Ed returned, his face ashen. ‘I called Jake’s office. His PA says he’s with his lawyer and Jess, calling off the divorce. I’m sorry, Bea …’
Devastated, Bea buried her head in her hands and sobbed.
‘Oh, mate. I’m so sorry. I wish I could have told you this earlier …’ Rosie squeezed Bea’s shoulders to try to comfort her.
Bea couldn’t believe it: Jake could have been hers. That moment they’d shared on the ice rink in Central Park was real; and the way she’d felt when they danced at the wedding was her heart telling her exactly what she should do. How had she missed so many obvious signs?
‘It doesn’t matter,’ she replied, wiping her eyes and attempting to smile at her concerned friends. ‘It’s too late now.’ She had lost maybe her first real chance of happiness with a man who was completely her equal. And why? Because of her stupid pride! If she’d told Jake how she felt, maybe he would have confirmed that he felt the same. There had been so many opportunities, but she had talked herself out of every one.
She had to learn from this, to prevent her from making similar mistakes in the future. It was too late for her and Jake, but maybe the next time fate provided blindingly obvious clues she would be ready to spot them.
Finishing her coffee, she looked at Rosie and Ed. ‘Thanks so much for this. I think I’ll make a move now.’
Rosie scrambled to her feet. ‘No – stay a bit longer? I feel like we’ve just compounded things for you.’
‘You haven’t. In fact, you’ve helped a great deal. I mean it. Ed, thanks for the doughnuts. And the sneaky phone call to your brother’s office.’
Blushing, Ed gave her a hug. ‘You’re welcome. Take care of yourself, OK?’
‘I will.’ Bea turned to Rosie. ‘And you can stop worrying about me, too. When you’re back from your honeymoon, let’s meet for dinner. Hawaii sounds divine: I want to see all the photos.’ She bent to pick up her bag, which had fallen off the leather sofa when she stood. ‘I love you both. Happy New Year and have a great honeymoon.’
The little silver bell over the door rang out as Bea hurried out of Kowalski’s onto West 68th Street. She wasn’t ready to go home just yet: it was early and the sky was still light. Wrapping her scarf around her chin to keep out the bitter wind chill, she set off through the snow. Ahead of her, the snow-heavy trees of Central Park beckoned and she smiled against the wool of her scarf. This place had always been her sanctuary and today she needed its peace more than ever.
She walked a little way into the park until she found a bench, swept the snow from its seat and sat down.
A young couple walked past Bea, hand in hand. They paused beneath the snow-laden branches of a fir tree to kiss, laughing when a lump of snow fell onto their heads. Instantly, Bea was transported back to the night of Rosie and Ed’s wedding. Jake had begun to tell her something before she’d blurted out about Otis: was that his chance to express how he felt?
It didn’t matter now: it couldn’t matter any more. Because, at this moment, Jake was in a Manhattan law firm office fighting for his marriage. Bea had told him to do it, and he had done as she suggested. Just as she had taken his advice and agreed to marry Otis.
In the bright daylight, the full extent of Bea and Jake’s misunderstanding became clear. They had come so close to being together, but had never known it. Sitting in the frozen park, Bea made a vow to never make the same mistake again …
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Sheehan, Sheehan and Owen offices, East 43rd Street
Don Sheehan was verbally pacing the floor as he ramped up to his tour de force takedown of Jake and his lawyer. Jake could see the glint in the pig-faced attorney’s eyes as he pontificated and strutted his legal speak in an attempt to claim the higher ground. By contrast, Chuck Willets remained calm and softly spoken in this war of legalese. It must be driving Sheehan mad, Jake thought, hiding his smile as best he could. He glanced across the broad boardroom table towards his wife, who was sitting perfectly composed next to her red-faced lawyer. She was playing the game well, giving nothing away. Don Sheehan was in for the shock of his year …
The meeting had lasted for an hour already, Jessica’s lawyer more than happy to spell out his client’s demands before Chuck offered his counter-arguments. As Jake had listened to their verbal combat, his mind had drifted to wonder what Bea was doing today. He hoped she was happy.
Sheehan reached the end of his speech, pausing dramatically to down a glass of water like a prize-fighter in between rounds. He must have imagined himself as a bloodied Rocky Balboa of the legal ring, receiving a shoulder rub and pep talk from his team as he prepared to annihilate his opponent …
Chuck turned to Jake and winked. ‘We appreciate your thorough statement of demands, counsellor,’ he offered, the very picture of professional politeness. ‘As for my client, his stance remains as laid out in the documents before you. He wishes for a fair settlement to be reached by both parties, in order that they may emerge from this process in as amicable a fashion as possible.’
Sheehan snorted. Jessica didn’t move.
‘And, to that end, I wish to afford my client the opportunity to add anything he thinks pertinent to the proceedings at this stage.’ He turned pointedly to Jake. ‘So, Dr Steinmann, is there something you would like to say?’
Jake was about to speak when the boardroom door opened and one of Don Sheehan’s associates hurried in.
‘What?’ Sheehan barked, his face turning crimson.
‘Pardon the intrusion, sir, but I have an urgent message for Mr Willets’ client.’ The associate turned to Chuck. ‘May I?’
‘Sure. Go ahead.’ Chuck cast a wry glance at his legal opponent, suspecting foul play at work.
Nodding her thanks, the associate handed a folded note to Jake and scurried out of the room.
Jake shrugged at his lawyer and opened the note.
From: Ed Steinmann
To: Dr Jacob Steinmann
Message:
Engagement off. She’s free and she’s at Kowalski’s.
Get here.
Jake felt his heart stop. Was it true? How did Ed even know? What had happened to break her engagement? His head swam as he struggled to make sense of Ed’s message.
‘Dr Steinmann? Jake?’
Jake raised his eyes from the note to see Chuck staring at him expectantly. Sheehan was leaning forward, watching him with interest; Jessica was beginning to look concerned.
‘I need a moment, please,’ he said, weighing up his options. He’d been so sure calling off the divorce was the right decision, but was it? If it was, Ed’s message wouldn’t change his mind. So why was his heart pounding now? Turning to his lawyer, Jake lowered his voice. ‘I need to speak to Jessica.’
‘Kinda the wrong time to be doing this,’ Chuck hissed back. ‘We have Sheehan’s nuts on the block.’
‘I really need a moment with my wife.’
Still not understanding, but loath to deny his client’s request, Chuck agreed. ‘Mr Sheehan, my client requests a private consultation with your client. Shall we step out for five minutes?’
‘This is out of order …’ Sheehan began, but Jess touched his arm.
‘It’s what I want, too, Don.’
Unable to argue with the woman paying his considerable fee, Sheehan bustled out of the room, followed by Chuck.
‘What’s going on?’ Jess asked, moving round to Jake’s side of the table.
Jake looked at her and for the first time asked himself what he really wanted. Was he here to prevent the loss of the love of his life, or to buy him more time before their ineluctable separation? The answer should have come immediately, but it didn’t: and that was the answer he was looking for.
‘Jess, I don’t think this is going to work.’
‘The divorce? I know, Jake. That’s what we agreed.’
‘No, you don’t understand.’ With a deep sigh, Jake reached for her hand. ‘This isn’t right for us. You said you weren’t happy but you
didn’t know why. That’s not going to change if we stay together.’
Panicked, Jess shook her head. ‘No, Jake! This is what I want. It’s what I need …’
‘What you need is to find what makes you happy. You didn’t find that with me. You want to call off the divorce because you’re scared. I get that. I’m scared, too. But if we stop this now, I know that in a year, a few years maybe, we’ll be back in another lawyer’s office with a far more acrimonious divorce in progress. Look at me: you know I’m right.’
Her eyes made a sweeping search of his. ‘But we’ve been together for so long. We’ve loved each other for so long …’
‘And I’ll always be grateful for the ten wonderful years we had, Jess. But you know it wasn’t enough for you, not in the end. I’ve loved being a part of your life, but I want you to be happy.’
Blinking back tears, Jess dropped her head and nodded. ‘Me too. Thank you, for everything. I’m sorry we didn’t make it, Jake.’
He reached out to lift her chin, their eyes meeting for the last time. ‘Nothing to be sorry for. Just be happy, Jess.’
‘You too.’
Seeing his lawyer’s surprise when he walked out of the room, Jake shook his hand. ‘You have my permission to proceed. Don’t let Sheehan call the shots but don’t fight what you think isn’t important.’
‘I kinda need you in there,’ Chuck argued.
‘No, you don’t.’ Smiling, Jake began to walk towards the elevator.
‘Where are you going?’
‘I have to be somewhere,’ he called back.
There’s somewhere else I need to be …
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Central Park, Manhattan
Central Park was still, the fresh fall of snow covering everything in sight and glistening in the early afternoon sun. The longer she remained in its soothing presence, the more Bea could feel the park working its magic on her bruised spirit.
In the distance through the trees she could just make out the shores of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. As a student she had come here often to read and study, enjoying picnics with Russ and their friends in the summer, leaf-fights in the autumn and hard fought snowball tournaments in winter. The quality of the snow today would make excellent ammunition, she thought, smiling to herself.
So many things had changed for her this year, but sitting in the timeless beauty of Central Park gave her hope. No matter what happened, it was comforting to know that New York remained constant. She might have lost her chance with Jake, but she would be forever grateful to him for making her get out and appreciate her adopted city again.
The time for thinking of what could have been was over: now what mattered was what Bea did next. She had begun a list of plans she wanted to put into action at Hudson River Books, some of which she had discussed with Russ as they had served Christmas shoppers over the last few weeks. Here in the park was where their first dreams of owning a bookstore were born: it seemed fitting to continue the list today.
She reached into her bag to retrieve the embroidery-covered notebook Imelda had given her for Christmas where she was keeping the list …
That’s odd: I’m sure I brought it with me …
She had definitely packed it when she left her apartment. So where was it now? It could have fallen out in the taxi on the way to Kowalski’s. Or—
Her mobile rang and she smiled at Rosie’s picture on the screen. ‘Hi, Rosie. I don’t suppose I left my notebook at Kowalski’s, did I?’
‘That’s why I’m calling! How spooky! We must have some ex-pat British telepathy going on, Bea.’
‘Maybe so.’
‘Can you pop back and pick it up?’
Bea looked at her watch. She wanted her notebook back to be able to focus on positive plans in the future, but by the time she’d returned to Rosie and Ed’s store it would be reaching rush hour and the taxi journey home would be arduous. ‘I’m not sure …’
‘The thing is, Ed and I leave for Hawaii tomorrow morning. If you don’t collect it today, it’s going to be three weeks before we’re home.’
That was enough to persuade Bea. Brushing the snow from her coat she began to walk out of Central Park towards Kowalski’s. ‘OK, I’m on my way.’
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
A yellow New York taxi, travelling west, Manhattan
In the cab swerving through mid-afternoon Manhattan traffic, Jake called Ed.
‘I got your note. What happened?’
‘Bea called off her engagement last night.’
‘She did?’
‘Uh-huh. In front of her whole family. Said she thought it was what she wanted but she’d made a mistake. It was carnage, bro.’
Jake tried to picture the scene. Poor Bea. ‘How is she today?’
‘Upset, naturally, but convinced she’s made the right decision. Then, she confessed she’d hoped you guys would get together. Turns out she only accepted the other guy’s proposal after you told her to go for it.’
It was exactly as Jake had feared.
‘She said that?’
‘Yep. And then she left.’
Jake slapped a hand to his forehead. ‘What? But I’m heading for Kowalski’s now.’
‘Bro, chill. She left her notebook by mistake. Rosie’s just called her and Bea’s coming back to collect it.’
Jake’s heart jumped. ‘OK. Keep her there, Ed. I don’t care what it takes, just don’t let her leave until I arrive.’
‘Consider it done, bro.’
Jake felt as if his heart had scaled a military assault course today. Hope followed realisation followed disappointment followed possibility: how was one man meant to cope with so many emotions veering in and out of his life like that?
He was supposed to be an expert on the human mind: how then had it been so easy for him to miss the obvious signals Bea was sending? She didn’t want The Pact any more than he did, but it had become a convenient currency of conversation whenever they were together and now was nothing but a barrier to the real issue he and Bea needed to address. It would be laughable if it didn’t scare him so much. He had almost lost her: but life was waving one last opportunity in his face – one he couldn’t miss.
The question was: would he make it to Kowalski’s in time?
‘Can you drive any faster?’ he begged the driver.
‘In case you hadn’t noticed, sir, we happen to be crossin’ Manhattan during rush hour,’ the taxi driver replied drily. ‘And, unfortunately, my flyin’ taxi is at the auto repair today.’
Jake tried another approach. ‘I’m sorry. You’re doing a swell job. But it’s kind of an emergency. There’s a girl …’
The driver’s eyes widened in the rear view mirror. ‘A girl, you say? Now that’s a different matter. Hold onto your hat, sir, this could be a bumpy ride …’
Jake clung to his seat as the taxi overtook a school bus and made a sharp swerve right down a side alley, narrowly missing dumpsters and bags of rubbish.
‘OK, maybe slow down just a little?’
‘No can do, sir. You say there’s a girl and I’m guessin’ she ain’t waitin’ for ya. So here’s what’s gonna happen: I’m gonna take care of the driving and you, sir, are gonna to hold on. OK? Here we go …’
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Kowalski’s, corner of West 68th and Columbus, Upper West Side
The little silver bell rang out as Bea walked back into Rosie and Ed’s florist store. Rosie waved the notebook at her from behind the counter as she served a customer with poinsettia plants.
‘Make sure you water them once a week, but keep an eye on them if the room you have them in is very warm.’
‘Thanks Rosie. My husband always loved these. We put them near the chair where he used to sit. At this time of year it’s when you miss them most, isn’t it?’
Bea waited until the shop was empty before approaching the counter.
‘Thank you,’ she smiled, taking the notebook from Rosie. ‘I thought I was losin
g my mind when I couldn’t find it.’
‘It was lying by the sofa. I suppose it must have fallen out of your bag earlier. What do you keep in it?’
Bea was impressed that Rosie hadn’t looked inside. ‘Plans. Mostly for the bookstore. Russ and I have always had a wish list of ambitions for our business – since the first year of university when the dream began. It’s become a tradition. This is the latest in a long line of notebooks we’ve filled. I’m so glad you found it: I need to be dreaming of the future right now.’
Rosie smiled as Ed arrived at her side. ‘It’s funny you should have lost and found your notebook here. Ed and I know from experience that Kowalski’s seems to have a habit of reuniting people with their dreams.’
The silver bell rang out as the door opened. Rosie and Ed were suddenly grinning at Bea.
‘Speaking of which …’ Ed said.
‘Hi Bea.’
Startled, Bea swung round to see Jake Steinmann standing in Kowalski’s doorway. He was breathing like he’d sprinted to the store, his blue eyes fixed on her.
‘Jake …’ Flushed and not knowing what to say, she looked over her shoulder to Rosie and Ed for help, but they had disappeared – just as they’d done the very first time she and Jake had been reunited in the neighbourhood florists’. Slowly, she turned back. But Jake’s stare was too intense for her. Instead, she gazed out of the window to the lines of red lights as traffic queued in the snow. ‘I thought you were stopping your divorce.’
Jake stepped into the store, the front door closing behind him. ‘I thought you were engaged.’
‘Well – I’m not.’ She could feel the weight of his stare even though she wasn’t looking at him.
‘And neither am I.’
What else was she supposed to say to him? How much did he know about last night?
I'll Take New York Page 37
