Once Upon a Summertime (11 page)

“Here.” Anna handed him her debit card. “Since we had the same thing, they can easily split it in half.”

He pushed her card away. “No, Anna. I crashed in on you, and you were good enough to listen to me prattling on about my ideas for the hotel. This is my treat.” He studied the bill, then slid in his own card.

Anna continued to protest, but he wouldn't back down, insisting that the waitress take only his card. “Thank you,” he said cheerfully to the waitress. “Don't let us waste any more of your time on our little disagreement.”

“All right.” Anna slipped her card back into the pocket of her mini-purse. “Next time is my treat.”

He grinned at her. “You got it.”

Of course, now she registered what she'd just done—insinuate that they would do this again. Did he think she was asking him out? “Well, thank you,” she said primly. “It was a delicious meal.”

“It was.” He chuckled. “Thanks for recommending this place.”

She couldn't help but laugh.

The waitress returned quickly. Seeing the café now had a waiting line of customers, Anna realized she was eager to reseat this table. Sean quickly signed the receipt, adding a tip, and they both stood.

“I really enjoyed this,” Anna told him as they moved over
to the edge of the sidewalk. “The truth is, I was just starting to feel a little bit lonely.”

“I know.” He looked up and down the sidewalk. “Which way are you walking?”

She pointed to the right.

“Mind if I stroll with you a ways?”

“Not at all.” She felt slightly giddy now, incredulous that Sean O'Neil was actually walking her home. Back in high school she probably would've passed out over the prospects. But as quickly as the light-headed feeling came over her, she shoved it down, burying it deep. They were simply co-workers—kids who'd grown up in the same town together. “It's nice that you have Max here,” Anna said as they walked.

“Yes, but I've been trying not to take too much of his time. After all, they're still kind of like newlyweds, you know?”

“I guess, but I'm sure Max likes having you here.” She told him about Marley and how she was working as a flight attendant and sharing an apartment with three other girls. “It's pretty tight. Marley said she might consider getting an apartment with me after I've worked here awhile. In the meantime, I might be sleeping on their couch.”

“That's what I'm doing right now,” Sean confessed. “Max introduced me to a buddy of his. He's got a tiny apartment over on Worth Street.”

“Amazing what people will sacrifice just to live and work in this city,” Anna said with wonder. “But I believe it will be worth it in time.” She shook her head. “What am I saying? It's already worth it. I couldn't be happier.”

“Really?” He slowed down his steps, peering curiously at her. “Not even if you'd been offered the head manager's job?”

She grimaced. “Did Mr. Newman tell you about that?”

“Just in passing.”

“Oh.” She felt her earlier gloominess returning.

“I think you were wise to take the job you were offered, Anna. I really do. I think you're going to end up with some great references from this. I mean, if you should ever decide to move on.”

She nodded. “You're probably right.”

“If I owned a hotel, I would be very impressed if an applicant for the manager's position had worked in housekeeping.”

“Really?” She felt hopeful.

“Absolutely. The worst kind of manager is the one with no understanding of the folks who keep the machinery oiled and working—maids and janitors and maintenance men.”

She nodded. “I agree.”

“I have a feeling the Rothsberg will be as good for you as you are for it.”

She felt brighter now. “I hope so.” She pointed to the building ahead. “That's where I live, at least for now.”

He looked up at it, then pointed to his left. “I live about a mile that way.”

“So we're almost neighbors.”

“Small world, isn't it?”

She reached into her mini-purse, fishing out Marley's apartment key and trying to think of something sensible to say. “Thanks again for dinner,” she murmured, instantly regretting that she'd made it sound like it was a date when she knew it wasn't. “It was fun bumping into you like that,” she said brightly. “Serendipitous.”

“How about tomorrow?” he asked.

“Tomorrow?” She felt somewhat confused as she paused
at the foot of the stairs to her building. Had she missed something? “Uh, tomorrow's Sunday, isn't it? I mean, we don't report to work until Monday, right?”

“Yeah. I was just thinking about how we were both sightseeing today. Are you going to keep playing tourist tomorrow?” He shrugged. “In that case, maybe we should do it together.”

She felt her hopes rising. “Yeah,” she said eagerly. “I'd love that.”

“Great.” He politely tipped his head toward the tall brunette woman approaching. She seemed to be studying them as she smiled, then turned to go up the stairs and up to the front door of the building. “One of your roommates?”

Anna studied the woman's back as she entered the security code. “The uniform looks like she's a flight attendant,” she admitted. “But I haven't met her. Not yet anyway. I suppose she could be Kara.”

He chuckled. “That must be interesting—rooming with flight attendants.”

“Yeah . . . and I have a feeling it'll get even more interesting,” she agreed.

“Anyway, back to tomorrow,” he said. “Since the hotel's about midway between your place and my place, we could just meet up there.” He paused to exchange cell phone numbers with her. “In case something comes up.”

“What time should we meet?” she asked.

“Well . . .” His brow creased. “Are you a morning person?”

She wondered if this was a trick question. If she told the truth, would she sound like a total nerd? “Actually, I am,” she confessed.

“Cool. So is 9:00 too early?”

“Not at all.”

“Great. See you then—hotel at 9:00.”

She almost added, “It's a date,” but thankfully stopped herself. It was
not
a date. It was simply a pair of co-workers eager to explore the Big Apple together during a free day. She wouldn't be surprised if they talked business while they were sightseeing. After all, hadn't they done that over their early dinner? No, it was definitely
not
a date. And she'd better not forget that!

Anna was still feeling
inexplicably happy
as she entered the apartment. What a great day it had been, and so unexpectedly. Once inside, she saw the same pretty brunette she'd observed on the sidewalk earlier. A quick intro confirmed that it was indeed Kara, just back from a flight.

“So who was that with you?” Kara asked with eager curiosity.

“That was Sean O'Neil,” Anna informed her. “I would've introduced you outside—I mean, if I'd realized you were one of the roommates.”

“Where did you meet him?” Kara peeled off her uniform jacket, tossing it onto a nearby chair as Sophie came into the room. She still had on the same pink silky bathrobe, as if she really was taking her day off seriously.

“Anna has already met a guy?” Sophie asked with keen interest. “You work fast, girl.”

“Not just
any
guy,” Kara told Sophie. “Trust me, this one's a real looker. For a second I thought she was talking to Ryan Reynolds.”

“You're joking.” Sophie's eyes grew wide. “He's
that
good looking?”

Kara nodded firmly as she unzipped her skirt. “Seriously, Anna, where did you meet this handsome dude?”

“And does he have a brother?” Sophie added teasingly.

Anna laughed. “Well, if I could get a word in edgewise, I'd tell you.” She paused to discover they were both waiting. “You see, I've known Sean since childhood. We grew up in the same town, went to the same high school, and—”

“And he came here looking for you?” Sophie said dreamily.

“Is he trying to talk you into going back home with him?” Kara asked. “Didn't you just get here?”

“No, no, it's nothing like that.” Anna chuckled. “You see, Sean got hired at the Rothsberg hotel. Same as me. We both start work on Monday.”

“Wow, that's a co-inc-y-dink.” Sophie winked. “Hometown boy working at the same place as you?”

“And you're already dating?” Kara was standing there in her bra and slip, picking up her discarded uniform pieces as if this was her usual routine. “Nice work.”

“We're not dating,” Anna clarified.

“That's good,” Sophie told her. “Always risky to date co-workers.”

“Well, unless they're pilots,” Kara added with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Sophie shook a stern finger at Kara. “No, Kara. Like I've told you a million times, that's a mistake. Pilots never see flight attendants as serious marriage material. To them, we're just a temporary amusement. Leave the pilots alone and you'll be much better off.”

Ignoring her, Kara turned back to Anna now. “If you're
not dating this dreamy Sean guy . . . are you saying he's available?”

Anna shrugged. “He's not married or with anyone, if that's what you mean.”

“Ah-ha.” Kara removed a few hairpins, letting her hair down with a shake. “What's Sean's job at the hotel?”

“Head manager.”

“Nice.” Kara made an approving nod. “That works for me.”

Anna felt uncomfortable discussing Sean like this—like he wasn't a person, just an object. “I think Sean's going to be really busy with his job at first,” she told them. “There's so much going on at the hotel these next few weeks—getting it all set up and ready to open. I'd be surprised if he had much time for a social life. I know I don't expect to have one.”

“What's your job there?” Sophie asked.

“Head of housekeeping,” Anna told her.

“Oh.” Kara's brow creased as if this was disappointing. “Does that mean you're in charge of the maids?”

“Certainly, that's part of it.” Anna stood straighter. “I prefer to think that I'm in charge of the guests' comfort—at least when it comes to their rooms. And really, when you're staying at a hotel, what's more important than your room?”

Sophie nodded. “Yeah, that's a very good point.”

“I don't know,” Kara added as she headed for her bedroom. “I like a hotel with lots of amenities
outside
of my room.”

“The Rothsberg has those too,” Anna assured her. “Restaurant, pool, spa, coffee shop, workout room. Everything is beautiful too. But even if you have all those amenities, what good is it if your room's totally uncomfortable?”

“I agree,” Sophie told her. “What I want most, when I'm
laid over in a city, is a really comfy bed with great linens and a good down pillow, and quality toiletries too. Oh yeah, and HBO and room service.” She laughed. “I could've done with some room service today. I'm starving.”

“Speaking of food,” Kara called from her bedroom. “You still going out with me tonight, Soph?”

“You bet. I've been looking forward to it all day.”

“How about you, Anna?” Kara stuck her head out through the doorway. “Want to come out for a taste of New York nightlife?”

“Oh, I don't know.” Anna was uncertain. On one hand, it sounded fun. On the other hand, she suspected these flight attendants were serious party girls. Something she was not.

“I'm sure we can squeeze another in,” Sophie told her. “We've got reservations at Atera.”

“What's that?” Anna asked as she sat down on the love seat.

“It's a dining experience,” Sophie explained.

“That's right,” Kara said as she emerged from her room in a terry bathrobe. “Dinner literally lasts three hours.”

“Three hours?” Anna blinked. “The restaurant people don't mind?”

“They expect it to last that long,” Kara explained as she opened the bathroom door. “It's supposed to be an all night sort of thing.”

“The food is killer,” Sophie said. “It's all American cuisine, but done with real flair. Fabulous service too. I think you'd like it, Anna.”

Anna glanced at her watch, surprised to see that it was nearly 7:00 and neither Sophie or Kara looked the least bit ready to go anywhere. “What time is your reservation?”

“Nine, but we'll leave here around 8:30. I better get a move on.” Kara ducked into the bathroom.

“If your reservation's at 9:00,” Anna said to Sophie, “and you stay for three hours, it'll be midnight by the time you're done.”

“Or later.” Sophie nodded eagerly. “The night will just be starting up by then.”

Anna wondered if she'd been living with her grandmother for too long.

“Come on,” Sophie urged. “I know we can fit you in. The more the merrier.”

“Thanks so much for asking,” Anna told her. “But I have an early morning appointment. I think I'd better pass.”

“An early morning appointment on Sunday?” Sophie frowned. “With who?”

Anna made a shy smile. “Actually, it's with Sean.”

“Aka Mr. Ryan Reynolds?” Sophie's eyes lit up.

“His name really is Sean O'Neil,” Anna clarified. “I promised to meet him at 9:00. We're going to do some sightseeing together.”

Sophie gave her a suspicious sideways glance. “I thought you said you two were just friends?”

“Oh, we are.” Anna nodded. “Friends can go sightseeing, can't they?”

Sophie's smile returned. “Sure, they can. I don't blame you for passing on tonight. If I had to get up that early, I'd say forget it too. Guess I should start getting ready.”

“It's been a jam-packed day already,” Anna said more to herself than to Sophie. “I think I'll make an early night of it.”

As Kara and Sophie got ready for their big night, tak
ing turns dashing back and forth from the bedroom to the bathroom, Anna kicked off her shoes and curled up on the love seat. Absently flipping through the various magazines on the cluttered coffee table, she tried to imagine what it would feel like to be those two or even the missing Tia and Marley. They all seemed like such happy-go-lucky, carefree New Yorkers. Yet the idea of eating dinner at 9:00 until midnight and then going out on the town after that—well, Anna didn't get it. She couldn't admit as much to her “roommates,” but compared to them, she felt like an old lady. Or maybe she was just tired.

She was relieved when they finally made their grand exit, dressed to the nines. They told her to have a nice evening, though it was obvious from their expressions they were certain she'd made a big mistake by staying in. After they were gone, Anna straightened up the little living room a bit. Then she went outside and sat on the top of the steps in front of the apartment building. It was warm and balmy out, and people were still moving up and down the street. Clearly, in the minds of most New Yorkers, the night was young.

Anna watched the passersby with curious interest, almost as if she was a scientific observer, trying to determine what made New Yorkers tick. There was no denying that there was a distinct feeling of energy in the air. Just sitting out here on the sun-warmed stone steps made her want to change her mind about going out tonight. However, it was too late, and with the sky growing dusky and the shadows growing longer, she was reluctant to venture out alone. Maybe she would go out with her roommates the next time they asked. If they asked.

Back in the apartment, Anna decided to call her grandmother and fill her in on her day. She even told her about Sean O'Neil and their plans to do some sightseeing tomorrow.

“Oh, those O'Neils are such nice folks,” Grandma said. “I don't really know too much about Sean, but Robert O'Neil is the salt of the earth.” She began a story about how Sean's dad had come to her rescue more than thirty years ago. “I got a flat tire a few miles out of town, and my spare was flat too. Well, that was before cellular phones, and the country road was pretty quiet. Straight out of the blue, Robert O'Neil happens along. He stops and offers to fix my tire. Even though he was on his way to some meeting and wearing his good suit, he got down on his knees and put his own spare tire on my car, right there on the side of the road.” She paused for a breath. “I hadn't even purchased my tires at O'Neil's, but that good man never charged me for a thing. Just asked me to return the tire when I got around to replacing mine. Well, I became an O'Neil customer that same day. Your grandpa did too.”

Anna smiled, thinking that sometimes small towns were nice.

“You be good to that Sean O'Neil,” Grandma said. “And you have fun tomorrow, Anna. Take lots of pictures for me.”

Anna promised to do that.

“I've got your things all packed up for you,” Grandma told her. “They fit just fine in your big red suitcase. I've got it sitting by the door for Marley to pick up tomorrow. Right handy she could do that for you, Anna. Makes me think that the good Lord is really looking out for you.” She sighed. “A comfort to me when I think of you out there in New York City.”

“It's really a lovely place,” Anna told her. They talked awhile longer, but Anna could tell that Grandma was tired. She apologized for keeping her up past her bedtime, and they both said good night. Although it was only 10:00 and probably far too early by most New Yorkers' standards, Anna went to bed with no regrets.

The next morning, Anna woke early as usual. She was a little surprised to notice that the bed across from hers was filled now. Tia must've gotten home late last night. As Anna tiptoed to the bathroom, she felt pretty sure that everyone in the apartment was fast asleep. She suspected they would sleep like this for a couple more hours, but she didn't mind having the place to herself. She took her time showering and even did some primping.

Even though her “carry-on” wardrobe was limited, she wanted to look good for her sightseeing day. To spruce up her khaki pants and simple white shirt, she added a red and blue scarf she borrowed from Marley. She even put on a pair of small gold hoop earrings and a bangle bracelet. As she was giving her hair a final check, she reprimanded herself. “This is not a date,” she whispered into the bathroom mirror. “Not a date—you hear?”

The streets of the city were pretty quiet now. Oh, there were a few folks meandering about. Some even looked like they were on their way to church. Anna wondered if she'd try going to a New York church sometime. That would certainly make her grandma happy.

Before long she was at the hotel, and there was Sean, standing outside of Elsie Dolce eating something gooey.

“That looks good,” she said as she joined him.

“I almost got you one too,” he said as he wiped his mouth
with a napkin. “But I wasn't sure if you were into sweets. So many girls aren't these days.”

“Well, I'd probably be better off if I wasn't.” She looked longingly into the shop. “Unfortunately, I happen to like sweets. In moderation, of course.”

“Let me get you—”

“No,” she insisted. “You keep working on that, and I'll go pick something out.”

“Then maybe we can find some good coffee to wash it down.”

“Sounds perfect.” Anna went inside and, feeling a little silly, asked the girl working the counter if she remembered what Sean had just gotten. “It looked yummy.”

“Oh, yeah—that was a chocolate cannoli,” the girl told her. “Elsie just made those yesterday. A little messy, but dee-lish.”

Soon Anna was out on the sidewalk enjoying her own cannoli. After they cleaned off their sticky fingers, Sean led the way to the nearest coffee shop, and with coffees in hand, they headed for the subway.

“I've put together a plan for us,” he explained as they went down the stairs. “I hope you don't mind.”

“Not at all. I wasn't even sure where I'd start.”

“Well, I know it's a little touristy cliché,” he said apologetically, “but ever since I spent time in Ireland, I've been dying to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. You haven't seen either of them yet, have you?”

“I saw Lady Liberty from a distance,” she told him.

“But not up close?”

“No. And I'd love to.”