Page 75 of I’m Dreaming of a New York Christmas

‘Right, shall we head up to the Rockefeller Center?’ Anneka asked, brushing off the snowflakes from her inexplicably pristine clothes as if they were breadcrumbs. I hadn’t waded through any snowbanks, yet my clothes already felt like they were approaching the sodden stage.

‘Sure, I think I’ve figured out a route there on the subway. But can we make a quick pit-stop, first? I hardly ate anything yesterday and my stomach is crying out for one of those McGriddly things.’

‘Now you’re speaking my language. I can take you there, sure – but on one condition.’

‘What’s that, then?’ As if I didn’t already know.

‘Tell. Me. Everything. And properly, this time. Starting with this: how the hell did you meet this Ethan guy? He doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would need a speechwriter.’

She linked arms with me again as we headed north. As we exited the park next to the arch, I decided I had nothing to lose by telling her the full story. Anneka and I had never had a regular sisterly relationship, given our age gap, and having one-on-one time with her had become a rarity in recent years. This enforced closeness was feeling more like something to cherish, rather than a chore.

‘So, I started following this random cartoonist called Ethan Carmichael on Instagram a couple of years ago…’

Chapter 16

I was fully expecting ice-skating to end – or begin – with a wet-arsed disaster, but the experience was injury-free, thanks to my insistence that I clutch Anneka’s waist as she towed me around the rink like a broken-down vehicle. This method quickly backfired, however, when a growing snake of children grabbed onto us from behind, having assumed we’d intended to start a slippery conga. After we’d managed to shake them off – not literally – I chose to link arms with Anneka instead, for once not caring that I looked like human-shaped Flump compared to my sister’s natural swan-like grace on the ice. At one point, I even managed to take three independent steps towards the barrier, which Anneka reacted to as if I’d just executed a medal-winning triple Lutz. Skating against the backdrop of the most iconic Christmas tree in the world – which somehow looked even more spectacular in real life – gave me the most Christmassy tingle I think I’d ever felt.

Afterwards, I found us a not-too-overcrowded diner a couple of blocks away from the now-heaving Rockefeller Plaza to warm up in – and check in on Mum.

Mum:

I am alive. Now sod off and have an adventure.

The diner was the kind of place where the filter coffee was served in bottomless portions thanks to the regular rounds of a Hollywood-handsome server, who took our food order from our corner booth. Anneka had made sure we were sitting as far away from the kitchen – and its endless parade of egg-based meals – as possible.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone that good-looking in real life before,’ I whispered to Anneka after he’d filled our mugs.

‘Yeah, even I can tell that’s one hell of a male specimen. I wonder if he’s an actor.’

‘Trying to make it big on Broadway, perhaps? He was totally eyeing you up, by the way.’

‘I know. Shame about the whole “I only fancy women” thing.’

‘Speaking of which… how’s it going with Marcie?’ I asked.

‘Excellently. I was messaging her most of yesterday while Mum slept. Did you know she’s a life model in her spare time?’

‘Well, no, since I met her when you met her.’

‘Oh yeah. Anyway, she reckons she can get me a gig.’

‘To sit naked in front of a bunch of strangers?’

‘Yep! Oh, and Jason is doing fine last I heard. Anyway, tell me what this Ethan chap looks like. His Instagram’s just full of his drawings. Even his LinkedIn profile has a cartoon avatar.’

‘You did not click on his LinkedIn page?!’

‘Sure, why wouldn’t I?’

‘Anneka! LinkedIn notifies people when someone has viewed their profile!’

‘So?’

‘So he’ll see you’ve been looking at him!’

‘I don’t see the problem here! He likes you; you like him – why wouldn’t you have told your big sister, and why wouldn’t I make some online enquiries to check he isn’t a psycho-killer?’

‘He already knows I’ve told you about him.’