Falling in Love in New York

by HILL, MELISSA

  Chris had laughed out loud when he’d heard.

  “I know you’ve been out of the game for a while but mate, you’ve still got a lot to learn. Most girls in this town wouldn’t be seen dead in a burger joint, these days, it’s five-star treatment or nothing.”

  Which is why he’d recommended the place Finn and his latest companion were in now, and while it was supposed to be one of the ‘in’ places in the city, Finn had so far found it cold and pretentious.

  The staff were stiff and condescending and upon his arrival had looked down their noses at Finn’s casual attire of jeans and black short-sleeved shirt. And although he couldn’t be absolutely sure, he could have sworn he heard them poking fun behind his back at his wine-tasting. Finn wasn’t into all that sniffing and swirling it around in the glass bullshit–in fairness, he wasn’t that much into wine at all, but Karina seemed to like it, so that was OK with him. In any case, he couldn’t imagine a bottle of beer being allowed within ten feet of a place like this, so concerned they’d be that such a populist drink might affect their precious credibility.

  “It’s just delicious,” said Karina, in response to his question about the food. “The scallops are perfectly cooked, with just the right amount of seasoning, and I’m getting a faint hint of something in the sauce that I think might be cinnamon. Yours?”

  Finn gulped and looked down at his fairly ordinary looking fishcakes. “They’re um …grand,” he said, but Karina was still looking at him, evidently waiting for him to elaborate as if he was some kind of expert. “They taste …very nice.”

  “Right. Well that’s good. It’ll be interesting to see what the chef does with my main. The last time I had pork in a restaurant like this, it looked and tasted like something you’d get in a pub.” She rolled her eyes. “Soooo disappointing.”

  Finn was wondering why food from a pub was such a terrible thing when in fact pubs usually dished out tasty grub in nice big portions, not like the microscopic servings he saw them putting out on tables here–plates of food so small they wouldn’t fill a sparrow, and consisting primarily of scraps of barely-cooked meat smothered in blades of green grass. And why did she have to make a song and dance about what the chef ‘did’ with things? As far as he was concerned it was just food, not a bloody performance! Sometimes, Finn didn’t recognise the country he’d returned to a few years before; while the nation now seemed to have a lot more money, he wasn’t entirely sure they were the better for it.

  But whatever about Karina’s choice for the main course, at least he’d played it safe and gone for a nice, juicy sirloin. He’d need one what with the size of these fishcakes. Each no bigger than a fifty cent piece, Finn had consumed them in quick time, and was looking forward to filling up on meat and veg.

  “I just think Dublin restaurants have a really long way to go before they can compete with those in London, don’t you?” Karina was saying, and Finn realised that this was the third time in the last half hour that she’d picked up her bag and started rummaging inside it. The strange thing was that she never seemed to take anything out or put something in.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked, indicating the bag. “Have you forgotten something? Do you need a tissue or anything?”

  Karina smiled. “Sorry–I just can’t help it. It’s Chloe, and it’s just sooo soft.”

  What? Chris hadn’t said anything about her having a daughter. Not that Finn minded or anything but … “Chloe?”

  “Yes. It’s the new one. Cost me nearly two grand, but it’s worth every penny. Especially,” she continued, her eyes lighting up as she surveyed the room, “as every woman in this room is going green over it!”

  OK, now Finn was seriously lost.

  “There was a six month waiting list in BTs. I think Victoria Smurfit got it a day or two ahead of me, whereas Andrea Corr was miles after.” She smiled gleefully.

  Waiting list? Brown Thomas? What the hell was this woman going on about?

  But Karina must have realised that the tables had been turned and it was now Finn whose eyes were glazing over, because she quickly put him out of his misery.

  “You know, the new Chloe handbag, designer handbag? I can’t believe you don’t know, I thought everyone knew about these, they were on the news and everything.”

  Finn couldn’t help thinking that he’d probably got sidetracked by some unimportant stuff like the country’s growing crime rates or the state of the economy. Bags called Chloe…how on earth could he have missed it?

  As he watched Karina’s self-satisfied expression, he suddenly wanted to bolt from this shallow, overhyped, pretentious excuse for a restaurant, and run a million miles for his equally shallow and pretentious excuse for a date. What the hell was he doing here, trying to have a conversation with a woman who seemed to value nothing but appearances, and by all accounts seemed to think she was in an episode of some American soap opera?

  Now it was all beginning to make sense, her question earlier about his jeans and ‘who’ they were. John Rocha? Paul Smith? Followed by her lofty pronouncement to the waiter that she only drank ‘fine wine’ and could a sommelier recommend something suitable. If that was the case what did everyone else drink–shite wine?

  Although he’d found it a bit odd at the time, Finn knew absolutely nothing about wine so he’d simply put this comment down to her evident superior knowledge of the subject. But now he understood Karina’s behaviour for what it was–vacant, silly and snobbish and knew that he no longer wanted any part in it.

  Still, he wasn’t going to just up and leave, that would be downright rude, but at the same time, life was too short to have to put up with this kind of thing.

  “Of course I know it’s a Chloe bag,” he said and picked up his wine glass before adding mischievously, “A good friend of mine got the latest one for her birthday last week.”

  Karina’s eyes widened. “You mean the very latest one?” This was said with such reverence, that Finn nearly choked on his wine and because he and Karina could just as easily have been talking about alien life forms, he nodded in reply.

  “But how? It won’t be released here until January!”

  Yikes! Finn thought quickly. “Well, I think her husband picked one up in New York; he goes there on business quite a bit.”

  “Lucky cow,” Karina said dreamily and there was such naked envy in her eyes that Finn felt almost guilty.

  “Well, I don’t know–maybe it wasn’t the new one after all, maybe it’s the same one you have. I’m really not sure.”

  “No, I don’t suppose you would know. Honestly, I really would be very surprised if she’s got her hands on a the newest design.” She lowered her voice. “If she has, she’d really want to make sure it isn’t a fake.You have to be careful with these things you know.”

  Don’t I just, Finn thought wryly. By now, he was beginning to feel sorry for Karina. What kind of a life was this, spending a fortune trying to keep up with the latest fashion must-haves, only to find that there will always be someone who is one step ahead of you, and that you’ll be forever chasing your tale. Were all women like that these days? Looking around the room, you’d certainly think so. Each and every one of them seemed to be glancing around the room and had their eye on everything and everyone but their dinner partners. And thinking back on it now, it had been the same with the last few ‘available’ women Chris and Co had set him up with. While they all seemed on the outside intelligent, mature, succesful women, they also possessed an ultra-competitive edge (particularly towards other women) that to him translated as plain and simple insecurity.

  Finn sighed inwardly. He just wasn’t able for this anymore and he sorely wished he could go home to the one female who didn’t care anything about designer handbags or fancy food and was perfectly happy with a tin of Pedigree Chum!

  Good old Lucy rarely troubled him, even when he abandoned her to go abroad on training conventions and had to leave her in the care of his dad. And speaking of which, Pat had a consulation with th
e specialist early the following morning, which was a good excuse as any for Finn to go home early.

  Still, seeing as the food in this place cost a small fortune and he was now absolutely starving, it would be almost criminal not to stay on and enjoy it, wouldn’t it?

  But no sooner had the thought of the cost of the food entered his head, than the waiter arrived with Finn and Karina’s main course. And when he saw on his plate a piece of sirloin steak that was no bigger than a golf ball–and covered in that blasted grass– Finn knew for certain that this was turning into the date from hell.

  Chapter 13

  “You’re an auntie!” Caroline cried down the phone.

  “What? Claire had the baby?” Abby sat up in bed and checked the time on her bedside alarm clock. It was six am but Caroline sounded as though she’d been awake for some time. “But she’s not due for another few weeks!”

  “I know, but she went early. Zach just phoned Mum, and he’s over the moon. It’s a girl, and I think they’re calling her Caitlyn. And Claire’s fine–not a bother on her, apparently. But then again, Zach would say that, wouldn’t he? He’s a man!”

  “Caitlyn,” Abby repeated softly. “That’s a really beautiful name. I can’t wait to see her.”

  “Well you won’t have to wait too long,” Caroline trilled. “Better get packing ‘cos we’re leaving on the nineteenth!”

  “What?” Abby blinked, unsure if she’d heard right.

  “We’re all going to New York to see the newest member of the Ryan family!”

  When there was no immediate reply, her sister’s tone changed. “What, you don’t want to see your one and only niece? And don’t you dare say a word to me about this afraid of flying nonsense–I told you before, it’s all in your head.”

  Abby gulped. The thought of getting on a plane again was terrifying, particularly when it was such a long flight, but on the other hand, she’d absolutely love to see Claire and the new baby. And to think, New York of all places…

  “I promise you–you’ll love it,” Caroline insisted. “Especially this time of year.”

  Then it hit Abby what time of year it actually was. “But … but that’ll be Christmas week!” she blurted. “Even if I did decide to go, it’ll be so busy–there’s no way we’d get flights and–”

  “Already taken care of,” her sister said blithely. “Consider it your Christmas present.”

  “What? But I couldn’t …”

  “Of course you could. And quite frankly Abby, I think after everything that’s happened lately, you could do with a little break. So could Mum, and Claire would be over the moon to see us–and you in particular seeing as you’ve never been to her and Zach’s. And after all, when’s the last time all of us girls got together?”

  It had been ages, as Caroline and Tom had been away on a jaunt to the Caribbean the last time Claire had been home to Ireland. And as Caroline travelled to New York on shopping trips on a regular basis, she and Claire saw one another often, but it had been years since the family had been together all at once.

  “Well it would be brilliant to see her, but are you sure Claire will be able for us all so soon?” Abby was sure the new parents would want some quiet time alone with their new baby daughter, and the last thing they’d need was the entire Ryan (and Morgan) clan arriving in on top of them in their New York home.

  “I’ve already okayed it with Zach and he thinks it’s a brilliant idea, especially having Mum around to give Claire a hand.” She sniffed. “He obviously doesn’t think I’d be much help.” At this, Abby raised a smile. “But imagine, all the family together for Christmas in New York? Well, apart from Dermot,” she added quickly, who Abby knew already had plans to go away elsewhere with friends. “Abby, it’ll be fantastic!”

  Her sister’s enthusiasm was certainly infectious and Abby couldn’t wait to see her baby niece, but at the same time she couldn’t help but be concerned about the last minuteness of it all–not to mention the prospect of flying. Then again, what else would she be doing only moping around the apartment, worrying and obsessing about things? The change of scenery might do her some good, mightn’t it?

  No, Caroline was right, she decided then. It would be wonderful to have the family all together again, especially for a celebration. And God knew she’d had little to celebrate lately…

  “I’ll pay you back for the tickets–” she began.

  “Don’t be silly, I told you–it’s your Christmas present. Anyway, I put them on Tom’s visa, so he’s paying for them really.”

  Whether he likes it or not, Abby thought smiling. “Well, I owe you both one anyway.”

  “Honey, you owe me nothing. So, I wonder what Caitlyn’s like?” her sister went on, chattering a mile a minute. “I do hope she hasn’t inherited the Ryan temperament. Otherwise our poor sis will seriously have her work cut out for her!”

  “Christmas in New York, how lovely!” Hannah enthused.

  Abby wasn’t sure if the psychologist would have reservations about her travelling so far, (and in truth she half-hoped Hannah did–it would certainly get her off the hook in terms of flying at least!) but it seemed not. “Yes,” she replied with a watery smile.

  “You don’t sound too enthusiastic about it,” the other woman said, a question in her voice.

  “Well, it’s really the flying part I’m not enthusiastic about,” Abby said, going on to explain all about her previous flying experience. “Kieran really hated it,” she shrugged in conclusion.

  Hannah was silent for a moment. “Kieran is your ex-boyfriend?”

  Abby squirmed, annoyed with herself for being stupid enough to even raise the subject. “Yes, we broke up just over a year ago.”

  “That’s a shame.” It was obvious from Hannah’s sympathetic expression and tone that she knew Abby wasn’t the one who had initiated the split. “Were you two together long?”

  “Almost five years, but it’s fine–I mean, I’m fine.”

  “I see.” But again she could sense that Hannah knew well she was the furthest thing from fine about all of that, but in fairness to the other woman, she didn’t push it. “So what do you think he would make of all this–your injury, I mean?”

  Abby brow furrowed. She wasn’t entirely sure what Kieran would think about it all. For one thing, he hated hospitals and had always been hugely uncomfortable around illness in general. Even if Abby was sick with a heavy flu or a tummy bug, and had to spend a few days in bed, she always got the feeling she was letting him down somehow, that all this lying around was in his eyes overdramatic and unneccessary. But then of course if he happened to get sick… well that was a different story altogether!

  No, Kieran probably wouldn’t be the best person to have around just now, Abby admitted. It wasn’t that he was unsympathetic or anything, he just found these things difficult to handle. But of course, she wasn’t going to admit this to Hannah. And wasn’t it a pointless question in any case?

  “Well, not that it matters, but I think he’d be a great support,” she lied. In truth, if Kieran was still around now, she thought sadly, her injury would probably have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

  “Yes, from what you’ve told me about your holiday, it seems he had quite a …strong personality.”

  Despite herself, Abby chuckled. That was an understatement! “Yes, I suppose you could say that.”

  Hannah looked to be on the verge of saying something else, but apparently, decided against it. Abby suspected that the psychologist couldn’t help but want to dig deeper into her state of mind after the break up, but had to remind herself that this wasn’t the reason she was here. Abby was relieved, the last thing she wanted was an interrogation about Kieran, particularly when she was now trying her utmost to put all of that behind her.

  “So, the Big Apple then,” Hannah said, evidently deciding to move on. “I’m quite jealous actually. But no, I’d have no problem at all with you travelling. In fact, I think it might do you the world of good.”
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  Abby stared out of the window of the car, trying to take it all in. New York was incredible–like something from a dream, completely out of this world! And as she, her mother, Caroline and Tom made their way from JFK in the town car in which Zach had collected them, she couldn’t help thinking how everything looked like it was straight out of a movie set.

  As they neared Manhattan and the world famous cityscape suddenly came into view, Caroline pointed out the yawning gap left where the twin towers used to be, and Abby couldn’t help but recall her conversation with Hannah about her own memories of that sad day.

  But if this was anything to go by, Abby was unlikely to forget her first experience of New York in a hurry. It was magnificent, awe-inspiring and totally unforgettable. But boy was it cold too!

  Caroline, who thanks to her regular shopping trips was now a veteran of New York winters, had warned Abby and Teresa to bring warm clothes but in truth Abby had been expecting temperatures similar to those back home. But this was something else! As their car navigated the city streets, she could see steam rising from the subway air vents on the pavement, and then almost immediately fall to the ground as ice-crystals. She shivered.

  “I told you it would be cold!” a fur-encased Caroline grinned from alongside her. Back at Dublin airport, Abby had to laugh at the sight of her sister and Tom who she thought looked like a couple of grizzly bears, what with Caroline’s full length faux fur and Tom’s heavily lined fleece jacket. Now who was laughing?

  “I hope to God you have the heating on full blast at home, Zach,” Teresa said through chattering teeth. “This place is like Siberia!”

  But despite the cold, Manhattan really looked like something out of a fairytale–its streets were ablaze with sparkling trees and fairy lights, and as they made their way along in the car, Abby marvelled at the way the white fairy lights from the trees glittered in the evening light and cast a magical glow onto the pavements below.