Maybe Nathan was managing to see the Kyle she knew, the boy who was kind and considerate, polite and dependable. And today, she’d got to see a man who was very much the same.
And when she looked at him as they boarded the train and she got a waft of fresh aftershave, she wondered whether the kids were the only ones who’d found a bit of holiday romance.
Chapter Thirteen
Nathan
With Christmas Eve fast approaching Scarlett begged her dad, yet again, to go ice-skating and when they investigated the Bryant Park winter village he found himself agreeing. He was in such a good mood after his time with Amelia in Inglenook Falls that if Scarlett wanted him to walk a tightrope across Central Park when it was thunder and lightning outside, he’d probably do it.
After Amelia’s company yesterday, she and Kyle had headed back to their apartment while Nathan and Scarlett had found a charming Italian bistro last night not too far from the Inglenook Inn. They’d dined on lobster ravioli, mains of wild mushroom and cream risotto and a dessert of the silkiest panna cotta he’d ever eaten. But amazing as their meal had been, Nathan had found himself thinking of chatter and laughter over little cardboard takeaway boxes with chopsticks poking out of the top. After dinner they’d trawled the city for light displays, and his mind kept going to Amelia, wondering what she was up to, what she would think of the giant evergreen that had become tradition at the Rockefeller Center, the floating displays of Christmas trees on one of the lakes in Central Park, the stunning decorations on Fifth Avenue. His good mood even survived Scarlett shopping in stores she’d only ever seen in the movies, her excitement mounting, spending six months’ worth of allowance in one hit. Amelia was an unexpected and very welcome distraction on his holiday and more than once he’d been tempted to text her and see whether she wanted to meet up again.
‘You’re getting better,’ Scarlett told him after they’d handed back their skates at the winter village.
‘I wouldn’t go that far.’
‘Mind if I go meet Kyle?’
‘As long as you’re back at the inn by eleven o’clock at the latest.’
She did her best to hide her surprise at his willingness to let her go. ‘What are you going to do?’ She had him hold her bobble hat while she ran her fingers through her long hair before plaiting it to the side and popping her hat back on. It brought back a memory of putting her hair into plaits one morning for school. He’d felt so accomplished dropping her at the gates. He bet none of the other dads had such skill. But he’d only done it once or twice before she announced she was old enough to do her own hair now, thank you very much.
‘Don’t you worry, you go have fun without your old man. I’ll just have an early night.’
‘No way, that’s dull. It’s three more sleeps until Christmas Eve, you’re in New York.’
‘OK, maybe I’ll go back up the Empire State Building. You weren’t interested in reading all the placards, the history. I wouldn’t mind seeing it all again.’
‘I wish you’d told me at the time.’
He hugged her. ‘Have a good time tonight. I’m making a fuss of you now so I don’t embarrass you in front of Kyle.’
They made their way towards the Garland Street markets, where Kyle had finished working the tree stall.
‘She won’t be late,’ Kyle assured him.
‘I appreciate that.’
Nathan sneaked a look at the knitting stall but Amelia was busy, customers forming a line at the chalet, so he walked to the Empire State Building, taking in the skyline, the sense of fun and festivity in the air, the feel of the cold on his cheeks and the freedom of only having himself to think about for once. The building loomed in the distance, its lit-up spire in the centre of midtown Manhattan twinkling with the rest of the city’s lights.
He passed in through the Fifth Avenue Lobby, taking in the art-deco-inspired ceiling murals in gold and aluminium leaf. He went to theDare To Dreamexhibit that chronicled the planning and construction of the building; there were period photographs, architectural sketches and reproductions of the mementos from the thousands of workers who’d helped create a piece of history in the city. Up on the Main Deck he felt the bite against his cheeks when he went outside. He needed another layer but it was hard to resist staying out here for the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree views of New York City, the high-powered binoculars that were dotted strategically affording him a better view of the lights of Times Square and the Statue of Liberty. The city sparkled beneath, he soaked up the New York atmosphere, the feeling of Christmas. He and Scarlett usually went to his parents’ for the day itself but already he was looking forward to the change, to eating their Christmas dinner in the company of other guests at the inn. He’d booked it with Darcy soon after they arrived and he’d seen a framed magazine article on the wall titled ‘Christmas at The Inglenook Inn’, the write-up accompanied by a photograph of the dining room dressed for Christmas with a huge platter in the middle, a turkey so big it could feed half of Manhattan.
Without Scarlett moaning about him taking his time, he read as much as he wanted in half the time he expected and was soon walking out of the foyer back onto the street. He took off his gloves so he could scroll through the map on his phone and see where else he could kill time with Scarlett out until eleven. He walked farther towards the Chrysler Building, snapping photos as he went. The thing about New York was that you needed to remember to look up, no matter how much you were hunched against the cold, or you’d miss too much.
When he reached Grand Central Terminal, with its row of New York cabs lined up out front and the Tiffany clock up high above the station’s famous name plaque, he could see the guide books weren’t wrong. This place was huge. It was a shopping and dining destination as well as a transport hub, all under one roof. Inside, the vast concourse with its information desk and brass clock teemed with people, warm golden walls encased the chaos, the American flag hung on one wall, departures boards told passengers what platform to head for and when, and there were plenty of people like him who were here to admire the architecture and the building itself. The vaulted, celestial ceiling loomed above and a golden luminosity fell across the entire space with chandelier lights, lamps dotted around the border and archways leading to platforms emitting a welcoming glow.
But Nathan had had enough of being a tourist for one night and unable to stop thinking of Amelia, he headed back to the winter markets, where, armed with two hot chocolates, he went straight for the knitting stall, queue or no queue. The holiday was almost at an end and if he ever wanted to make anything happen he needed to stop being such a wimp about it and let her know.
‘Hello, Nathan.’ It was Cleo he saw first as she arrived at the chalet. ‘Quick stop for some food and now I’m taking over from Amelia.’ He didn’t know her well but she looked stressed out. Then again, she was a mum of four, ran her own business and took on extras like the Garland Street winter markets.
Happy it sounded like Amelia was free to go, and clasping a steaming cup in each hand, he was pleased to be greeted by a big smile from Amelia when she caught sight of him hovering.
‘For me?’ She eyed the hot chocolates and grinned when he gave one to her. ‘You read my mind, I need this. It’s been a long shift until Cleo got here. I was tempted to stay, though – she’s exhausted, and she has trouble brewing at home again.’
‘You’re too kind.’
Cleo stepped onto the street out of the way of the lines forming at the chalets. ‘So what brings you here?’
‘I was hoping I’d catch you before you left. I’m at a bit of a loose end with Scarlett out and thought you might be too, without Kyle to look out for.’
