Page 105 of I’m Dreaming of a New York Christmas

‘Sure. Gimme two secs… okay. Yep, she arrived here in the ER about forty-five minutes ago and is still waiting to be seen.’

‘Is she conscious?’

‘Yes, very much so.’

‘Oh, thank God. Please tell her I’m on my way.’

‘I’ll try. But if she isn’t in the waiting area when you arrive, give her name at the front desk and they’ll show you where to go.’

They hung up before I could thank them again. I turned to Ethan. ‘Okay. She’s conscious, and is waiting to be seen.’

‘Oh, thank fuck. But… I’m so confused, Flora. I thought your family lived in the UK?’

‘They do, but me, my mum and my sister came to New York together,’ I blurted out, alongside a series of sobs.

‘And your dad?’

‘Yeah, I… don’t have one of those.’

‘Flora, I… have so many questions.’

‘I’m sorry,’ I whispered, looking at the ground and wishing I could dissolve into it.

‘You don’t have anything to be sorry for, okay? You’re like the most interesting, most unpredictable person I’ve ever met. But now I’m seeing how little I actually know about you and… it just makes me want to know it all. I hope one day I get to learn every single detail.’

I didn’t have the mental capacity to reply to what was probably the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to me. Instead, I quietly took his hand and traced an infinity loop on his palm.

‘Your family has really been here this whole time?’ He asked, his fingers now squeezing mine.

I nodded, tears in freefall. ‘I didn’t think there was any point in telling you, but when we started to get closer I knew I needed to – but it never felt like the right moment to bring it up. I… just need to get to the hospital, Ethan.’

‘Yeah, of course, of course.’ He checked his phone. ‘Just one minute away now. Let me run inside and let them know where I’m going.’

‘What? No. You should stay here.’

‘But—’

‘It’s nice of you to offer, Ethan. But I need to focus on my mum and I’m way too mortified to explain everything to you.’

‘You don’t have to explain anything, Flora. Not tonight, anyway. Let me help you – please.’

‘You have helped me, by sorting the car – thank you. But it’s your brother’s wedding day, and this is where you need to be.’ I removed his jacket from my shoulders and handed it back to him, just as the car pulled up. Elle emerged from the building, clutching Anneka’s coat, which she passed to me.

‘Thanks, Elle.’ I opened the rear door of the car and climbed inside.

‘I’ll… leave you guys to it,’ Elle said, heading back indoors.

‘Please let me come with you, Flora,’ Ethan said.

I shook my head as I fastened my seatbelt. ‘You need to stay here. I’ve made such an idiot of myself. Everything’s got way too complicated – and you showing up at the hospital will only tangle things up even more. I’m… really sorry for ruining your night.’

He sighed, and rubbed his hair vigorously, all evidence of hair wax now gone. ‘You’ve not ruined anything. I hope you can see that eventually.’

I didn’t reply, just stared straight ahead as the driver waited patiently for the passenger door next to me to close.

‘Can you at least let me know how your mum’s doing when you can?’ he asked, leaning towards me, resting his fingers on the top of the open car door.

‘I will.’