Page 94 of I’m Dreaming of a New York Christmas

I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on my breathing until the lift came to a stop.

We stepped outside to be greeted by a view of… absolutely nothing. The visibility through the fog was non-existent, with only some of Manhattan’s tallest, sleekest towers peeking out here and there as we wandered around the entire circumference of the observation deck.

‘They really weren’t lying about the weather today, were they?’ I said, once again noticing how we appeared to be the only tourists up here.

‘Yeah, this is shit,’ Anneka said, trying to take a selfie but scowling when she saw the pitiful results. ‘I guess we’ll just have to ask for a refund.’

‘Ummmm…’ Mum looked uncharacteristically bashful.

‘“Ummmm”, what?’ Anneka said.

‘Well, the man at the ticket counter did spend about five minutes reading out their non-refund policy before he’d take my money.’

‘Sure, but this is ridiculous. They shouldn’t even be open! I’m going to go and speak to that dude in the top hat by the lifts.’

Oh, here we go.

I clenched my jaw, preparing myself to be an unwilling bystander to yet another blag.

‘No, Anneka.’ Mum’s directive took me by surprise. ‘Let’s just leave it this time, alright? It’s my fault; I should’ve listened to them.’

Mum glanced at me and then back at Anneka. Anneka’s shoulders dropped, then she nodded once.

‘C’mon, girls,’ Mum chirruped, desperately trying to inject some energy back into this disastrous expedition. ‘Let’s do one more circuit so we can fully take in the fog, then we can go back down and make the most of that museumy bit, yeah? I think I caught a glimpse of a giant King Kong model in the corner. That’s got “group selfie” written all over it.’

A couple of hours later we were back in the tourist trap bar by the hotel, with a mere six cocktails between us this time.

‘I hear you already made plans for tomorrow night with that cartoon fella?’ Mum said, while Anneka was ordering our food at the bar.

‘Oh! No. Well, yes, there was a thing I could have gone to, but it’s fine. I’m a bit annoyed Anneka told you, to be honest. I asked her not to.’

Mum sighed. ‘You’ve got pink nails, Flo… ra; did you think I wouldn’t notice? I nagged Anneka to tell me what was going on with you until she buckled.’

‘But… when? I’ve been with you both all afternoon.’

‘Haha, you were in your own little bubble reading every single word in that Empire State Building exhibition for about an hour earlier; Anneka and I had to pass the time somehow.’

‘Oh.’

‘You should have told me you had plans, love. Anyway, I’ve checked the timings and the show I booked should be done by seven. So that should leave you plenty of time to go off on your date afterwards, okay?’

‘But what about dinner? And the big Christmas tree?’

‘We can have a nice lunch together before the show. And then me and Anneka can go to the Christmas tree without you. I forgot you already saw it when you went ice skating.’

I did some mental mathematics; I’d been due to meet Ethan at the venue at six thirty in time for the ceremony at seven. But maybe I could skip that part of the wedding and meet him a little later, in time for the speeches at the very least.

‘Are you sure that would be okay?’ I asked.

‘Flora Bell. We came here for you. We want you to do whatever it takes to end this year on a high, understood?’

I exhaled slowly, allowing a foreign sensation to take hold: excitement. I couldn’t stop a grin from spreading all over my face. ‘Okay, Mum. Thank you.’

‘Thank your sister.’

‘I will.’

I took a sip of my cocktail and let the sweet liquid linger on my tastebuds for a little longer than usual. As I swallowed, I thought about Mum’s words: