by Melissa Hill
Still, her little sojourn around the Garment District the day before had her intrigued, and she did at least want to visit Central Park, Times Square and some of the other tourist hotspots during her time here.
But for now, it was back to the airport and another round of waiting there, this time not at the carousel, but in the arrivals area for Gary’s mum.
She and Rachel stood front and centre in the loitering crowd, scanning the newly disembarked passenger’s faces for sign of a fifty-something Irish woman travelling alone.
After a few minutes had passed, Rachel gasped. “Oh my goodness. Look who it is!” she exclaimed, pointing at a couple of passengers heading their way.
One was a young blonde girl in a purple dress. Her hair was pulled into a bun atop her head and she skipped along happily.
Realising immediately who it was, Terri’s heart skipped a beat as she looked to the left and spied her companion. Almost at the same time, the young girl spotted Rachel and Terri, and a huge smile broke out on her face.
Terri stood rooted to the spot, her heart racing a mile a minute as a delighted Daisy and a clearly surprised Ethan came towards them.
Oh God…
“Hello there!” Rachel gushed, engulfing Daisy in a hug. “Fancy meeting you here!”
She wondered suddenly if Rachel had somehow planned this, but no her friend wouldn't do that, surely? It had to be coincidence, and in any case Ethan looked just as discomfited as she felt.
“Hello there, bride to be,” he greeted enthusiastically. “I must say, you two are looking very fresh after a seven hour flight. And where’s the happy groom?”
“Oh no … we arrived yesterday,” Rachel explained to him. “We’re just here to pick up Gary’s …oh there she is! Mary, over here!” She waved at her mother-in-law to be, who was shuffling nervously through the arrivals doors, and then took off on a sprint towards Ms Knowles, leaving Terri and the others alone.
“So … great to see you,” she began awkwardly.
“You too,” Ethan replied, his blue eyes boring into hers. “How have you been?”
“Great, great. The restaurant is doing well, though hopefully it won’t all fall apart while we’re away…” She was babbling but she couldn't help it. She turned her attentions to Daisy, in the hope of regaining her composure and escaping Ethan’s penetrating gaze. “Wow, look at you — you’ve gotten so tall!”
Rachel and Mary joined them in the meantime, and together the small group went outside into the daylight, making small talk about the wedding as they did so. The taxi queue was achingly busy once again, and Terri was relieved that this time they didn't have to wait in line, and their driver from the city was waiting elsewhere in the terminal on a phone call from Rachel to come and collect them.
It also meant that this unexpected encounter would be brief and she wouldn't have to see Ethan again until the wedding.
But she hadn't counted on Rachel’s determination. “This is crazy - Ethan and Daisy, you should come with us in the town car, there’s plenty of room,” she said, making a call to the driver.
“Honestly, we’re fine. We don’t want to impose …” Ethan began, but Terri caught his dubious glance at the length of the queue.
“Nonsense,” Rachel insisted. “You’re our guests; I wouldn't dream of leaving you in the lurch like this. Honestly, you’ve hardly any luggage either. It’s no problem.”
Great.
Terri wasn't relishing the thought of sitting in a confined space with her ex and his daughter all the way back into Manhattan, but at least Mary Knowles would be there too to break the awkwardness.
When all the bags were stowed, Mary, Rachel and Daisy piled into the back together, while somehow Terri ended up on the next row beside Ethan.
There was a strained silence for a little while the others chatted animatedly together, until eventually Ethan spoke. “So, how long are you staying? Just for the wedding or are you making a real holiday out of it?”
“Nope, a short stay is more than enough for me.”
“Oh yes, how could I forget your dislike of travel. How did you survive the six hour plane ride over? It must have been a nightmare for everyone concerned.”
It was actually a nightmare, and you were involved, Terri thought, recalling the restless dream she’d had the day before on the flight about their break-up.
After a few minutes more small talk, they ran out of things to say and she stared out of window, willing the journey to end.
“So Rachel, looking forward to married life?” Ethan turned back to the others and the group chatted easily about the wedding plans and nothing else in particular for the remainder of the drive.
Terri listened as Rachel and Daisy chatted as if they were old friends, leaning in close to one another, whispering secretly and giggling every other sentence or so.
Her friend was so easy, so carefree with this kind of thing. Rachel was born into the role of mother, and seeing her bond so quickly and naturally with Ethan’s daughter was truly endearing. Terri knew that it could never be like that for her, at least not so easily.
She was right to have recognised those shortcomings too, she reassured herself as the car swept them into the bowels of Manhattan once more.
Ethan looked relaxed and happy, and Daisy was positively thriving.
There was no question that they were miles better off without her.
Back at the hotel, Ethan went to check in, Rachel took charge of getting Mary settled in her room, while Terri managed to let out a deep breath she’d been holding since first seeing Ethan at the airport.
“Come on, Terri!” Daisy’s small voice called out to her then, as she made her way towards the elevator. “Let’s go and get a hot dog; Dad promised we could as soon as we arrived.”
Terri winced, caught. She was full sure the new arrivals would want to rest in their hotel room, not go out exploring the city right away.
“Well, I had planned on helping Rachel with some more of her wedding … plans...” Terri tried her best to think of an excuse, something that would get her out of having to be with Ethan and his dazzling smile one second longer.
Just then Rachel reappeared behind them. “It’s fine. Everything’s under control,” she said with a hint of a smile playing about her lips. “I’m just going to show Mary around a little, and then meet up for dinner with Gary later. No more wedding stuff today bridesmaid. You’re free as a bird.”
Terri wanted to murder her. What was she playing at?
“Pleeease,” Daisy implored, Ethan coming up behind her.
“Please what?” he enquired.
“I’m trying to get Terri to come out and get a hot dog with us. She said in the car that she hadn’t tried one yet.”
That was true but only because she had no interest, not when she’d read somewhere that they were the most unhygienic …
“Ah you must come then. A foodie like you can’t come here without trying an honest to goodness New York hot-dog.” He winked. “And I know just the place…”
Rachel was smiling. “Yes, Ethan certainly knows his way around this city.”
He chuckled at their shared joke. “I’ll just go up and check on the bags and we’ll head out. It’s not far, just a couple of blocks away. OK?”
Terri relented despite herself. She didn't seem to have much choice. “Okay then, why not.”
A few minutes later, Ethan rejoined them in the lobby, looking as fresh as if he’d just travelled across the road, rather than the Atlantic.
He clapped his hands and excitedly proclaimed. “OK ladies, let’s go find ourselves some hot dogs.”
With a giggle and a nod of approval from her father, Daisy ran off ahead down the street, falling in alongside a random group of joggers.
Her blonde hair bounced as she weaved between people, pointing out landmarks and buildings.
Terri followed along, with no idea where they were going.
She and Ethan were silent, both unsure exactly what t
o say.
Neither one was willing to risk making waves.
For Ethan’s part, he was simply happy to be with Terri again, just the three of them. He wanted to remember what it was like to have her at his side like this as he watched his daughter play and explore.
As for Terri, she wanted nothing more than to forget.
With each step, she could not help but remember just how good it felt to know that Ethan was right alongside her, especially as she walked into a great unknown.
18
Ethan, taking the reins, broke the silence first, offering up the most bland and passive thing he could think to ask, “I hear the restaurant’s still thriving. I’ve been keeping an eye and it seems like everyone in Dublin is still raving about it.”
Terri looked down at her shoes.
Talking about her successes had never come easy to her. Yet she almost had to hold herself back from launching into all of the great and amazing things that had happened in her professional life over the last year or so.
With some restraint, she looked at him and said, “Yeah, it is. It’s amazing, the place is packed to the gills almost every night, and the bakery turnover has doubled.” She continued on, her heart melting a bit with each of his glances, “But at the moment, we’re waiting for this review from this major critic to come out. It could destroy us.”
He stopped on the street, turning to face her, “Why would you say that? Did something happen?” His hand rested on Terri’s arm, keeping her in place. The sudden, caring touch registered something inside her, but she allowed herself to ignore it.
“No, nothing happened and I’ve no reason to believe it will be terrible. I just get …I don’t know, nervous. It’s scary to think that it could all be gone because some random person didn’t like the wine or thought the fish was too salty.” She found herself saying way too much to him. Ethan wasn’t there to comfort her like he once was. He was here to make nice company. She had to keep that in mind and reel it in.
Ethan didn’t seem to mind though as he pressed her for more. “Then why worry?”
She began walking again, heading in Daisy’s direction, breaking the connection between them. “I forgot. You were always the optimist.”
They both spotted Daisy then, standing at a bright yellow food vendor cart.
The owner, a burly man with stains all over his white t-shirt was leaning down to chat with her. She was excitedly asking questions about everything listed on the menu. She pointed out pictures and ingredient lists. And as Daisy noticed Ethan and Terri coming to join her, she could hear her loudly proclaim, “My friend Terri owns a restaurant in Dublin.”
The man looked up with a big grin at the two adults as they approached. Daisy introduced them. “Dad, Terri, this is Calvin. He’s owned this stand since…” She looked up at the man for assistance.
“Since I was 18.” He beamed.
“That’s a long time. And he says he has the best hot dogs in New York. Can we get one, dad? Please?”
“Well, I had somewhere else in mind, but ….
He ordered the group three hot dogs and Daisy watched curiously as Calvin carefully prepared her hot dog. Terri couldn’t help but smile at her innocence and how amazed she was at something so simple.
Calvin handed the younger girl the wrapped up treat first, and she peeled back the layers of the tin foil carefully, watching the steam rise.
Daisy took a large bite, smearing ketchup over her face. She looked at her Dad and then back at Calvin. A look of sheer pleasure crossed her face as she proclaimed, “This is amazing!” Calvin handed her a napkin as she wiped the red stain from her lip and nose.
The group continued on, walking along what looked to Terri like the outskirts of some kind of park area.
“Where to next, Dad?”
“I suppose we should go into the Park. How about the zoo? It’s a beautiful day for a stroll.” He didn’t bother to look at Daisy as he said it, instead, his eyes were fixed upon Terri’s as he tried to read her blank expression.
She looked around in amazement. “This is the park, Central Park?” Finally, a New York landmark she’d heard of.
Daisy giggled. “Yep. This is the park. And I think you’ll love it.”
All Terri could give was a simple nod of her head as she tentatively agreed to continue on exploring with these two people she’d tried her utmost to cut out of her life.
The walk towards the Central Park zoo was the perfect length for Ethan and Terri to attempt to catch up on each other’s lives.
He told her all about his new position at the university, including the dearth of suitable assistants. He joked as he talked of Nancy, “I think it’s a curse or something. Next time, I’m asking for someone over the age of ninety.”
Terri laughed. “Knowing your luck, that ninety year old would still have a crush on you.”
“What about you? No handsome waiters making a play? Any freezer romances?”
He knew he was stepping over a line, but he felt it was worth the risk.
She took it in stride, using her own joke to combat his, “No, not at all. You know I'm not one to get too hot and bothered in the kitchen.”
In truth, there had been a few others. All just casual things Rachel had attempted to set her up with. Some were Justin’s friends, others were guys she had met at the restaurant. But really, none of them were truly worth it.
None of them was Ethan.
Once inside the zoo, the two walked a bit closer together, a bit more in step with one another.
Daisy ran ahead, as if completely unaware. She was enraptured with the old zoo, as she stopped and stared at each exhibit, from the red pandas moping around in their habitat, to the snakes slithering around in their cavernous homes. Each exhibit held something new, something exciting.
Occasionally though, Daisy would hide behind an exhibit or duck into a dark corner to get a peek at her father.
She could see it in the way that he leaned into Terri as he talked, his hands tucked into his pockets and his smile growing wider than she had seen in months, that he was back to the dad she knew when he and Terri were last together.
But Terri needed work. While she too smiled, it was not like her dad did. Even Daisy could sense that she was holding on to something, refusing to let go and truly relax. She shrugged her shoulders too much while she talked, and looked down at the ground for far too long.
Daisy had to spring into action. She’d been thinking a lot about seeing Terri again throughout this visit, and had jumped at the chance to get her to come out with them today.
Now it was time to put the next part of her plan into action.
“Dad, I want some popcorn. Can we get some popcorn?” Daisy tugged at his arm, pulling him away. She knew he hated that.
“No, buttercup. You just had a hot dog, and we don’t want to ruin dinner later.”
“But Dad!” She cried out, as other mothers and fathers turned to look at them with sympathetic eyes.
Terri could not help but feel for Ethan. It was never easy or natural for her to step in, especially considering her mother’s memory, but she felt compelled.
She kneeled down before Daisy and tried to change the subject. “So where are you two going for dinner later, or is your dad making it a surprise?”
Inside, Daisy was secretly happy that Terri was taking notice, but she couldn’t stop now. She had just begun. She looked back at her sulkily as she wiped her eyes with her knuckles. “I don’t know! He wont tell me! He just will tell me when I can and cannot eat!”
“Daisy, come on now, this isn't like you. We were having such a nice afternoon. It’s only an hour or so till dinnertime. Can this wait? Let’s go and find those monkeys.”
“I don’t care about the stupid monkeys in the stupid zoo. I’m hungry!” She stamped her foot just as she did when she was five, and not the mature ten year old she was now.
Terri stood back, letting Ethan step up and play dad to the obviously tired girl. He looked
his daughter her up and down, unsure what was going on.
Daisy never behaved like this. Was she really as tired and hungry as she looked? He decided to play it safe, “I think we should go back to the hotel now, and you can rest for a while. It’s been a long day.”
He reached out his hand, and Daisy took it wearily.
The three silently walked out of the park and into an idling taxi.
Once they reached the hotel, Daisy realised she had to figure out what to do next.
If she played this right, she could get both a nice night in, and her dad on the right track.
An idea struck her.
“Dad, can we go and see Rachel? I want to show her my dress for the wedding.” She was insistent as she led him by hand to the elevator, Terri trailing behind.
Ethan looked at her for help, but instead she replied with, “I think that is a great idea. I'm sure she would love to see what you plan on wearing. I’ll send her a message to let her know you're on your way up to see her.”
This was the perfect escape for Terri. She could go back to her bedroom and hide, sleep off the old feelings that were developing in Central Park’s leafy canopies.
With nothing left on her agenda for the rest of the day, she would finally be free to enjoy her stay without interruptions.
19
That was, until a knock came to her door an hour later.
She had already changed into a comfy plush robe, the one that came with her room and had drawn a bath in the whirlpool tub. She had also found an innocent, decidedly non-romantic comedy to wash her day away.
The only thing that was missing was a clean glass for her drink from the mini-bar, but room service was on the way.
When she heard the knock, she rushed to open it, not thinking to check who it was. She let out a little gasp as she realised the person before her was not a hotel worker but Ethan himself, leaning one of his long arms against the door frame.
