Whiplash Hotel

by Christine Crean

  ‘Do you know, I think I might hold off on this one’

  ‘What?’ Amy was horrified that her friend was pulling out of the one thing she was most looking forward to.

  ‘Ah listen, don’t go having a canary on me but I’ve just spotted my favourite sign in the whole world and I really really want to check it out…I know you’re not mad!’ Liz was like a little girl in a sweet shop when she saw the now familiar 70% off sign. Shops were opened late and as this was one of the last chances Liz would have, who was Amy to stop her?

  ‘Aw Fine, go on ahead. I’ll meet you back at the hotel. I’m sure I won’t be long here anyway and I’ll just get a cab back’

  ‘I was just going to say that. A cab is the best idea. Are you sure you’re ok with it?’

  ‘Ah yeah, I’m grand. Fire ahead and I’ll see you in a bit’ Amy hugged her friend and turned on her heel entering the lobby. She didn’t mind going up on her own. It was quiet anyway and she would enjoy the peace and tranquility. There were only a handful of people on the lift on the way up to the observatory. Having to get out half way up and change elevators, she looked out a window as she waited for the final ride to the top.

  According to the guide, in summer there were lines of people waiting to get to the top. Not today, as the cold wind and freezing temperatures kept people away. Walking around the gift shop for a quick glance before stepping out onto the observatory, she knew that she probably shouldn’t stay outside for too long. The guide also said that with wind chill, the temperatures outside were easily -15. She took out her camera and fiddled with it until she had it ready to go. Looking around her, there were very few tourists in the gift shop maybe ten if that at all. She reckoned that there were probably even less outside.

  Stepping out she remembered scenes from ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ and ‘an Affair to Remember’. It really was exactly like it was in the movies. It was also much bigger than she would have imagined.

  Taking a few pictures as quick as she could and fixing her scarf around her head, she peered over the high wall encircling the deck. Grabbing onto the large mesh with her cold hands she put her face up against it so she could look out as far as the eye could see. Watching the twinkling lights, she felt a happy feeling at the pit of her stomach. Things were going to be ok. Getting a bit chilly and thinking that it would be best if she moved indoors, she decided to take a quick walk around the building doing one full circle. Now, feeling the cold she quickened her pace a little bit. Turing a corner, she looked ahead to see more shimmering lights at the other corner of the building. She gave a big ‘awww’ as she saw what was ahead of her. Somebody had taken great care in creating the most beautiful romantic scene. Candles covered in glass cases littered an entire corner of the observatory deck. They shimmered and danced as the wind outside tried to catch them. White roses were littered from where she stood towards the opposite corner of the building. It was like a scene from one of her movies and how lucky was she to witness to such a romantic gesture from one person to another. She stood back dying to see what would happen taking her camera out so that she could show Liz, what she missed.

  One lone man stood in the corner obviously waiting for the love of his life to see what he had done. She was one lucky woman, that was for sure. Waiting only a few minutes, she watched as the poor guy paced up and down. He was either nervous or trying to keep warm. Either was entirely possible. Knowing that she looked like a bit of a stalker standing in the same spot she decided that it was entirely acceptable if she were to walk by the scene and watch from the other side. The wind was definitely more severe where she stood and she didn’t want to get a cold before she was supposed to hop on a plane.

  Walking as inconspicuous as she could, in the direction of the poor man who was still waiting, she looked at the roses by her feet. Afraid to look up not wanting to make him uncomfortable, she glanced out at the city below with it lights still flickering in harmony with the candles on the wall beside her. Standing closer to the stranger, she heard him shuffle from one foot to the other. Finally catching his eye, her heart dropped to the floor. Sean stood in front of her. His hands were shaking and his eyes wide. She didn’t know if it was a dream or reality, as her legs began to get a little weak under her weight. She was clearly dreaming.

  26

  ‘Hi’ Sean croaked, barely able to speak. The cold had gotten to him or he was so nervous, he didn’t know what else to say.

  ‘Hi yourself’ she smiled at him feeling as if she was going to wake up in her hotel room at any minute. Her heart pounded, as she looked at him almost shivering with his big eyes peering back at her.

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I came... to remind you that I love you’

  ‘To remind me....’ she replied a little confused her heart fluttering at his words. She couldn’t believe that he was standing in front of her.

  ‘And to remind you that I am always here, even if you fly to the other side of the world’ he moved towards her taking her cold hands in his.

  ‘How are you even here?’ she looked up at him unable to figure out if this was real.

  ‘Well...’ he laughed ‘Don’t kill her but Liz called me two days ago. She told me that you had been in hospital, that you were ok but that I should get my act together by the time you guys got home’

  ‘She didn’t’ hardly able to believe her ears. She didn’t know whether to be mad at Liz or to hug her.

  ‘She did. She’s right Amy. I couldn’t wait until you got home. I needed to see you. I couldn’t wait days, I could barely wait hours. I booked a flight within hours and now...here I am’

  Amy couldn’t believe that Liz had called Sean and wondered if the reason he was here was because she was pregnant. Although looking at his face, he showed no signs of having any idea. She wasn’t mad at Liz, how could she be?

  ‘Amy, I love you. I love you, I want you and I need you. I’m not backing down. I came here because I have something to say’ he got down on one knee. Her stomach flipped and her heart quickened. She knew what was coming and could hardly believe her eyes.

  Knowing that she had not felt like this when she had Adam standing before her doing the exact same thing, she knew that in her heart the decision she had made a few days earlier was more than perfect. She was awash with happiness, the tears coming again.

  ‘You know now that I am for real. I promise never to hurt you, never to let you down, only make you feel like you are the only woman in the world’

  He had already made her feel like that.

  ‘Amy, I am asking you’ he looked up at her from the cold concrete floor beneath him, his hands shaking as he held hers ‘Will you be my wife?’

  Unable to speak she came down to him and kissed him. She kissed him like she hadn’t seen him in twenty years. A handful of tourists had now gathered nearby looking at the couple. Some took photos while others just smiled silently at the display of love in their presence. One of thousands of proposals this building had seen, it would not be the last.

  ‘Oh Amy, say yes, I’m freezing my balls off down here’ Sean laughed relieved that she had at least kissed him. It was definitely a good sign at least. She laughed too but knew that before she could say yes she had to tell him why she had been in hospital. He deserved to know before he really committed himself.

  ‘Well Sean...you need to know something before you want me to say yes’

  His eyes were curious.

  ‘Sean, I was in hospital for a reason’

  ‘Oh my God, Liz said you were ok! Are you not ok?’ He was worried now his face lined in concern.

  ‘I’m fine, I’m fine honest! But there’s one little thing you should know...’

  ‘Yes...’ he waited patiently, as Amy stalled afraid to say the words.

  ‘Sean...I’m pregnant’ she closed her eyes not able to look at his face.

  ‘You are what?’ He was full of disbelief.

  ‘Now look’ Amy panicked ‘you don’t have to say anythin
g, you don’t even have to be part of it if you don’t want to. But I’m keeping it. I understand if this changes things but you can always be in its life...’

  ‘Hold on, hold on’ he put his hand up ‘....you mean that I...Me...that I’m...’ the words stuck in his throat a tear forming ready to fall.

  ‘You are the father’ Amy said the words that he hoped she would say.

  ‘I’m the dad?

  ‘You’re the dad?’ she smiled at him, as it dawned on her that he was crying with happiness. She had never seen him cry before and now she wanted to cry for him, to hold him and never let go.

  ‘I can’t believe it...I mean I can...but I can’t at the same time’ With shock on his face he suddenly realised that he should not be keeping her outside in the cold as it started to snow.

  ‘God, we better move inside...’ he shook off the tears and tried to pull himself together.

  Bundling themselves up with their scarves, elated and feeling like they were walking on air, they made their way through the gift shop where people cheered and clapped for them. The group of fellow tourists who had been watching were delighted that the proposal had gone perfectly. Hand in hand, the couple were silent as they made their way down on the elevator. Taking the odd glimpse at each other, it was evident that they were both very happy. Once at the bottom, they hopped in a cab and headed back to the hotel where Liz was waiting for them in the bar with a bottle of champagne. She had also ordered nonalcoholic wine for Amy.

  ‘Well finally, I thought you would never get here!’ Liz exclaimed.

  ‘Well aren’t you the sly little devil!’ replied Amy, hugging her friend for the kindest thing she had ever done. ‘I can’t believe you knew about this and didn’t tell me’

  ‘Well, none of it was my idea you know. I only called him to make sure he ‘d be there when we got back but before I knew it, I got a message to say that he was on his way over’

  ‘Just like that...’ Amy looked at Sean shyly ‘I still can’t believe you’re here. I keep pinching myself’

  After the rest of the evening passed with a lot of chatting and laughing, all three decided that an early night was in order. Sean had booked his own room at the hotel and told Amy that she was under no pressure to stay with him. Not even St Peter himself could stop her from spending the night with him. He had travelled the length of an ocean just to see her. She would definitely show him her appreciation.

  Waking up next to Sean, Amy watched him breathing slowly and deeply still very much asleep. It was clear that he had gone a couple of days without shaving which suited him even more so than his regular clean shaven look. He hadn’t brought much with him just a small rucksack with a spare pair of jeans, a couple of sweaters and some toiletries. Feeling that her life was now turning around, she snuggled closer to Sean as he leaned into her in his sleep. What would the next nine months bring? She had new hope now for a better life, a life which exceeded her wildest expectations: an engagement and a baby all in a few days.

  ‘Good morning sleepy head’ Amy kissed Sean good morning, as he woke from the warmth of her body next to him.

  ‘Well good morning yourself’ he answered, a yawn muffling his words.

  ‘What would you like to do today?’ she asked him ‘It’s an awful short trip for you and we’ve seen the length and breadth of the island, so what ever you want is perfect’

  ‘How do you feel about taking a trip to Tiffany’s?’

  ‘Tiffany’s? As in the jewellery store?

  ‘Well I don’t know any other Tiffany’s’ he teased.

  ‘Oh my God...Do you really want to let me loose in there?’ She bounced out of bed far too excited about the prospect of going to one of the most famous stores in the world, when it came to diamonds.

  ‘Never mind, don’t answer that...you’ve set the seed now so there’s no going back!’

  She had no intention of letting him change his mind and so set about organising herself for a fun day. He laughed, as he watched her tear around the room to get ready for the day ahead. He didn’t buy a ring on purpose because he knew that she should pick her own. It was something that she would wear forever and so he wanted it to be special.

  After spending nearly an hour trying on one ring after the other, Amy ended up picking a very simple but elegant ring. It was a one carat solitaire diamond in a platinum setting and it suited her perfectly. It was understated yet eye catching. Sean kissed her hand as he placed the ring on her finger. The sales man watched as he had watched so many couples before. This couple was that little bit more special. They looked at each other like they hadn’t seen the other in years and it was obvious that they shared a big love. They could hardly take their eyes off each other.

  The plane journey home was late on a Wednesday night and was to come into Shannon airport at six in the morning. Luckily, Sean was able to secure a place on their flight and all three boarded the plane with a sense of new beginnings. Swopping seats with Liz, Sean sat with Amy. She didn’t mind and was a more than delighted to see her friend happier than she had seen her in a long time.

  After takeoff, they settled into their seats getting comfortable for the journey ahead. Just as the flight attendants were about to start their safety demonstrations and before the plane began to taxi onto the runway, Sean jumped out of his seat and headed for the top of the cabin. Thinking that something was amiss, most of the passengers watched as the good looking guy made his way up the aisle. At that exact moment, the captain setting about his preparations in the cockpit spoke over the intercom.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen if I might have your attention please. We have a very important announcement’

  Looking around, there was a chorus of objections as most people thought that the flight was about to be cancelled or that there would be a delay of some sort. Wondering what Sean was up to, as they were giving out an important announcement, she squirmed uncomfortably in her seat thinking that he was going to be given out to. Handing Sean the speaker for the intercom, he stood at the top of the cabin looking down at Amy half way down the aisle.

  ‘I’m sorry to disrupt the proceedings ladies and gentlemen but I have a very important question to ask one of the lady passengers. You see, I asked her to marry me and she has yet declined to give me an actual answer’

  A few whistles and laughter echoed around as the story caught the interest of everyone on board.

  ‘So, I am asking you again Amy, just to be sure....Will you and that beautiful baby of ours....will you marry me?’

  Applause and laughter erupted throughout as cheers were heard for ‘’Amy...Amy..Amy...’’ ducking her head and mortified to be the centre of attention, she didn’t know whether to hide under her seat next to her life jacket or stand up. Taking the intercom back off Sean, the flight attendant next to him began to speak

  ‘Could a Ms Amy please come to the top of the cabin please’

  Finally standing up, this time tears of laughter coming down her cheek, she made her way towards Sean with clapping passengers singing their agreement to the proceedings. Liz clapped along with gusto enjoying seeing her friend in such a compromising situation. Amy, getting close to Sean, shook her head letting him know without words that she would kill him for this.

  ‘Well....what’s it to be?’ Sean beamed.

  ‘Yes. Yes and Yes!’’

  More cheers and applause erupted.

  ‘I’m guessing she said yes’ the captain spoke again from the cockpit over the intercom.

  ‘Well, congratulations you guys. May you both have a very long and happy life together’

  The captain smiled remembering the day he had asked his wife to marry him. That was over forty years ago now. Not saying yes straight away, it took him a while to get the answer he was looking for. She did marry him though and they had spent the past four decades making a wonderful life together. After having five children, they now had twelve grandchildren. He hoped that this young couple would be blessed with the life he and his wife had sha
red. Good times and bad but in the end, that was what life was. You couldn’t have one without the other. Beginning to taxi the plane towards the runway, he smiled again, looking at his co-pilot.

  ‘Young love!’

  ‘Yes Marty, young love is right!’

  About the Author

  Christine Crean hails from Ballina, in Co Mayo and is a Mother of two children, Taylor and Emily. She has been married to Daren for 14 years, her childhood sweetheart. Wanting to publish this book for many years, this is her debut novel. A graduate of Sligo IT & NUIG, writing has been her escape for many years.