PRESTON
Our six a.m.flight from PDX touched down atJFKInternationalat two forty-five p.m. We’d enjoyed breakfast in our first-class seats, but we were too excited to really sleep.
When he couldn’t hold his eyes open any longer, Nick rested his head on the back of the seat until my shoulder became the better option. I had an itinerary all worked out for us, since he’d never been to New York. I was eager to show him everything the city had to offer. It was a one-of-a-kind place where you could find anything you were looking for.
After we deplaned and picked up our luggage, we went out to meet the black town car that I’d arranged to take us to the hotel. After stowing the luggage in the trunk, the driver headed for our first stop.
I’d prearranged for us to take a specific route, so when he circled the airport, Nick was confused.
“Where are we going?”
I pointed out the window at a very unusual building. “I want to show you something. It’s the first stop on our ‘Let’s Show Nick New York’tour, and it’s right there.”
Nick turned his head to look out the window and laughed. “What am I looking at?”
“It’s theTWA Hotel. The terminal was originally designed like an art piece to look like a bird taking flight. When the airline filed for bankruptcy and was later purchased byAmerican Airlines, that part of the terminal was no longer being used. So rather than tear it down, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had the site listed as a New York City landmark. WhenJetBluestarted using terminal 5, the airline’s corporate partner was a hotel chain. Two more buildings were constructed, and they were made into a 512-room hotel honoring the design from the 60s.”
“Would you like to stop and look, sir?” the driver asked.
“Yes, please. Just for a minute.”
When the driver parked, Nick got out and studied it. I could imagine his brain working on whatever it was architects do to design a hotel.
When he got back into the car, the smile on his handsome face was priceless. Sliding over to me, Nick kissed my cheek. “In case I forget to tell you, this is the best trip I’ve ever been on. If we flew home tonight, it would still be amazing. Thank you.”
My heart squeezed, knowing I’d made him happy with only one stop, and we hadn’t even left the airport yet. I’d never felt so much joy in my life.
I caught the driver’s eye in the rearview mirror and nodded. “We’re ready.”
The ride to the hotel took a little over an hour, but the city views from the car were spectacular. There was nothing in the world like New York City at Christmastime. Even in the early afternoon, it was a spectacular light parade that ignited the romantic in me. All I wanted to do was hold him close and take in the city.
When the driver pulled up to the hotel and got out to get our bags from the trunk, Nick turned to stare at me.
“Preston, are we staying here?” His eyes were like saucers as he took in the famous building.
“Yeah, babe. You don’t want to stay at thePlaza Hotel?”
Nick took in the marquee lighting, the beautiful glasswork, and the holiday decorations, then looked back at me. “Are yousurewe’re staying here?”
I laughed and opened the door. “Yes. Come on, babe. Let’s go check in.”
A nervous laugh slipped from him as he opened his door and got out. I met him on the curb where the bellman had taken our bags. I took Nick’s hand and walked up the blue carpeted steps to enter through the revolving glass doors.
Nick looked up and stopped to marvel at the chandelier, turning to take in all the architectural features of the French Renaissance-inspired building.
“I have no words,” he murmured as his eyes lit up like a child at Christmas.
I chuckled. “Come on, babe. We can look around after we check in.”
Pulling him along, we entered the hotel lobby to the left and past the Champaigne Bar to the reservations desk. We were greeted by a familiar face.
“Good afternoon, Mr. James. It’s nice to have you back.”
I smiled and nodded at the desk clerk. “Thank you, Theresa. Is our room available?”
She smiled enthusiastically. “Yes, sir. The King Room is ready. I’ll have the bellman bring up your bags.”
She placed a small white envelope on the desk in front of us.
