of if Molly or Betty was their mom.” That seems to get Aunt Alexis to shut up for now. And she wonders why I don’t trust her.
“So, Maria.” Why is she turning to me now?
“Yes?”
“Where were you before we found you?” That sounds kind of wrong.
“My Tia Hilda’s salon. I work the register.”
“Why the register?”
“Because I don’t have my Cosmetology license. And without it, I can’t legally cut hair.”
“You need it to cut people's hair in someone’s house?” Wow, she seriously hasn’t been up to date on shit.
“You need it if the salon is an actual salon and not a home salon. My Tia owns her salon and likes to use a God-awful amount of hairspray which is why I smell like hairspray. Any more questions, Auntie?”
“No more right now.” The ride is silent until we get to Meade Publications. Dad and Aunt Alexis get out first. I follow behind Daniel as he gets out after Aunt Alexis. We walk in and head for the elevators. I notice the janitor who looks like the guy that came into Tia’s salon today. That was still a very weird conversion. I’m really wondering why he was asking all of what he asked. We get to the elevator and wait for the said elevator.
“So, you really think mom’s going to pick them?” Pick who?
“Yes, I do. You saw what they were like together last week. It’s perfect.”
“You do remember what it was like when we were Co-Editors in Chief.”
“Yes, I do and they’re not like us, Alexis. Daniel is not like you and Maria is no way in hell not like me. She takes after Betty and I’m happy about that. Luis on the other hand, well, I just hope he’s more careful than I was at his age.” Okay, ew. The elevator doors open, and we walk in. Aunt Alexis presses the button for the floor where MODE is located. The doors close and the elevator goes up. The elevator stops on the floor and the doors open. Wow, I forgot how bright MODE is. We walk out of the elevator and head for Wilhelmina’s office.
“You’ve reached MODE Magazine. This is Dario. How can I help you?” Okay, he’s cute. When did Grandma hire that cute receptionist and how can I get me some of him? Wow looks like I got dad’s libido. Yay. We pass through other editors, fashion designers, and other important staff for this magazine as we get to the office. We pass Wilhelmina’s assistant as we head into her office which looks like most of it is packed up. Well, she is supposed to be stepping down later this week. Grandma and her at her desk. Surprisingly she acknowledges all of us.
“Daniel. Alexis. Daniel. Maria. Isn’t there another one of you?”
“Luis’ in class right now.” She gives a look at that statement.
“Hm, alright then. You two sit down.” Daniel and I sit down as dad and Aunt Alexis stand right behind us.
“Claire.” Grandma sits up a little straighter and leans forward a little.
“Well, I have picked Wilhelmina’s replacement. Actually replacements.” Huh?
“Huh?”
“There’ll be two Editors-In-Chief of MODE.”
“And those two are?”
“Well. Maria, Daniel. Welcome to MODE as the newest Co-Editors In Chief.”