Page 29 of Meet Me In Central Park

‘Whatever you say, Lib.’ Dannie winked, clearly not buying a word of it, and I couldn’t say I blamed him. I wasn’t buying a word of it myself any more, either.

‘So, what do you think about this Parsy, then?’ I hadn’t really expected the change of subject to work, but it seemed that a piece of street art by Parsy was even more exciting for Dannie than discussing my love life.

‘I know, we were just saying that we think it might be someone we know. Weren’t we, Rob?’

‘Uh-huh.’ Rob looked up from turning the skewers of chicken over on the grill. ‘And I think you know who it is too.’

‘I do?’ I frowned, wondering who they could be referring to.

‘DeShawn!’ Dannie said his name in the loudest whisper I’d ever heard and, when DeShawn looked around as a result, he ducked down behind the cart. If it was possible to shout a whisper, then Dannie had just done it.

‘Get up, you’re making him look over.’ Rob laughed. ‘At least I know you’ll never be able to have a secret affair; you’re useless at being discreet.’

‘Do you really think it’s him?’ I looked over at Paula’s boyfriend, as Dannie stood up again. ‘His paintings up in the studio are great, but then there must be thousands of talented artists in Manhattan. What makes you so sure it’s him?’

‘It can’t be a coincidence that the Community Center needs saving, and then, all of sudden, a Parsy appears on the wall, can it?’ Rob tapped the side of his forehead, and I couldn’t help agreeing.

‘And his name’s DeShawn Parshall – Parsy. See, it really does makes sense when you think about it,’ Dannie said. ‘Go on, admit it, it does make sense, doesn’t it?’

I looked across at DeShawn again, as he laughed at something Paula said. ‘It’s plausible, and I think you’re right. Parsy has got to be someone who knows this place.’ I had to admit he looked the part too; he could have passed for a rap star, so why not New York’s most famous street artist? But now Dannie had put the idea in my head that it could be someone we knew, my mind couldn’t help flashing to the dark circles under Harry’s eyes and the flecks of paint on his sleeve. I had the strangest of feelings that there was something he wasn’t telling me about what he’d been up to the night before.

* * *

‘Thank you all again so much for today. To friendship!’ Karly held up her glass as we sat in Rob and Dannie’s deli, after what had turned out to be a long but fantastic day. It was at least the fourth toast Karly had made, and she was starting to slur her words a bit, as Rob put an arm around her.

‘Before my sister actually slides under the table, maybe someone else can lead the next toast?’

‘I’ve got something to toast actually.’ I looked around the table, just hoping they were going to be as pleased to hear the news as I was to share it, now that I’d finally made a decision. ‘Here’s to living in New York.’

‘We’re already living in New York.’ Karly raised her glass anyway, and then started giggling.

‘Does this mean what I think it does, chicken?’ Dannie grabbed hold of my wrist. ‘Please tell me I’m right.’

‘You are. I’ve decided to stay on. I’m not sure exactly how long for, yet, but I’m not making any plans to leave.’

‘That’s fantastic! And there I was thinking this day couldn’t get any better.’ Dannie kissed me on the cheek, spilling half of his champagne down me. It was like Abbie confirming that the artwork was a Parsy all over again, with everyone hugging and chinking their glasses together.

Harry was the last person to speak to me. ‘You’re really staying?’

‘For as long as I can.’ It was all I could promise, but it seemed to be enough for him.

‘I don’t know what changed your mind, but whatever it was, I’m really glad it happened.’ Harry kissed me, and a big cheer went up from around the table. There was no point even trying to convince Dannie that dating Harry was a casual thing now, and I was past caring.

‘We need to celebrate. We’re all young, well young-ish.’ Dannie looked at Rob and laughed. ‘We should go to Copacabana or Le Bain.’

‘Maybe some other time. I think we’re going to hit the sack early tonight.’ Paula looked at DeShawn who nodded in response. I’d seen him stifling yawns the whole time we’d been in the deli. If he’d been up all night putting the artwork on the wall, I was surprised he could even keep his eyes open.

‘I could use an early night too. I really want to celebrate you staying, but I’m not sure I can handle clubbing.’ Harry’s eyes met mine, and I could have kissed him again. Maybe I should have been spending my time in New York trying out as many of the bars and clubs as I could, but I wouldn’t swap any of that for a night with my friends from the Community Center, and I definitely wouldn’t swap it for a night with Harry.

‘I’m with you. I’ve got to open the shop tomorrow, and Dottie will hang me from one of the trees in Central Park if I’m late doing that four days before Christmas.’

‘Looks like it’s just us then. Are you guys up for it?’ Dannie turned to Karly and Abbie, who both nodded, and within minutes we were out on the street. Paula and DeShawn set off for her apartment, and the others headed off to the club, leaving Harry and me outside Candy Cane Lane.

‘Back to mine, then?’ Harry’s smile melted away as I shook my head.

‘No, let’s go to my place.’ I put my hand on his face. ‘If I’m going to stay, I might as well start treating the apartment like I actually live there. Especially as Aunt Dottie has made the move to Brian’s place permanent. There’s no point it sitting empty, is there?’

‘None at all.’ Harry kissed me, and the snow that had held off all day for the art jam, started to fall silently onto the sidewalk. I couldn’t imagine wanting to ever spend Christmas anywhere else – but things could change as quickly as the New York weather.

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