Page 26 of Meet Me In Central Park

‘So you still haven’t been up to the top of the Empire State Building yet?’ Harry slipped his arm around my waist and, for once, I wasn’t looking forward to going to the shop. The windows on the advent calendars that Madison had insisted on buying us all, were opening far too fast. I’d miss the shop, but I’d miss Harry even more, and I’d rather have spent the time with him if I could.

‘No, not yet. I did the Top of the Rock and the Statue of Liberty, with my aunt and Brian.’ The memory of them kissing like teenagers, on the boat out to Liberty Island, made me laugh. I couldn’t go home without seeing my namesake again, though. She was one of the few sights I’d made time for on my business trips, too. But, somehow, I still hadn’t managed to fit in that longed-for trip to the top of the Empire State Building.

‘I think we should put that right. In fact, I’ve got two tickets to the observation deck for Christmas Eve.’

‘What time?’

‘Seven o’clock. It’s so much more spectacular when it’s dark.’ He held my gaze, both of us knowing this was a risk, but for very different reasons. He’d taken a chance and booked the tickets, in the hope they might tip the balance to persuade me stay. But the truth was, he’d been more than enough for me to want to do that all along; now I just had to decide whether to take the risk of following my heart.

‘I should be on my way to the airport by then.’

‘Should be?’ Harry turned me to face him and I nodded. ‘But it’s not definite any more?’

‘I’ve been thinking about the offer my aunt made me to run the shop, at least for a little while.’ Saying it out loud, it seemed more real than ever. After my conversation with Paula, it had felt like a possibility. But now it felt like more of a probability. I didn’t want to make Harry any promises, though, until I was sure. ‘Nothing’s certain yet, so don’t waste the ticket on me.’

‘Just the fact that you’re thinking about it, is like Christmas come early for me.’ Harry kissed me, right there, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, and a tour bus driving past honked its horn. At least we were entertaining the tourists.

‘I meant what I said.’ Even as I spoke, I wasn’t sure I really did mean it any more. Before I’d spoken to Paula, staying would only have been about following my heart, but now it felt as if my head was saying the same thing. Being in New York made sense too. Maybe not forever, but at least until my grandparents were home and we knew whether Grant Bailey was planning to stick around once he had the choice about where to live. But I still didn’t want Harry to change his plans for me. He was supposed to be going home to see his family and I knew better than anyone how important it was to do that at Christmas. You never knew when it might be the last time. ‘Don’t save the ticket for me, just in case I’m not here.’

‘I don’t want to take anyone else, so I’m prepared to risk it.’

‘What about your nephews and the rest of your family? You could go home and see them. My aunt’s in Barbados for Christmas, but, if I stay, I’m sure I can gate crash Dannie and Rob’s plans. If you’ve got the chance, you should be with your family, and you’ll never get there in time if you’re still here on Christmas Eve.’

‘When I said I wasn’t sure I could make it, my sister could barely hide her relief!’ Harry laughed. ‘My brother-in-law was offered the use of a house with its own pool in Florida, by one of his clients. It’s all a bit last minute, but the kids have always wanted to do the whole Disney thing and my parents said they’d pay for the flights for everyone for Christmas. The problem is, it’s only got three bedrooms, so if I’d wanted to go, it would have meant moving everyone around just for a couple of nights. Or me camping out on the couch and being in everyone’s way. Paula and DeShawn have invited me to spend Christmas Day with them, but if you do stay, maybe we could have our own little celebration.’

‘That does sound good, but you know what I’m going to say.’

‘That nothing’s certain yet?’ He laughed again. ‘Like I said, I’m willing to take my chances. I’m just really happy it’s even a possibility.’

‘If I’m in New York for Christmas, there’s no one I’d rather spend it with.’ That was as much as I could promise, and he probably had no idea how big of a deal it was for me to be able to say that to him. I’d locked my feelings inside for so long and getting close to someone new came with the biggest risk of all, but Harry had somehow got past all of that.

‘That’s good enough for me.’ He let go of my hand as we got to the door of Candy Cane Lane. ‘I’ll see you at the art jam tomorrow, then?’

‘I can’t wait to see what you all create. But I’ve decided I’m just going to help Dannie and Rob with the food, seeing as people will probably offer to pay me not to produce any artwork!’ Despite attending all of Paula’s art classes, my drawings still looked like the ones that the parents of a five-year-old would discreetly slip into the recycling bin, when their little darling wasn’t watching.

‘I’m sure they’ll be glad of your help.’ Even Harry, as lovely as he was, couldn’t argue about my lack of artistic talent. ‘I’m sorry that I can’t see you tonight, but I’ve got to work.’

‘It’s okay, I’ve promised to help Dannie and Rob with some of the food prep anyway. Are you doing more tours tonight?’

‘I’ve got one straight after work, and then a few other bits I need to do after that.’

‘I’ll see you tomorrow then.’ Glancing over my shoulder, to make sure Dannie wasn’t there waving a box of confetti, I kissed him again. I really could spend Christmas Eve at the top of the Empire State Building with Harry, if I chose to, and right then I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more.

* * *

‘Valentine’s day decorations already?’ I unpacked the latest delivery to Candy Cane Lane and looked across at Madison, who was wearing reindeer antlers and a permanent dreamy smile on her face.

‘Let’s have a look.’ She almost pushed me out of the way to get to the box, which was filled with strings of hand carved wooden hearts. ‘I might actually have the sort of man in my life who’ll buy me flowers for Valentine’s Day next year.’

‘I take it things are still going well?’

‘Better than I ever thought possible. He calls me when he says he will, and turns up on time for our dates.’

‘That’s definitely a good start.’ I smiled, but I hoped Madison wasn’t rushing into things again. I wasn’t going to offer her any advice, though. I felt even less qualified to do that than I had when I’d arrived in New York.

‘Hello girls, what do you think of the hair?’ Aunt Dottie walked through the shop door and pointed to her head. How her hair hadn’t fallen out years ago, I’d never know. There were four strips of red, interspersed with strips of peroxide blonde, so that it looked almost white – like a candy cane. My great aunt never did anything by halves.

‘I think that’s above and beyond commitment to the shop!’ I had to smile; there was no way Dottie would ever blend into a crowd. ‘It’s amazing.’

---