New York Valentine (18 page)

‘And this you can do on all the other ones?’ Elena asked.

‘Yes … yes, I think so.’

‘Good.’ Elena didn’t go over the top with her approval. She was touchingly businesslike.

‘Try it on,’ Annie urged her, ‘just slip it on over your dress and we’ll get an idea of what it’s like.’

Elena stood up and slipped her arms into the grey sleeves. She buttoned up the front and did a twirl for Annie and Brad.

Annie could see now how genius these dresses were going to be. She loved the chic, uptown colourful, silky numbers that Perfect Dress had been producing so far, but this was the fantastic downtown version. A slouchy, casual but totally pulled together look which everyone was going to love. Heels, a belt and a beret, it could do the school run, even the office at a push. Leggings, flats and a slouchy bag, and it was totally sexy weekend.

‘I love it!’ Annie said. ‘Isn’t it cool?’ she asked Brad, but she sensed the term was slightly lost on him. This was a man in a checked shirt and saggy cardigan.

‘It’s a nice design,’ Brad said professionally, ‘your designer’s really thought the pattern through. It works. Apart from the sleeve, it’s all very simple.’

The contracts were signed, the delivery dates were agreed and as they climbed into the taxi, Annie felt truly optimistic about the dresses for the first time since she’d touched down at JFK.

‘I hope you’re pleased,’ she told Elena. ‘I really think this is going to work,
and
he’s promised to get everything to us in time for the first due dates!’

‘I have to go and show the new dresses to the clients, make sure they still want these dresses, even though they are different from the ones they ordered.’

‘But they will,’ Annie enthused, ‘I’ve worked in fashion for years and I know that these dresses are absolutely perfect for right now. They’re really going to sell.’

Elena still didn’t look especially happy and Annie wondered if it was to do with Sye. To Annie’s knowledge Sye had barely been in touch from his model shoot. But he was due back in town tomorrow, so surely the lovely couple would be able to make up then.

They sat silently for a while, then Elena’s phone began to ring. She looked at the screen and issued a totally Svetlana-like ‘Tschaaa’ of disapproval.

Sweeping her hair out of the way, she pressed the phone to her ear.

‘Sye, yes, hello. How are you?’

Annie tried not to listen, but she was in the back of a cab with not much choice. Well, especially as the conversation now took an unexpected turn.

‘I am very busy, Sye,’ Elena began. ‘I don’t think I have time to see you this weekend. I don’t know when I’m going to have time to see you … no not next week. Sye … maybe not ever.’

There was a pause, which Annie assumed must be Sye objecting. But to her amazement all Elena said in reply was ‘No, I don’t think so, Sye. No. Goodbye.’

With that, she hung up, stuffed the phone quickly into her handbag … and burst into tears.

Lana’s dinner date:

Dark blue boob tube (J. Crew sale rail)
Black harem trousers (discount warehouse)
Blue suede three-inch heels (on loan from Elena)
Silver clutch (Macy’s)
Packet of condoms (Duane Reade)
Cloud of perfume (duty-free sample)
Total est. cost: $125

‘Just coffee!’

As Annie slid the plastic card into the hotel room lock, Ed called from the other side of the door. ‘Annie?’

‘Oh yes,’ she said pushing the door open, ‘it’s me and I’ve made it back from the wilds of Connecticut.’

Ed, wet-haired and wearing a fresh shirt and pair of trousers, was lying on top of the bed. He patted the empty space beside him.

‘Lie down, enjoy the soothing breeze of the air conditioning and tell me all about it.’

It was the best offer Annie had heard for hours.

She dumped her bags and flopped down onto the cool white sheets. This bed was so soft and springy compared with the sofa bed. ‘Heaven …’ she told him.

‘I know: just you, me, a locked hotel room.’

‘Was sightseeing fun?’ she asked, turning to put her arm over his waist.

‘Yes, but I have even more fun in mind,’ he said and moved in to kiss her on the lips.

‘Mmmmm … smooching, it’s been too long,’ she agreed.

But right on cue, her mobile began to ring.

‘Leave it?’ Ed suggested.

‘I can’t,’ Annie replied, already up, reaching for the phone, ‘it might be Lana, it might be home … someone might really need me.’

‘But I really need you,’ Ed complained.

‘Hello … hello?’ There was no sound at the other end, but Annie immediately knew who it was. ‘Mum, is that you, are you there?’

Ed sat up.

‘Mum, it’s Annie here. Did you mean to phone me? Isn’t it very late at home?’

‘Annie, I can’t sleep and I just wanted a little chat,’ Fern began.

Annie noticed how tired her mother’s voice sounded. ‘How are you doing?’ she asked soothingly.

‘Oh not too bad. Not too bad at all. But I can’t sleep and I thought you might still be up.’

‘I’m in New York, Mum,’ Annie reminded her.

‘You’re in New York? What? Now?’ Her mother sounded astonished, as if this couldn’t possibly be right.

‘Yes. I’m here for a few weeks.’

‘All the way over in New York? Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Well, I did, Mum, but it must have just … gone to the back of the queue, you know.’

This was their code phrase, because any mention of ‘forgotten’ or ‘forgetful’ made Fern upset.

‘Oh no, dear, I wouldn’t let a thing like that go to the back of the queue.’

‘I wouldn’t come all the way over here and not tell you, would I, Mum?’

‘Well … I don’t know,’ she said, ‘you do always like to rush off here, there and everywhere.’

‘Mum, you’re phoning me, all the way to New York on my mobile. I think you should put the phone down and I’ll call you right back.’

‘Good grief,’ Fern exclaimed and put the receiver down without another word.

‘Would it be cheaper to call her back on the mobile or the hotel phone?’ Annie asked Ed.

‘I have no idea.’

He leaned over and selected a magazine from the bedside table. He had a feeling this was going to take some time.

‘I just want to settle her down. Make sure she knows everything’s OK.’

‘That’s fine … of course.’

‘Are you sulking?’

‘Just a bit. I’ll get over it. We’re supposed to be meeting Lana for dinner in …’ he glanced at his watch: ‘twenty-five minutes. You don’t have to miss that, do you?’

‘Of course not. She’s going to try and bring Taylor along. I’m not missing that.’

‘If you phone your mum back, the romance window will have to close.’

‘I have to phone Mum back.’

‘I know. Pity.’

‘Well, they managed to stay for a respectable two courses,’ Annie said, looking over at the two empty seats at the other side of the restaurant table.

‘I don’t think Lana ate much though, she was too excited about him and too nervous about us,’ Ed pointed out.

‘She
was nervous? I was terrified. For 20, he is quite scary. How often did he mention the words “career plan” and “resumé”? I have no idea why he’s hanging out with Lana and not trying to date an heiress or at least the boss’s daughter.’

Ed smiled. ‘I know, but don’t be too harsh. I deal with guys like him all the time at St Vincent’s. Their parents are rich and important and all that self-confidence and sense of entitlement rubs off on their kids too. I know sixteen-year-olds even more bullish than him. Please, let’s not fret too much. This is their first week of dating. Lana’s on holiday over here, it’s not as if we’re discussing her future husband.’

Annie gave a little shriek of terror at the very thought. Then she noticed Lana’s empty glass. ‘He topped up her wine glass more than once … do you think she’s OK?’

‘She was when she left,’ Ed reassured her. ‘Taylor said he was going to buy her a coffee and see her back to the apartment. I’m sure everything will be fine. She has a phone if there are any problems. “Just coffee!” she said.’

‘I’ve told her he’s not allowed back to the apartment with her. I’m sorry if that’s a bit Victorian but I’m with you, Elena’s probably out, and Lana’s only known this guy for a few days. Way too soon.’

‘For unsupervised access,’ Ed added, trying not to smile.

‘Bloody right.’

He reached across and took her hand in his. ‘What about us? Are we tired?’

‘Yes.’

‘But are we going to have a coffee? A little dessert? Try to rally?’

She slipped her hand over his: ‘Two double espressos and a chocolate mousse might do the trick.’

‘Here’s hoping.’

Over the chocolate mousse and coffee, they sent a couple of texts to Dinah and Owen to make sure everything was fine at home, then finally the bill was paid and Ed and Annie made the short walk back to their hotel.

‘I hope you’re thinking what I’m thinking?’ Annie asked Ed as he unlocked the door to their hotel room.

‘Oh yeah,’ Ed replied.

Inside the room, Ed took off his jacket, landed his wallet and keys on the table, then threw himself into the depths of the deep cushions and fluffy duvet on the white bed. ‘Hours and hours of sex.’

Annie sat on the edge of the bed and unbuckled her shoes, rubbing her hands over the marks the straps had made on the skin.

‘Hours and hours of sleep,’ she told him, smiling fondly at him.

‘Technically, this is our honeymoon, have you thought about that?’ he said, reaching to stroke her back.

‘This is our honeymoon?! Three nights in a budget hotel worrying about who our daughter’s with? Does it get more romantic?’

‘Annie, just phone her if you’re worried.’

‘Ed, they said they were going to a place three streets from the apartment. Then he was going to drop her at the door. I’m almost totally convinced that she’s safe. But if I dial, she won’t pick up because it’s embarrassing getting phoned by your mum, so then I’ll spend the next hour worrying myself into a frenzy.’

‘Which would be a shame,’ he said, moving closer, ‘because you could spend the next hour doing something much better.’

‘You are dangerously cute,’ she told him, but her arm was reaching out across the bed. This bed was so big … it was so soft. She’d spent night after night sharing a sofa bed with Lana and this really was going to be heaven.

‘Take your clothes off,’ Ed whispered against her ear.

‘Just what have you got planned?’

‘Massage?’ he offered.

‘Ooooh baby, yes … yes!’

She unbuttoned her dress and flung it over the back of a chair, then she unhooked the straps of her bra and let herself fall face down on the bed. She sank into crisp white cotton and fluffiest down duvet.

Bliss.

Ed’s warm fingers were at the nape of her neck. He began circling with his thumbs, easing away the knots of tension there.

Annie murmured in approval. ‘Do you have any idea how good this feels?’ she whispered.

‘You used to say that about some of my other moves too.’

‘Keep going, just keep going and I may perk up enough for some of those other moves too,’ she said, although now that her shoulders were loosening, it was becoming very, very hard to keep her eyelids from drooping.

Ed lay beside her and began to trace his finger lightly down her spine. ‘Hey …’ he said gently, tenderly against her ear.

But Annie’s eyes were closed.

Ed leaned down a little closer. There was no mistaking the sound. It was quite a small and quite a low sound, but it was definitely Annie snoring.

Ed in New York:

Light blue linen shirt (Boden, present from Annie)
White chinos (Hackett, present from Annie)
Blue flip-flops (market stall)
Sunglasses (dodgy knock-offs borrowed from Owen)
Factor 30 suncream (Boots)
Total est. cost: $210

‘It feels like a date.’

‘Mustard or onions?’

‘Both!’ Ed replied with a grin, ‘I’m in New York, I need to have the full experience.’

Annie got the hot dog salesman to load up their buns with onion and mustard. Then, hand in hand, they walked towards one of the benches on Museum Mile to eat and to watch New York go by.

‘I’ve not made you go to too many museums?’ Ed wondered, his mouth now full of hot dog and onions.

‘Four museums in one day is a lot, but I came prepared,’ she said, pointing to her unusually sensible shoes. ‘I loved MOMA and the Folk Art Museum,’ she added through her second mouthful, ‘the presidents’ heads? Remember?’

‘Oh yes,’ Ed laughed, ‘by the barber, who’d carved them in his shop over the years, in all the spare time between customers.’

‘Thank you for taking me,’ Annie told him, leaning against his arm. ‘Sometimes I forget how much I like museums and proper art … sometimes I’m maybe a little too caught up in the art of …’

‘Shopping?!’

‘Fashion,’ she corrected him, ‘it’s fashion,
never
just call it shopping!’

‘I know, sorry, how could I forget.’

‘There’s all this incredibly creative stuff going in fashion. It’s an art form all of its own.’

‘OK … art student,’ he teased.

‘Music buff,’ she teased straight back.

‘Are you glad I came all the way to see you?’

‘Of course! Of course I’m glad you came. This has been one of the nicest days we’ve had together for … ages.’

‘It feels like a date,’ he said, carefully wiping his hand with a napkin, then reaching over to hold hers. Sweet.

‘I know. I can’t get over how much time there is in a day when we don’t have the twins with us. I feel like we’ve been out for hours and hours and it’s still only 4p.m. We have the whole evening ahead of us. Unbelievable!’

‘What are we going to do tonight?’ Ed asked.

‘Tonight? Tonight is all about going back to the hotel room early to bounce the headboard off the wall,’ she said and shot him a wink.

‘Really? It’s not going to end like last night? Me massaging, you snoring.’

‘I do not snore!’ Annie protested. ‘Look over there, other side of the road. Could that couple
be
more Upper East Side?’

Ed followed her gaze to a middle-aged man in a gold-buttoned navy blazer accessorized with cravat and cigar. Walking alongside him was a younger, very thin woman in a pink shift dress and huge sunglasses leading a minuscule fluffy dog on a pink lead.