Don't You Remember (15 page)

A new State, same stage performance, then an after party. Maybe take a girl back to the hotel, maybe not. Same old, same old. Johnny had been on this tour for almost six months and, before that, he was in the recording studio working on the band’s second album. He had been working solidly since he joined Hunter Management. Promoting the band’s first album and working with promoters and journalists. His life now consisted of lots of travel, hotel rooms and parties. He had been constantly working for the past three years; he was tired and counting down the days to get back to his New York apartment. A break before the European tour started.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Johnny walked through the front door of his apartment happy to be home. He jumped onto the massive sofa and turned on the huge television mounted on the wall. He sat there for hours watching anything, noticing nothing. He needed a lazy day, a day of not having to be somewhere or do something for someone. Johnny called the doorman downstairs and asked him to organize a large pizza and a drink to be sent to him upstairs. Johnny planned to stay on the sofa all day. Too tired to move, he let himself rest and do exactly what he wanted. Today he did not have to fit into a planned schedule. He stretched his body out on the sofa and considered what he wanted to do with some of his free time over the next couple of months. He couldn’t complain about the work, he loved it, and it had made him rich.

He turned his head and looked outside, noticing the sky was blue. He made a mental note of spending more time on his bike, riding around Central Park. He thought about Jen for a second, remembering her riding to school just before they got together. He pushed the thought away, hating to torment himself with thoughts of Jen. Johnny didn’t want to forget Jen, he just wanted it to get easier. He still couldn’t think of anyone else in the same way he thought about her. He wanted to move on, but just couldn’t seem to do it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Before I left for New York, The Times New York briefed me on three different apartments they had viewed on my behalf and sent me photographs in the post. I selected a small apartment in Manhattan that I could just afford on my new, higher salary, still leaving a little for myself and a little to save. The apartment would need some cosmetic tender loving care but, overall, it was perfect with a small kitchen and a compact living room space. The bedroom had enough room for a double bed and had a full length floor to ceiling mirrored wardrobe space. The only downside was the bathroom was situated as an en-suite; off my bedroom, meaning if a friend came over they would have to walk through my bedroom to use it.

This move was different from the last. I was doing it on my own, working on my own, in a foreign city on my own. I would need to make my own friends and explore what New York had to offer, all on my own. I thought about Johnny briefly, reminding myself that he had come to New York on his own to make it, and he had. I wondered if I might bump into him one day.

I arrived on a bus with a suitcase, a sleeping bag and all my savings. I intended to do my apartment up just the way I wanted it – something I could be proud of.

At 2pm I waited outside my apartment building to meet the lettings agent so that I could collect the keys and get my things inside. I sat on my suitcase and looked at my street map realizing New York was unique with its grid-like street system.

“Good afternoon. You must be Ms Redman?” said a young man in a smart grey suit and white shirt. He looked about my age, early twenties and keen with his salesman smile showing off his extremely white teeth. He put his hand out to greet me.

“Yes, I’m Jen Redman,” I replied, happily meeting his hand to shake it firmly.

“And I am Bradley Court. Pleased to meet you, Jen Redman,” he said giving me a cheesy grin. “Let me take your bag for you.”

“Oh, that’s really kind of you,” I replied, handing my heavy suitcase over.

“Gee what have you got in here, rocks?”

I laughed, “You would think… It’s just my clothes rolled up and jammed packed in there. I’ll have to be careful when I open the case, it might all fling out. I had to sit on the corners to get it shut it.”

“I don’t know – you girls.”

We reached the first floor and Bradley opened the door to my new apartment. I looked around like a girl who had just won a prize. I signed the lease and Bradley left with my bond money and the first three months’ rent paid in advance. The living room was lovely and bright and I could see myself with my own sofa and television and a desk to do my work on. I sat on my suitcase and thought I’d better go and get some basics to put in the fridge.

*****

On my first day at The Times New York I woke up early having slept on carpeted floor with my sleeping bag. I got up, had a shower and dressed in a tailored navy blue trouser suit with a short sleeve knitted top underneath. It was an easy way to look smart without having to use an iron. I had nothing in the apartment – I needed furniture, crockery, cutlery. I needed a start up kit and had no idea where to start.

I caught a taxi to 43rd street and found The Times New York building. I grinned to myself, thinking I couldn’t believe I was actually there for my first day at work. The receptionist looked at her list of names, handed me a pass and told me to take the lift to the 14th foor.

As I left the elevator, I found myself in a bustling, lively office. I looked around and asked a woman who looked approachable if she could direct me to Anita Walker.

I reached Anita Walker’s office and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

“Hi, Anita. I’m Jennifer Redman, but I prefer Jen.”

“Come on in, Jen, make yourself at home. Take a seat,” Anita said, placing her hand out to direct me to one of the two chairs in front of her desk. I sat down, straightened my trousers and smiled at my new boss.

“So, Jen, you got in yesterday? And you found the office easily enough, I hope?”

“Yes and yes. Although I have no idea where to buy any furniture or crockery. I have nothing. I came here with just my suitcase.”

“Oh dear, you should have said earlier. We can’t have you living like a squatter. Just give me a minute.” Anita buzzed her assistant. “Nicole, can you get Rosie on the phone? I have someone who needs her help and fast.”

“Yes, I’m right on it,” her assistant replied.

“Jen, I’m going to set you up with Rosie. She’s an interior designer and has a great reputation. She can help give you the apartment you want.”

“Oh,” I nodded, looking down at my trousers and wondering how much this was going to cost. Even though I had money saved, I didn’t want to spend it all and an interior designer was a luxury service.

Anita must have seen me fret. “Don’t worry. She’s so popular because she’s reasonable; she knows where to go to get everything. You tell her what you need and what your budget is, it’s as simple as that. Rosie will get one of her junior staff to do a lot of the trawling around for you so it shouldn’t be too expensive.”

“Oh, OK. That sounds good.”

The phone rang and, after a short, friendly chat, Anita had made an appointment for me to see Rosie.

“Right, Jen, go and get your place sorted and come in tomorrow. Rosie will see you right away and she’ll have a junior designer go shopping with you today. You can get a lot of what you need immediately. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much,” I said, picking up my bag from the floor and making my way to the door.

I walked to Rosie’s office a couple of blocks away, had a brief chat, told her my maximum budget and explained I needed everything except the kitchen sink. Rosie introduced me to Daniel, one of her assistants. He was delightful and camp and made me laugh with all his amazing stories. We hit it off straight away. Rosie decided to send us to Ikea in Brooklyn, using the commercial 4x4.

I spent the day shopping in Ikea; what a great shop for someone who needs to buy everything in one day. The only downside was having to build the furniture, but I could do that, I was able to follow instructions.

I bought so much and still had a couple of hundred dollars left over, so Daniel took me to a supermarket to stock up on essential and cleaning products. I hadn’t thought this move through very well, but it was all falling into place now.

When we got back to my apartment, Daniel and I unpacked the 4x4 making several trips to and from my apartment to the car. I changed into some tracks and got to work cleaning the apartment, while Daniel started putting my bed base together. He then moved onto the desk, bedside tables and television cabinets, all along complaining about the state of his hands and how I would have to pay for a manicure when he was done.

We stopped for a short break and went to a small café for a pizza and a couple of beers before getting back to the job at hand. I knew from the way we got on that we would be firm friends. Daniel talked about trying to find a man, stating there was plenty to choose from, but he hadn’t found Mr Right yet. I told him my previous boyfriend wasn’t right for me either, but I never mentioned Johnny.

Daniel stayed the night sleeping on my new sofa bed while I took the double bed in my bedroom. He left in the morning after I made him a slice of toast and a cup of coffee.

I grabbed a quick shower, washed my short hair and got dressed. I looked at my face in the mirror, applied a little make up and mascara and decided to grow my hair again. I looked around the room at what we had achieved last night and the transformation was truly amazing. My space was fully functional and also to my liking. Just a few more bits to add, but I could do that over time. I felt less stressed and excited to go to work. What was in store for me today?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Today I caught the metro to Time Square and walked to work from there, I was really starting to get the hang of this city and proud of myself for getting on with things. Daniel and I had agreed to meet up at lunch for a bite to eat. I had made my first friend – how good was that?

Anita gave me a writing assignment to do, following up on a police case about a missing girl. She wanted an updated story as to where the police were at. I got to work.

The morning was busy. Anita told me it was crucial I start making police contacts, especially if I wanted to report on police matters. I did. All the reports I was interested in involved the police to some degree.

I met Daniel briefly at lunchtime and we talked like two best friends who were never lost for words. Daniel gave me a cordless phone as a house warming present knowing it was the in thing to have, and told me to get it working so he could call me that evening. I said it was very kind but he shouldn’t have.

“Don’t worry love,” he said, “I didn’t buy it for you. I work for Rosie Marsh, remember? She gets so many freebies, we have a room full of them and I’m allowed to take a couple of things and give them to clients if I want to. It’s all part of the service. So get your phone on pronto, ’cause I’ll need to call you later.”

I did get my phone on, another thing to tick off the list. Anita gave me a work laptop to use at home and I was well on my way to having all my creature comforts. Everything I needed was in my sweet little apartment.

I wrote my updated article on the missing girl. The police used me for getting information as much as I used them, asking me what I knew and what I would write and what they wanted me to write. I worked out this is how the relationship would work, we used each other and that’s just the way it was. It was fine by me, as long as I wasn’t hurting anyone.

At home I set up my phone right next to my new bedside table just in front of the lamp and got myself connected as promised. The windows were slightly open and blew a fresh breeze into the room that encouraged me to go outside. I put on my black track bottoms, a white t-shirt and a navy blue hooded sweater, grabbed my baseball hat and keys and went downstairs. I thought a nice walk in Central Park would be a good idea. I wanted to enjoy the fresh air and the trees. I opened the front door to my building and walked down the front steps until I reached the pavement. I stopped, realizing one of my shoelaces was undone, bent over and began to tie it up. Looking up I caught sight of the back of a guy on his bike swerving around me. The guy almost took me out. That wouldn’t have been a very pretty sight; someone could have really got hurt.