From Notting Hill to New York . . . Actually (29 page)

Sean sits back in his chair and folds his arms. ‘On your own head be it!’

‘Hush, Seany, I’m thinking!’ Oscar snaps, holding his finger up to silence him. ‘You’ve done your usual “this won’t work, we shouldn’t even try it” routine. Now let me take over.’

Sean opens his mouth to object but Oscar just waggles his finger in front of his face.

‘Now then, something lovely and New Yorky, where everyone can meet up without being suspicious …’ He purses his lips and twitches them back and forth. ‘I know, what about the Brooklyn Bridge?’

‘Why the Brooklyn Bridge?’ I ask.

‘Because that’s where all the great reunions take place in movies and on TV.’ He holds his arms out dramatically for effect. ‘Lost souls spy their beloved from afar walking across the bridge towards them before they’re even able to speak to each other. Then it takes them ages, usually because it’s in slow motion or there’s a musical interlude, before they can get to their loved one. It’s always wonderful, and so very romantic.’ Oscar clasps his hands together happily as he thinks about this.

‘It would
be perfect, Oscar, if I was reuniting two old flames, but I really don’t think Dad and Jamie are looking for a romantic introduction, are they?’

‘Hmm,’ Oscar’s hands wilt. ‘No, you’re probably right. Let me think again …’ His eyes turn to the sky as if he’s seeking heavenly inspiration. ‘Aha! I’ve got it!’

‘What, what?’ I ask excitedly.

‘You host a fabulous picnic, darling, in Central Park!’

‘A picnic?’

‘Yes,’ Oscar says, his fingers wiggling in excitement. ‘One of those wonderful American-style picnics like you see on TV and in the movies with Frisbees and baseball, and you invite us all along with the excuse that you want everybody to meet everyone else.’

I think about this.

‘It could work, I guess. But how am I going to introduce Dad to Jamie? I can’t just say, “Dad, this is your son, Jamie, this is your father”. And I know it’s been a long time, but I’m sure Dad will recognise Eleanor as soon as he sees her.’

‘Ahem,’ Sean interrupts from across the table. ‘May I say something?’

‘I thought you didn’t want to be involved?’ Oscar says huffily.

‘No, go on Sean,’ I say, nodding at him. ‘I want as much input as possible on this.’

‘This whole picnic scenario is
again reminding me very much of the time you reunited your parents, Scarlett. You
do
remember that dinner party?’

‘Yes, of
course
I remember it.’
Oh, why does Sean always have to be so
sensible
about everything?
‘And like I said before, it all worked out just fine in the end. So unless you’ve got a better idea, Sean, I think the picnic idea could work. A big family picnic will be a relaxed and happy environment for everyone to meet up for the first time. What could possibly go wrong?’

Sean sighs. ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Red. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

‘A picnic,’ Dad grumbles
as I try and lay out a cloth on the grass of the Great Lawn in Central Park. ‘Why a picnic?’

‘I just thought it would be a nice way for everyone to get to know each other,’ I say, trying to remain cool as I begin unpacking the contents of the picnic hamper Oscar and I collected from Dean & DeLuca, a gorgeous delicatessen in SoHo, earlier today. I’d remembered Will regularly visited there in the TV series
Will & Grace
, and now that I had a reason to use it myself I thought I’d give it a go. ‘I’ve met some great people since I’ve been here in New York, you all know me, so I’d like you all to get to know each other.’

Dad sighs. ‘All right, but I’m only doing this
for you. Where are the others, anyway? Why is it only us two here?’

‘Sean has gone to get some champagne.’ I’d decided at the last minute that if everything went well, a touch of bubbly might be nice. ‘And Oscar has gone to borrow an ice bucket.’

Dad shakes his head in disbelief. ‘Champagne and an ice bucket, who are we entertaining here, Scarlett, the President?’

Sean had said something similar when he’d gone off moaning a little while ago.

‘No, I just want it to be special, that’s all. Now stop standing around and help me unpack some of these things.’

Sean and Oscar return with their allotted scavenged items, and soon my picnic is looking very elegant all laid out on the lawn. Dean & DeLuca have certainly done us proud, with their assortment of fine foods.

Max is the first of our guests to arrive.

‘Hey, Scarlett, Oscar,’ he says jovially. Nice outfit,’ he remarks to Oscar.

‘Thank you, darling,’ Oscar pirouettes on the grass in his lime-green dungaree shorts, black vest and yellow sun visor.

Max looks warily at Sean.

Sean extends his hand towards him. ‘Max, welcome to this slightly odd
gathering Scarlett is insisting on holding on this very hot afternoon. Thanks for coming.’

Max shakes Sean’s hand. ‘No worries, I’ll go anywhere if there’s free food involved.’

‘Help yourself, there’s plenty. Beer?’ Sean offers, holding out one of the ice-cold beers I’ve been chilling in a cool box.

‘Nice one,’ Max says taking it. ‘I’m liking this picnic idea already.’

Well, that’s one awkward greeting out of the way …

Peter arrives shortly afterwards, bringing his own contribution to the proceedings: two bottles of rather expensive white wine.

‘So who are we waiting for now, Scarlett?’ Dad asks as he drinks from a glass of Peter’s wine. ‘Good choice, if I may say so, Peter. You certainly know your wine.’

‘My friend Jamie. He’s also bringing his mother. She’s staying with him just now.’

‘That’s nice for him.’

It could be. On the other hand, the next few minutes could be very difficult ones indeed.

After another few minutes have passed – it seems like hours to me – I see Jamie approaching us across the grass.

‘Hey,’ he says as he reaches the picnic. ‘Not late, am I?’

‘No, not at all.’ I look
around for Eleanor. ‘Isn’t your mother with you?’

‘No, she said she’d meet me here. She had a few things she needed to do first. She’ll be along soon, I’m sure.’

Oh … could this be a smart move on Eleanor’s part, I wonder? Let Jamie and Dad get to know each other a bit first before breaking the news?

‘So, this is the infamous Jamie I’ve heard so much about,’ Dad says, approaching Jamie across the grass. ‘I’ve just been talking to your friend Max.’

Jamie waves casually to Max, who is tucking into one of the delicious cupcakes that Dean & DeLuca have provided us with.

‘Hi,’ Jamie says, extending his hand towards Dad. ‘Pleased to meet you; you must be Scarlett’s father.’

I don’t know what I expected to happen when they shook hands. Maybe that it’d be how it was when I first met my mother; I knew at that very moment who she was. But Jamie and Dad just start up a conversation about Jamie’s job and what he’s been doing that morning. While Sean, Oscar and I stand there watching with a mixture of anticipation and amazement as if something magical is about to take place before our eyes.

‘You do look familiar, now I come to think of it,’ Dad says, standing back to view Jamie better. ‘When I was in the UK I used
to watch that channel in the morning, and I probably saw some of your reports.’

‘Quite possibly,’ Jamie says. ‘I’m usually on quite early, though, if I’m doing a live report. It’s the time difference.’

‘I’ve always been an early riser, haven’t I, Scarlett?’ Dad says, bringing me in on the conversation.

‘Hmm, what’s that?’ I’m just mesmerised seeing them standing there together. How had I not noticed it before? Jamie really is the spitting image of Dad. Dark hair, dark eyes, same build, they even have the same mannerisms. They both stand there with their legs slightly apart, arms folded, an occasional hand gesticulating around a point for added effect.

‘I said,’ Dad repeats for me as I move towards them, ‘I’ve always been an early riser. That’s why I think I must have seen some of Jamie’s reports when I was back in the UK.’

‘Yes, yes you have.’ I nod hurriedly.

‘You all right, Scarlett?’ he asks. ‘You look a bit flustered.’

‘Yes, I’m fine. It’s all fine. It’s wonderful you two are getting on so well. I mean, considering you’ve just met and everything.’

‘Scarlett,’ Sean steps in. ‘Peter would like a word.’

‘Back in a mo,’ I grin wildly at them both. ‘You two just keep
chatting
!’ I sing, sounding
like Bruce Forsyth on
Strictly Come Dancing
.

‘What are you doing?’ Sean whispers as he ushers me away out of earshot. ‘Just stay calm, they’re getting on fine.’

‘I know. It’s just so stressful, that’s all.’

‘Get this down you then,’ Sean says, thrusting a glass of wine into my hand.

I knock it back in a few swift gulps.

‘Blimey, Red, I didn’t mean literally. Go steady, it’s only lunchtime, you know.’

‘By all means tell me it’s none of my business,’ Peter says, wandering over towards us. ‘But is everything all right? You look very pale, Scarlett.’

‘Peter, you once said that life with me never seemed to be dull. And you’re about to witness one of those times when it will be anything but,’ I say as I spy Eleanor coming towards us across the Great Lawn. ‘Sean, you’d better fill this up.’ I thrust my empty wineglass at him as I head over to intercept Eleanor.

‘How’s it going?’ she asks as I reach her side. ‘Have I left it long enough for them to get to know each other yet?’

‘I thought that might be what you were doing. Jamie’s not been here that long actually, but they seem to be hitting it
off quite well. I can’t believe I hadn’t noticed how similar they are until now.’

Eleanor glances in Dad and Jamie’s direction. ‘Yes, aren’t they? Your father hasn’t changed all that much, you know. He’s a bit greyer than I remember him, with a few more lines, maybe, but he’s still the same Tom.’

Jamie looks over towards us.

‘Uh-oh, we’ve been spotted,’ Eleanor says. ‘It’s show time, Scarlett!’

The two of us walk casually towards the picnic party. Dad has his back to us as we approach.

‘Mum,’ Jamie says. ‘You made it, then?’

Eleanor nods at Jamie as my father turns his head to see who the newcomer is to our proceedings.

His mouth drops open.

‘Elle?’ he says immediately. ‘It is you, isn’t it?’

‘Hello again Tom,’ Eleanor smiles. ‘It’s been a long time.’

‘I … I can’t believe it,’ Dad says, shaking his head in amazement. ‘What are you doing here in New York … in Central Park … at this picnic, for heaven’s sake?’

‘Scarlett invited me, Tom,’ Eleanor says calmly. ‘I’m Jamie’s mother.’

Dad shakes his head slightly as he looks at Jamie again, as though he’s forgotten the rest of us are here. ‘Why yes, yes of course you are. What an amazing coincidence, though, that our children know
each other! I’m Scarlett’s father.’

‘Yes, I know.’

Dad’s expression of astonishment now turns to confusion. ‘How could you possibly know that?’ he turns to me. ‘What’s going on here, Scarlett?’

I lick my lips nervously. Where was Sean with that wine? But I notice he’s standing back with Peter a little way away from us, watching, and even Oscar and Max’s impromptu game of Frisbee has come to an abrupt halt as they sense something big is unfolding nearby.

‘Yes,’ Jamie asks, looking at Eleanor. ‘What
is
going on, Mum? How do you know Scarlett’s father?’

Eleanor, always so strong and confident before, suddenly looks anxious and fragile. She puts her hand on Jamie’s arm for support.

‘Mum?’ Jamie says, taking his mother’s weight. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Let’s get you over to the picnic, Eleanor,’ I say, taking charge. ‘We’ve some seats over there; you can rest for a moment.’

We quickly walk Eleanor over to the picnic and she sits down. Sean offers her a glass of water but she takes a glass of wine, as do I. We both take several large gulps.

Dad and Jamie both stand and watch us, then they look at each other, mystified.

‘Will someone please
tell us what’s going on?’ Jamie asks. ‘Mum?’

‘I will,’ I say, taking a deep breath. Eleanor still looks a little pale. ‘You remember when Sean challenged me to reunite a family, and that if I managed to do it, he would take my idea for setting up a business seriously?’

My father and Jamie both nod.

‘Well, I’ve done just that. But not quite in the way I thought I might.’ I can feel my heart beating hard against my chest as I get nearer to the moment of truth. ‘Jamie, I’m pleased to tell you that I’ve found your father.’

‘You have?’ Jamie asks, looking shocked. ‘Where is he?’

‘At this very moment not that far away from you.’ I glance at Dad.

Jamie screws up his face. ‘Well, Scarlett? What do you mean?’

Dad nods slowly as though he’s gradually absorbing all this information. ‘I think that what my daughter, in her slightly Scarlett-like way, is trying to say is, and please correct me if I’m wrong, Eleanor, but I think I’m your father, Jamie.’

In our little part of the vast area of greenery that is Central Park, there’s silence while everyone digests this piece of information they’ve just been given.

Oscar, surprisingly, is the first person to speak.

‘Oh lordy, it’s just like
Star Wars
,’ he sings, clapping his hands together.

We
all turn towards him.

‘What?’ Sean snaps. ‘What are you talking about now, you rainbow-coloured lunatic?’

Oscar tosses his head back, ignoring Sean. ‘This whole scenario,’ he says, strutting forward with a wave of his hand. ‘What you just said, Tom. It was just like when Darth Vader tells Luke Skywalker that he’s his father. And of course, Scarlett, you would be Princess Leia, the sister Luke never knew he had.’ He looks around at his audience, who are stunned into silence not only by my revelation but by Oscar’s follow-up.

‘Hmm, and who else do we have in this tale … Oh yes, there’s Peter, you would be Obi-Wan, the all-knowing wise Jedi, and Max, as Jamie’s friend, you could be—’

‘Han Solo,’ Max says. ‘Don’t you stick me with one of the robots. I want a good part in all this. If anyone’s going to be C-3PO, let it be you, you’re the one with so much to say for himself all the time.’