Karen reached out to pat his back and Greg smiled at the gesture, his heart filling with happiness at the thought of spending his life with her. ‘It’s OK Jeff. We know how you are feeling.’
‘I guess I thought if I had that sentiment engraved on the charm, that it might make it real, give it a better chance of happening. But maybe things don’t quite work this way.’ Jeff pulled out a handkerchief and blew his nose. He returned his gaze to his son and Karen and provided a watery smile.
Greg smiled but felt broken-hearted, both over his father’s sadness and the fact that this important bracelet, which was a part of his mother for as long as he could remember (and long before the time he was born) was now missing. Since she’d been pretty much bed-bound for the last six months, save for occasional trips out onto the veranda of the penthouse when she was feeling better, he was sure the bracelet had to besomewhereat home.
‘I’m sure it will turn up, Dad. We will just have to look for it, that’s all.’
‘I’m sure you’re right Greg.’ Jeff gave him a half-hearted smile. ‘It can’t have just disappeared. Bracelets just don’t get up and walk away on their own, do they?’
46
‘And look at how cool this app is, Mom. You can actually access any comic book that’s been made,ever!’ Danny laughed as he shoved his brand-new iPad under Holly’s nose, a Christmas gift from his father
She chuckled fondly as Danny grabbed a cinnamon roll with his bad arm (his hand still worked fine) and ran off into the living room with the iPad to discover more new ‘cool apps and stuff’. Even with a broken arm and a banged-up face, Christmas morning at their house had not been compromised in the least.
Holly had been able to check Danny out of the hospital the previous afternoon, as he had made it through the night without any difficulties. Kate had come over to spend Christmas Eve and to help Holly keep an eye on him, as well as give her a hand with the preparations for Christmas dinner.
‘Ah yes, the much-needed comic book app,’ Holly said sardonically. ‘Just what would life be like if we couldn’t access every comic book known to man?’
‘Oh stop, you never know, your son might be the next Steve Jobs.’ Kate swatted her with the newspaper, before getting up and going to the coffee-maker.
‘Do you want a refill?’ she asked, holding up the fresh pot.
‘Please,’ Holly replied a little too eagerly. The stress of the last few days had left her dog-tired. ‘And maybe put a little Bailey’s in it while you’re at it. That sort of thing is allowed on Christmas morning isn’t it?’
Kate giggled. ‘I won’t tell if you won’t tell,’ she whispered as she poured some liqueur into the mug. ‘I’m sure Santa does the same thing once he gets back to the North Pole.’
Feeling content and toasty on the sofa while a fire raged in the hearth and festive noises on the TV sounded from the corner, the two women sat in companionable silence as each read their own section of that morning’sNew York Times.
After a time, Kate averted her eyes from the paper and looked at her friend. ‘So, are you feeling OK now? About Danny I mean. You were a bit … unglued when we were at the hospital.’
Holly put down the entertainment section of the paper and smiled easily. ‘Well, I could only feel better once I knew he was resting comfortably. It’s just such a terrifying thing to get a call at work saying your son is in the ER. All kinds of dreadful scenarios were running through my head.’
‘I can imagine, and sorry again to have been the bearer of bad news.’ Kate peered across the room and watched Danny alternate his attention between the TV and his new Christmas gift. ‘He looks fine now. In a technological wonderland.’
Holly laughed. ‘Yep, there’s no denying he is Nick’s son,’ she said with affection, for Danny, if not for his father.
Although to be fair, while they were still at the hospital, Nick had phoned all apologetic about having to leave the ice-rink, and had been suitably horrified to hear about Danny’s accident.
‘I can’t believe it,’ he told Holly. ‘We were having such a blast – I took some shots on the phone …’ And much to her surprise (and delight) he sent through a picture he’d taken of Danny on the ice that day, her son grinning with his thumbs-up, and looking happier than she’d seen him in a very long time.
Her heart had melted when she saw it, and then late the night before, he’d turned up at her door with the iPad, gift-wrapped and everything. Maybe he really was trying to turn over a new leaf?
Holly ran a hand through her hair and her charm bracelet jingled, reminding her of something.
‘Oh, I forgot to tell you. I was asked out the other day. By a very handsome gallery owner. He’s Italian,’ she added chuckling.
Kate’s eyebrows raised. ‘Well I hope you said yes.!’
Holly laughed. ‘Just because you’re all loved-up at the moment,’ she said and Kate smiled coyly. She and Doctor Chapman the handsome physician who’d tended to Danny at Lennox Hill had hit it off, and a big date was planned for the following week. Holly so hoped it worked out for her friend, the doctor seemed like a lovely man and her friend deserved someone special. ‘
‘As it happens, I didn’t say yes or no,’ she continued. ‘I am waiting on some information from him, and really, this guy was such a Romeo, I’m sure he’s already forgotten all about me.’
Kate shook her head. ‘Not possible. Any guy would be insane to forget about you. And what “information” exactly are you waiting on from him? Sounds very covert.’
Holly went on to update her about the information she’d gleaned so far from the charms on the bracelet, and how she hoped Gennaro would be able to help her get even closer to finding the owner.
‘Course, I don’t know if I will be able to find the time to keep searching for her much longer. After all, with Danny in the condition he’s in now, I can’t exactly be traipsing all over Manhattan.’
