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I take her hand as we step into the thicket. Luckily, the path through the trees is one I’ve taken so often; my muscle memory guides us through the darkness. Without it, you could easily lose your way.
That’s what I tell myself anyway when Roisin only grips my hand firmer the further we get.
“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Roisin asks for maybe the fourth or fifth time.
“Give me some credit. We’re almost there.”
“Which is where, exactly?”
I pull her along a little more firmly than necessary.
“Hey!” she complains, taking a couple of extra steps to keep her balance.
But finally, up ahead, I see it. A small glimmer of light. “This way.”
“I feel like now might be a bad time to tell you that I really don’t like…”
We break through the final trees into a clearing.
“...Surprises,” she finishes in disbelief as she looks out across the Hudson.
Before us, the city that never sleeps has transformed into a dazzling dreamscape of lights and reflections. The city’s lights dance upon the water’s surface, creating an enchanting mix of colors that seem to stretch into infinity. This truly is the best way to see the city.
Roisin takes a step closer to the railing. “Wow.”
“Thought you might like it,” My voice is a soft rumble in the night.
Roisin turns back to me, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “You come here a lot?”
“Every now and then. It’s a way to clear my head,” I reply, keeping my gaze fixed on the illuminated city.
“I guess I see the appeal of New Jersey now.”
I chuckle at that. “There’s pros and cons.”
We bask in the view a moment longer, neither wanting to be the first to break the silence. That is, until she shivers. Without a word, I toss my jacket over her shoulders.
“Thank you,” Roisin says softly, and I realize she’s not talking about the jacket. “I needed this.”
“How are you feeling?”
Roisin sighs, her shoulders slumping as she does. “Miserable.”
“Yeah, sounds about right.”
Roisin shifts her gaze to the city once more. “You know, this time last week, it was the final performance of my off-Broadway debut.”
“Yeah?”
“I was the romantic interest for this superhero who could turn himself into a giant.” She cringes at my quiet snort of amusement. “Yeah, it wasn’t exactly Shakespeare.”
I grin. “You gotta start somewhere, I guess.”
“Aimee came to the first few shows. All I could think about as I took my final bow was how angry I was that she missed it. But now… I guess I don’t know anything at all. Jack has her somewhere doing who knows what. My brother is out here murdering people to get her back.”
“Your sister is safer than you think,” I reveal carefully. “Jack Duffy is a lot of things, but he wouldn’t let anything harm Aimee.”
“I just don’t know what to do.”
