“So what do you reckon?” he said, as he and Abby sipped their respective takeaway hot chocolates and stared up at the biggest, brightest and most famous Christmas tree of them all.
It was, quite simply, breathtaking. Ice-skaters swirled around the rink beneath it, while shoppers and sightseers stopped to stare and admire. Carol singers serenaded alongside its branches their voices climbing almost as high as the shining star on top, and children and adults alike were held rapt by the thousands of fairy lights that blanketed its limbs, glistening like fresh snow in the moonlight.
“It’s amazing,” Abby gasped, trying to take in the sheer size of the Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree. While she’d known it would be something special, she hadn’t expected a simple Christmas tree to provoke such an emotional reaction. Not that there was anything simple about an eight-foot-high spruce lit up by tens of thousands of coloured lights. The tree was situated above a dramatic gilded statute, which overlooked the crowded ice-rink. On their way into the plaza, they’d passed by a gorgeous display of wire-sculpted trumpet-blowing angels, all lit up and magically illuminating the entire area, as well as the entranced faces of the children who stood watching them.
“What’s that statue?” she asked. No doubt he would know, Abby thought. When it came to New York, there seemed very little he didn’t know.
“It’s the Greek god Prometheus,” he said easily, before giving her a sideways look. “I studied a little Greek mythology in college, just in case you’re beginning to think I’m some kind of anorak.”
Abby smiled guiltily as she’d been thinking just that. “Well there’s certainly no denying you know your stuff, and I’m really glad I have you as my tour guide.”
Earlier they’d stopped off briefly to visit Sachs Christmas window display on Fifth Avenue, which had a completely different theme to the one Abby had seen earlier at Bergdoff Goodman’s, but with its winter wonderland exhibit, was just as impressive.
Now Phil looked at his watch. “You said you needed to be back at your sister’s place by seven?”
“Yes.” Abby checked the time and to her surprise, realised that it was now five-thirty. With all the walking around they’d done the day had simply flown by but she was enjoying herself so much she now almost regretted having to rejoin the family.
“I’ll have to head back to JFK myself soon,” Phil said, “so let’s just do one more thing before we go.”
Abby nodded, happy to let him lead her once again.
Some twenty minutes and a seventy-storey elevator ride, she was glad she did.
The view from the top of the Rockefeller Centre was astonishing. Seventy floors up and unobstructed for three hundred and sixty degrees the breathtaking New York landscape stretched for miles in every direction. A panoramic view of Central Park and the northern half of Manhattan as well as the city’s other famous landmarks were visible, including the Chrysler Building, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. It was the most spectacular and magical view Abby had ever seen and standing on the observation deck so high above the bustling city, she felt an incredibly wonderful sense of peace–and on Christmas Eve this was especially powerful. Surprisingly given the time of year, there were very few other visitors around, which merely added to the stillness and quiet.
For Abby the air seemed to tingle with anticipation, and she felt a sense of wonder she hadn’t experienced since she was a young child waiting for Santa. There was something about this place that did that to you, something about Manhattan that took you back to those enchanting days of a childhood Christmas.
Tears came to her eyes as she and Phil stood silently taking in the view and Abby thought to herself that whatever might be going on in her brain at the moment, and whatever happened in the future, she would surely never, ever forget this.
Eventually Phil spoke. “Pretty cool, isn’t it?” he said softly.
Abby nodded, almost sorry that the spell had been broken. “It’s amazing,” she whispered, turning to look at him. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“Are you OK?” he asked, concern in his eyes, which in this light appeared almost black.
“I’m fine,” she said, before adding quickly. “Well, at least I think I am.” Then just as quickly, she shook her head and smiled, unwilling to let thoughts of the future get her down. Especially not now. “Let’s just say that things have been a bit … weird for me lately and I really needed this.”
Phil seemed to know not to push the topic further. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” he said, before turning out again towards the vista of the city. “It’s a pretty special place, New York. I’ve been here many times, yet every time I come back I go away with another great memory.”
Abby smiled wistfully at his choice of words.
“But that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?” he went on. “Enjoying life and gathering great memories.”
He was right, she realised suddenly; that expression ‘gathering great memories’ instantly capturing her imagination. But gathering memories–at least not any great ones–was something Abby hadn’t done in a very long time.
Once again she thought back to the way her life had been just before the accident, and how she’d had little to show for it other than heartbreak and misery. Where was all the fun and excitement– where were her great memories?
But worse, now that she’d realised this was, it too late to get out there and start looking for some? And even if she did seek out more experiences like this, would she be wasting her time seeing as she might not be able to hold onto them anyway?
But yet how could anyone forget something like this? Just then, Abby drank in the view from the observation deck as if she might never see it again, the pulsating, glittering city beneath a Christmas Eve sky, unable to imagine how something so wonderful could be forgotten.
No, Abby thought, the realisation hitting her like a bolt from the blue; she was going to beat this memory thing, she had to beat it. Because as Phil had pointed out earlier, what good was life without moments like this?
***
Shortly afterwards, she and Phil reluctantly returned to ground level, Abby sorry that their enjoyable jaunt around the city had to come to an end.
“I think I’ll walk back, actually,” she said, when Phil went to hail her a cab. While she was here she wanted to take in as much atmosphere as she could and sitting in the back of a stuffy old cab wouldn’t achieve that.
“You will not!” Phil scolded. “It’s not safe to be wandering the streets at night on your own, Christmas Eve or not. But if you insist,” he said capitulating somewhat, “then at least let me walk you.”
“But you’ve got to get back too!” she protested, but he quickly waved her objections away.
“There’s loads of time left, and I can easily get a cab afterwards.”
“You’re sure?” Despite herself, Abby got a surreptitious kick out of the notion of him walking her back, but at the same time, she really didn’t want to delay him even further, or worse cause him to miss the flight completely.
“Honestly, there’s loads of time. And it’s Christmas Eve for me too, remember, so any excuse at all to stay away from the madhouse that is JFK!”
“Well, OK then.”
On the way back, and to Abby’s utter surprise and delight, the two of them came across some street-sellers actually offering freshly roasted chestnuts. God, this place really was Christmas personified she thought, while Phil paid the man for the small tub she wanted.
Munching on warm chestnuts, the two of them made their way back along the streets, chatting easily about this and that. Phil was so funny, not to mention very attractive, and as she walked alongside him, Abby again couldn’t help notice how relaxed and at ease she felt in his company. It was something she hadn’t experienced in a very long time, and while she knew today was a complete fluke and once-off, she was glad that fate–or whatever it was–had arranged their meeting to remind her that despite her recent
worries, there was still plenty about life to be enjoyed.
Finally, they stopped outside Claire’s building.
“Well, here we are,” she said, suddenly feeling a little awkward. It was weird, but now that she knew Phil would soon be leaving, she was very reluctant to say goodbye to him. “Thanks for a really brilliant day.”
“I enjoyed it too,” he said, smiling, “ and it was a pleasure showing you around.”
Then, their gazes met, and as she gazed back into those incredible, fathomless dark eyes, she realised she was having difficulty catching her breath.
“So would you like to come in for a while or …?” she murmured, feeling wrong-footed and awkward all of a sudden. She knew he wouldn’t have the time, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say. Let alone the fact that her family would probably go apoplectic at the notion of her bringing home some stranger she’d met in Central Park!
As expected Phil shook his head. “Thanks but I’d really better get going,” he said, his eyes never leaving her face. “Enjoy the rest of the night–especially St Patrick’s. I’ve been to Midnight Mass there a couple of times and it really is something special. Oh, and while you’re tucking into your turkey, don’t forget to spare a thought for me and a hundred others cooped-up in some tin can flying somewhere over the Atlantic!”
“I will.” Abby grinned, unwilling to admit that she wasn’t exactly enamoured of the prospect of getting on of those same tin cans in a few days time. And she figured she’d be sparing more than just one thought for him after this. “Well!” she said, again strangely reluctant to see him leave, “have a lovely Christmas when you get back home Phil, and thanks again for showing me around.”
“It was a pleasure. Merry Christmas, Abby.” Then, quite unexpectedly, he reached forward and gave Abby the softest, gentlest kiss on the forehead. The pure tenderness of the gesture touched her more than a kiss on the lips could ever have, and when Phil stepped back, she looked again into those amazing dark eyes and smiled.
“Merry Christmas,” she croaked in reply.
“Oh, and by the way,” he called back a smile in his voice, before finally retreating into the darkness, “my name is Finn.”
“For goodness sake, where have you been?” Teresa’s worried tones assaulted Abby almost as soon as she was in the door of Claire’s apartment.
She took off her coat and scarf, her cheeks flushed and forehead still tingling with the imprint of his kiss, Finn’s kiss. Not Phil’s like she’d thought. Abby couldn’t believe she’d been calling him the wrong name all day! God, he must have thought she was a right eejit!
“I was out and about,” she replied mildly, although inside she was walking on air.
“You mean you were wandering around the place all day?” Her mother continued her questioning, baby Caitlyn in her arms
“Yep,” Abby went to say hello to the baby before stepping past her mother and through to Claire’s front room, which, like the rest of New York, was looking beautifully sparkly and festive. The dining table was all set up and decked out in a crisp white cotton tablecloth upon which sat a gorgeous centrepiece of fresh holly and berries amid elegant gold candelabra. A selection of black and gold-coloured La Maison du Chocolat crackers lay elegantly alongside each table setting.
“Wow, this looks incredible Claire,” Abby said to her sister, who was bustling in and out of the kitchen getting things ready. “Can I help with anything?”
“No, it’s all pretty much done now,” Claire replied pleasantly, pausing for a second to mop her brow. “Did you enjoy your day out? It certainly looks like it!” she added grinning.
“Does it? How?”
“Well your eyes are sparkling and your cheeks are really flushed, although I suppose that could be the cold. Either way, you must have enjoyed it–you were out long enough. So what did you get up to?” Claire repeated, polishing Louise Kennedy crystal champagne flutes and putting them on the table. “Actually, no don’t tell me, everything’s pretty much ready to go here now, so why don’t we wait until dinner to catch up on everything.” She glanced at her watch. “I hope Caroline and Tom make it back from Woodbury on time–I did tell everyone seven-thirty, didn’t I?”
Almost as if on cue, there came a high-pitched voice from the hallway.
“Hi everyone, Santa’s arrived!” Up to her armpits with shopping bags of every designer brand imaginable, Caroline bustled into the living room–a beleaguered looking Tom in tow. “Guys we’ve had the most amazing day, and Claire, you’ll just die when I show you the baby bling I picked up for Caitlyn. Fabulous gold Dior bootees that will look so cute on, and a gorgeous Marc Jacobs babygro …”
Abby and Clare exchanged a glance. Baby bling?
Abby laughed, thinking that while she’d thought she’d had an interesting day, the evening seemed destined to turn out just as lively!
****
The following morning, the family were awakened bright and early by little Caitlyn’s ear-splitting cries, and when Abby woke up it took her a few seconds to figure out where she was. They’d had a lively and highly enjoyable family dinner the night before, everyone was in great form and the jokes were flying.
Abby hadn’t felt so comfortable and easy around her family in ages, and wondered why up to now she’d always shied away from family gatherings. Was it partly because Kieran usually hated those kind of things, so by default Abby had grown to dislike them too? His family were notorious for having arguments that could carry on for ages–sometimes with certain family members refusing to speak to others for years! There’d always been a tension in the Redden household that made visits there uncomfortable, something that Abby realised now had never been the case in her family home. Her dad and Teresa were the most easy-going and welcoming parents around, and always went out of their way to open their homes to their children’s friends and make any visitor feel at ease. Yet somehow, over the years she and Kieran rarely accepted Teresa’s many Sunday lunch invitations, as of course he could be funny about his food and mainly preferred that they do their own thing. And as Margaret Redden had never been particularly welcoming towards Abby, they weren’t exactly regular visitors at his mum’s either.
“It’s true what they say about not being able to choose your family,” he used to grunt, and while back then Abby agreed, on Christmas Eve she wondered why she’d ever gone along with this notion.
Midnight mass at the magnificent St Patrick’s Cathedral had been special and very moving, and as they all sat together in the pew, Abby felt a closeness and appreciation for her mother and sisters that she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Despite what Kieran had thought, her family were far from being nosy and interfering and in truth were actually quite good fun. And what Abby found even more surprising was that on this visit she even missed having Dermot around! But her baby brother had almost unnoticed grown into a mature, responsible adult, and Abby resolved to starting thinking of him that way instead of just an irritating pain in the backside! He and Kieran had never really seen eye to eye either, Dermot’s laid-back approach translating into sheer laziness as far as her ex-boyfriend was concerned.
“There’s no excuse for him to be still living with Mammy at his age,” he’d insisted while Dermot was still resident in the family home, her brother having moved into a place of his own about a year after their Dad’s death. At the time, Abby had agreed with Kieran, but now she wondered if Dermot had stayed on with Teresa for that very reason, to give her support after Jim died. If so, then she’d been blind and very stupid not to understand that until now.
Abby’s difference in outlook at this dinner, compared to her mother’s birthday dinner at the Thai restaurant a few months ago was startling. While back then she’d been ill at ease, and couldn’t help but feel like a complete outsider in her own family now that she’d spent more time with them she was starting to see things in a brand new light.
After an even livelier Christmas breakfast, during which Zach served Bu
cks Fizz and Caroline insisted to Claire that the baby should have some too ‘But it’s her first Christmas!’ they all got together around the beautifully decorated Christmas tree to exchange gifts.
Caroline had earlier that morning arrived laden down with gifts for the family and seeing as her flight tickets were supposed to have been her sister’s Christmas present to her, Abby was taken aback when now she handed her a tiny robin’s egg-blue box wrapped in white satin ribbon.
“What’s this?” she asked looking up in surprise.
“What do you think it is?” Caroline replied archly. “It’s your Christmas present, of course.”
Abby tentatively opened the package, thinking that her sister had already forgotten about paying for the flights and ... Then her eyes widened.
“Oh …!” she cried, opening the box to reveal a stunning silver link bracelet. Attached to this was a single heart-shaped charm that had some kind of inscription on it. And when upon close inspection Abby read the words on the charm, her hand flew to her mouth: ‘Return to Tiffany & Co, New York.’
“Oh my God …” she gasped, hardly able to speak. Only yesterday she had stopped to stare in the window of the world famous jewellery store, wondering if she’d ever be lucky enough to own something from it. “This is incredible – truly incredible,” she said, tears forming in her eyes as she reached across to hug her way too-generous sister.
“You’re so welcome,” Caroline said. “I thought it might be a nice memento for your first trip here. After enjoying yourself so much yesterday, I doubt it’ll be the last.”
The previous evening over dinner, Abby had told the family bits and pieces about her adventures, although in the end she decided not to tell them about meeting Finn. On the one hand, she was afraid that her mother would lecture her about the stupidity of going off with strangers (‘especially in your condition’) but in addition there had been something so surreal and magical about yesterday that there was a side of her that wanted to keep the majority of it private–especially that kiss.
Falling in Love in New York Page 13
