Christmas for One: No Greater Love (16 page)

‘A miracle?’

‘Maybe.’ Edd ran his hand over her hair. ‘Many of the rescue workers used it as a place to sleep and rest in while they were searching the wreckage. Volunteers came by without anyone putting a call out, pretty much 24/7. For months the rescue workers were fed and allowed to sleep on the pews. In fact the pews got scuffed and marked from the heavy boots they wore and the gear that they carried.’

Meg turned to see Edd swipe his eyes with the back of his hand. ‘Like Mom said, they never found my dad, but this place… it’s where his colleagues came to think and pray. In fact they still come. Like I said, special.’

Hand in hand they went in. Meg relished the silence, a welcome refuge from the bustling city beyond the door. Once inside, they paused. Meg walked towards the fireman’s uniform that sat on one of the preserved pews, which was scratched and marked just as Edd had described. The heavy cloth of the coat was thick with grey dust and grime, the once-bright high-visibility stripes now dull from smoke, soot and ash. She paused, wondering how Edd’s dad might have spent his last moments.

‘Do you come here a lot?’ she whispered. It was odd being so close to it, the tragedy that changed the world. She had seen the footage on TV, of course, but to be here within feet of where so many had perished was intensely moving. She felt a wave of emotion ripple through her body.

Edd shook his head. ‘Not often enough. But when I do, it means something. I feel like a part of my dad is here.’

He walked ahead. Meg followed him into the main body of the church. She looked up, awestruck by the majestic white columns supporting the arched blue ceiling from which hung chandeliers that looked like they were suspended in heaven itself.

‘Shall we light a candle for Mr Redlitch?’ Edd asked.

Meg nodded. At a small table they lit their small tribute. She looked at Edd and smiled, thinking of Nancy in her loud, floral blouse. ‘For Gabriel, Mr Redlitch.’

They stood in silence, bewitched by the flickering stumps that danced in the cool air of the chapel, sending wispy black messages up into the roof space, hoping that the silent prayers they offered went beyond. Meg could feel the ghosts of the thousands that had stood before her in that exact same spot offering similar words of condolence and hope. Closing her eyes, she prayed for Bill, something she hadn’t done for a very long time. Then she watched as Edd opened his, the message to his father repeated, she suspected, with far more regularity. He took her hand and led her out into the cold New York evening.

*

An hour later, Salvatore squared his shoulders and eyed the man who stood by Meg’s side with thinly veiled suspicion.

‘Thank you.’ Meg smiled sweetly as she retrieved her key from his miserable grip.

‘Well, hey, Meg! Is that you?’ Elene swooped down the stairs and into the reception area.

Meg gave a long, slow blink. She had been hoping to avoid scrutiny, but no such luck.

‘Oh, you’re not alone!’ Elene, mistress of stating the obvious, looked Edd up and down, desperate to know the details. ‘I didn’t realise it was a room for two you wanted.’

‘This is Mr Kelly, the architect for the new store.’ Megan blushed.

‘Well fancy! Did you two meet here?’ She patted her leopard-print turban, checking it was still in place. It hid her thin hair and provided just the right amount of theatricality for her simple black outfit.

‘Yes we did! Sorry to arrive so late,’ Edd gushed. ‘We hate to be apart, but sadly our schedules clashed this week. Anyway, I am here now and that’s all that matters? Right, darling?’ He grabbed Meg and kissed her on the mouth.

‘Yup.’ She nodded, pulling away from him and willing the scarlet stain that was creeping up her neck to stop spreading.

‘Well, that’s lovely.’ Elene clapped. ‘And how’s that new store coming along? Got a date for the big opening yet?’

‘Oh, not too much longer now. We’ll be open before Christmas!’ Meg spoke over her shoulder as she made her way to the staircase, eager to be gone.

‘Don’t forget the invite for me and Stella, we are looking forward to it!’ Elene called after them as she wagged her finger.

The two fell inside the room, laughing as Meg twisted the key in the lock behind them.

‘Jheesh, they are something else!’

Meg roared. ‘Oh, don’t be mean! They’re really sweet – if a little eccentric,’ she conceded.

‘A little? How did you find this place?’ Edd flopped down on top of the bed, ruffling the counterpane and throwing his coat on to the floor.

‘I found it by chance online when I was looking for places near Plum’s. It’s homey and I like it.’

Edd took in the chintzy drapes, dated furnishings and rather eclectic artwork that cluttered the walls. ‘I can see why!’

‘Plus it’s a great spot, close to everything. And just think, if I hadn’t stayed here, I would never have gone out for a sandwich on my first night and we would have started off very differently.’

‘Listen, if this is the place that brought you to me a whole eighteen hours sooner than fate intended then I love it too.’ He winked.

‘Those two are hilarious, aren’t they?’ Meg jerked her head towards the hallway as she pulled off her boots and wriggled her toes before clambering up next to him on the bed. She felt suddenly shy, the bravado of earlier had long gone. ‘Today has been amazing.’ She spoke to the ceiling as she lay back and placed her hands behind her head.

‘I knew you’d like the seahorses.’ Edd lay back alongside her and mirrored her pose.

‘I did. I liked all of it, especially meeting your mum, even if she was a little scary. And St Paul’s Chapel.’ She meant it.

‘Well, that’s a few things we can tick off the list: church, obviously, and you’ve met my family…’

Meg rolled on to her stomach and propped her head on her hands. ‘I can’t believe I’m going home tomorrow.’

‘What time’s your flight?’ He ran his thumb over the pale inside of her forearm.

‘I need to check in at two o’clock, mid afternoon.’ She felt guilty as she pictured Lucas, knowing that she would give anything for one more day with Edd.

‘Good, that means we get three quarters of the day together.’ Edd reached out and pulled her towards him, until she was squashed up against him, their legs entwined.

‘And then what?’ Meg whispered, almost fearful of his response.

‘And then our adventure really begins.’ He smiled as he raised his head, seeking out her mouth with his and pulling her even closer.

‘And I do believe you promised me lots of sex!’ he breathed into her hair.

Meg rolled on top of him, laughing as she shed her dress and twisted her hair into a bun, from which it quickly fell loose. ‘Well, if you insist. A promise is a promise, just don’t tell your mother…’

‘Do you think we should we arrive separately?’ Meg asked nervously as they hovered on the kerb of Bleecker Street, waiting to cross. She rubbed her hands together and pulled her pixie bobble hat over her ears. There was a cold wind blowing.

‘What, like you hide in a doorway until I give the secret sign?’ Edd laughed. ‘I could do this.’ He placed his cupped hands to his mouth and squawked like a bird.

‘No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. And actually,’ Meg sighed, ‘I was thinking
you
hide in a doorway until
I
give the secret sign.’

Edd grinned. ‘Think it’s a little late for that.’ He raised his hand to wave at Juno, who stood on the pavement smiling and laughing at the two of them.

Meg rushed forward and practically jumped from the road to the pavement, trying to avoid a particularly large slush-filled pothole.

‘Morning! How are we doing, Juno?’ Meg wanted to keep things on a professional footing.

‘Great, come see!’ She inclined her head and stood back to allow Meg entry into the premises.

Edd followed closely behind. Meg looked up at the tangle of wires and loops of flex that had been taped and gathered into bundles. The contractors had been working hard.

‘And that’s not the best bit!’ Juno beamed as she walked to the wall. ‘Ta da!’ She flicked the brass switch and clusters of lights shuddered to life under vintage glass cloche shades positioned at regular intervals around the bakery walls. ‘We have light! And more importantly, we have insurance!’

‘That’s brilliant. They look great.’ It was an effect that was much commented on in all the Plum branches. Meg was relieved and delighted to see the progress.

‘They said they’ll finish off the wiring by lunchtime and then start on the new ceiling.’ Juno clapped her hands under her chin. ‘We are officially back on track.’

‘Another satisfied woman!’ Edd commented, winking at the two of them with his hands on his hips.

Meg glared at him in pretend annoyance, praying that this was the last contentious thing he was going to say.

‘And are the team happy? No dissenters in the ranks?’ Meg turned her attention back to Juno, hoping there was calm among the staff, not wanting the rest of her day to be hijacked when she could be spending it with Edd.

‘Everyone is fine. You were right about getting them started; once they had dates it was all good.’ Juno cast her eyes over the tables piled with boxes, their contents waiting to be put in place. ‘I think this is going to be one helluva place, Meg.’

‘Me too.’ Meg smiled; Juno’s excitement was infectious.

‘When you heading back?’ Juno asked.

‘Today.’ Meg looped her sleeve back with her index finger and checked her watch. ‘In about five hours, in fact.’ She exchanged a furtive look with Edd. Their clock was counting down; it sent a shiver of panic through her.

‘But you’ll be coming back soon, right?’ Juno felt sad that this new fling might be thwarted before it had properly got going.

‘I’m sure I will be.’ Meg gave a tight-lipped smile.

Meg nudged Edd with her elbow as they slid into the back seat of a waiting taxi. ‘“Satisfied woman” indeed!’

‘Well I don’t remember hearing any complaints.’ He smirked.

Meg laughed as they laced their fingers together and let them lie on the seat between them. ‘You know we don’t have that long?’ she reminded him, not wanting the day to spiral away from them and end with a mad dash to catch her flight.

‘Don’t you worry. I have everything planned to perfection.’ He lifted their joined hands and grazed her knuckles with a kiss.

Meg raised her eyebrows as they passed the Apple store again; surely they weren’t heading back to the Plaza? She craned her neck as the cab pulled up outside the hotel.

‘Are we going to see your mum again?’ Meg half joked, remembering the judgemental Brenda and her fallopian tubes.

‘No! I don’t want to share you with anyone today. I intend to make the most of our last few hours together.’ He was serious.

‘I don’t want to leave you.’ She hesitated after this stark admission. ‘Well, I do and I don’t…’ she confessed, staring at the floor and picturing Lucas and the sticky-lipped welcome she would undoubtedly receive.

Edd placed his thumb under her chin and tilted her face upwards until she was looking directly at him. ‘And I don’t want you to leave. But what did I tell you last night? Hmmm?’

‘That our adventure is just beginning,’ Meg offered in barely more than a whisper.

‘That’s right. Don’t ever forget that, Meg. I mean it.’ His tone was solemn.

‘Okay.’ She nodded and fell into step alongside him as they crossed the street and headed towards Central Park.

‘Oh no!’ she wailed as Edd approached the horse-drawn carriage that was waiting by the entrance. She covered her eyes with her hands, but when she removed them it was still there.

‘Oh yes!’ he countered, dragging her along the path.

‘Are we really getting in that?’ Meg felt elated and embarrassed at the same time.

Edd took her hand and pulled her towards the shiny white carriage. The dappled grey mare flared her nostrils, breathing steam out into the chilly Manhattan morning as she swished her beautiful thick creamy mane over one eye. She dipped her head and pawed at the tarmac with her front hoof, shaking the stiff wooden rods and leather harness that tethered her to the carriage.

Meg approached the horse. With her palm flattened, she ran her hand over the mare’s warm flank. ‘Hello, beautiful. What’s your name?’

‘She’s called Storm.’

Meg looked up for the first time at the bearded driver, who was sitting on a bench at the front of the carriage. ‘Hello, Storm. She’s a real beauty.’

‘She sure is.’ The man repositioned his hat and sat back on the padded leather seat, his long whip curled against his thigh and his knee-high riding boots resting against the wooden frame, ready for the off.

‘Your carriage awaits, Mary Poppins!’ Edd gave an exaggerated bow and stood back, waiting for Meg to get in.

She climbed up onto the step, gripping the sides of the carriage as she ducked beneath the red leather canopy and settled herself on the red leather seat. Edd got in beside her, then reached over and wrapped a thick red tartan rug around their legs. He pulled a second blanket around their shoulders and scooted across the seat until their thighs were touching and her body nestled against his.

The driver clicked his tongue and pulled the reins and slowly Storm started to move. She found her rhythm in a dull plod as she made her way into Central Park.

Meg stared from the open carriage, looking up at the trees that passed overhead and the landscaped spaces of the park. ‘This is quite possibly the most romantic thing I have ever done.’

‘Good,’ Edd said, adding smugly, ‘That was the idea.’

Meg turned to the man who had her anchored in the back of the carriage. ‘I can’t believe this is happening to me, Edd. It’s like every movie I’ve ever seen, every story I’ve ever read. You are Mr Perfect. You are good-looking, funny, kind, generous, romantic, sexy…’

‘I’m assuming those are in no particular order?’

Meg shook her head. ‘I’m serious. You are almost too good to be true. In fact you
are
too good to be to true. What’s the catch?’

Edd raised his palms upwards. ‘There isn’t one.’ She ignored the twitch that flickered under his left eye. ‘This is as much a surprise for me as it is for you. You were the last thing I was looking for, the last thing I expected. The situation with Flavia has been…’