Page 123 of I’m Dreaming of a New York Christmas

I heard Anneka take a deep, calming breath. ‘Better, I think. I heated up a tin of Big Soup for her when we got back, and she gobbled it up before going to bed. I think she’s gonna be fine.’

‘Yeah, thanks to you.’

A pause. ‘It was just a bowl of soup, Flo.’

‘No, you nincompoop, I’m thanking you for everything – for insisting that Mum see the GP about the lump and dealing with all of that by yourself, for taking me to New York, for making my bracelet, for everything you’ve done for me, forever. I’m so lucky to have you, Anneka – I understand that properly now.’

‘Oh, Flora, you don’t have to say any of this. I know I said some stuff in New York, but it was just in the heat of the moment; I didn’t—’

‘Stop talking! I know I don’t have to say any of this, but I want to. I love you, okay? Just so we’re clear on that.’

‘I love you, too,’ she whispered. ‘This year has been really hard, Flo. I’ve been so scared about Mum.’

‘I know. Let’s do a better job of being there for each other, yeah?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Right then, shall we talk about something else?’

‘Yes please.’

‘Okay… please tell me how the hell I’m going to get over Ethan.’

‘Ha, well, the first question I’d ask is whether you want to get over him?’

‘That’s irrelevant – we live on opposite sides of a massive ocean and he’s terrified of flying. I have to get over him – what I want doesn’t even come into it.’

Anneka sighed loudly.

‘Do you want real talk or platitudes?’ she finally said.

‘Real talk. I need to hear it.’

‘Right. You’re being defeatist. Sure, the circumstances with Ethan are tricky, but it’s obvious you like this guy a lot, and the feeling seems to be mutual. So why not enjoy it for what it is in this present moment, and forget about what it might or might not end up being in the future?’

‘Yeah, if he lived in Scotland instead of New-friggin’-York, I might agree with you,’ I said. ‘But I’d argue that the circumstances are beyond tricky – they’re impossible.’

‘Flora. You could literally push a few buttons on your phone here and now and see his face and talk all night. And the rest.’

‘Anneka!’

‘What?! All I’m saying is, you’re making this situation a whole lot harder than it needs to be.’

I fiddled with the mushroom charm on my bracelet, considering how to respond. ‘I wouldn’t even know what to say to him, though.’

‘You’re a bloody speechwriter, Flora! For now, why don’t you just start writing and see what comes out?’

I opened my mouth to dismiss her idea, but I found myself saying ‘hmm’ instead. As much as I hated to admit it, this might be one of the best pieces of advice she’d ever given me.

Chapter 27

‘Time for New Year gifts!’ Anneka called from the bathroom, the door wide open.

‘But it’s not even midnight yet!’ I called back.

She pulled the flush and returned to the living room. ‘Yeah, I know, but I’m getting tired. Aren’t you getting tired too, Mum?’

Anneka made a big deal of showing her watch to Mum and tapping its face with one of her long fingernails.