Page 45 of It Was Always You

He shook his head. ‘No, no, it’s not that at all. I just didn’t think you’d want to share the bed, you know?’

She shrugged. ‘Yeah, well, we used to share a bed when we were kids. It’s no different. It’s fine, as long as you don’t mind, that is.’

He grinned. ‘Nah. I’ve put up with your snoring before. I’ll just poke you or slap you if you get too loud.’

‘Me? Snore? I don’t think so, matey. I think you’ll find it’s you that turns porcine in your sleep!’

‘Yeah? We’ll see, eh?’ Adam chuckled.

The friends unpacked their belongings, rested a short while, and then made their way out onto the busy and bustling Park Avenue. They were greeted with a cacophony of car engines, sirens, aeroplanes, and loud chatter. Lily went into David Bailey mode, snapping pictures of anything and everything that stood still long enough. She had visited New York before for work but had told Adam she had never had the time to do the sightseeing, touristy part. It was almost like she was seeing the place for the first time.

Adam puffed out his cheeks as she made him pose for the hundredth time. They walked across town to the famous Bloomingdales store where Lily was like a woman possessed. Adam ended up loaded down with bags and bags of clothing, gifts, toiletries, and goodness knows what else. He just smiled. It was good to see her enjoying herself.

Eventually, both exhausted, they stumbled across a nice-looking coffee shop and collapsed into a booth. ‘I think you bought the whole of New York, Lil. You do know there’s a limited baggage allowance on the way back, don’t you? The bloody plane won’t get off the ground at this rate!’

She giggled as she looked at the mountain of purchases. ‘Whoops! I think you may be right. I may have to charter my own private jet to get home.’

He took a drink of the nectar-like coffee in his mug. ‘Jeez Louise, that’s a damn good cup o’ joe.’

His fake American accent made Lily laugh out loud. ‘Yeah… I hueard it was gooyed caawfee hea,’ she mocked in her best attempt at a Brooklyn accent, but it came out a little nasal and whiny.

He threw his head back and his shoulders shuddered as he guffawed. Coffee wasn’t quite as good when snorted. He spluttered and wiped his nose and chin. ‘Eeeuw!’

She was laughing so hard she had to stagger up from the table and make a dash for the restroom, tears rolling down her face.

That evening they sat across from one another in the beautiful restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria sharing a bottle of wine. A pianist played ‘As Time Goes By’.

Lily glanced over at Adam; he was watching a young couple who were holding hands and gazing adoringly at each other.

She reached across the table and covered his hand with hers. ‘Hey, Adders, are you okay?’

Turning his attention to her, he smiled. ‘Yeah, I’m fine, just thinking, that’s all.’

‘About Eve?’ Stupid question.

He nodded and took a drink of his wine. She could see that his eyes were a little glassy.

He set his glass down and cleared his throat. ‘Thanks for coming, Lil. I know I’m not being the best company just now.’

She shook her head. ‘Nonsense. We’re having a great time. And I know I’m not who you’d like to be here with, but I hope I’m not spoiling it too much.’

He scowled. ‘Don’t say that. It makes it sound like you’re second choice, Lil.’

She leaned and squeezed his hand again. ‘Come on, Adders, I know you’d rather be here with Eve. That’s understandable. You don’t need to feel bad.’

He sighed and closed his eyes for a few moments. ‘I just… I still can’t get my head around the fact that I’m alone, you know?’

‘You’re not alone. You have me, and your family.’

‘Yes, and I’m grateful. I just wish I still had Eve, too. I keep reading that note. The part where she said I should go kiss her. That ripped my heart to shreds.’ His voice cracked as he spoke.

‘I know. But how wonderful that you have it, eh? I’d forgotten she’d written that and put it with the tickets, or I would’ve given it to you sooner.’

He swirled the wine in his glass. ‘No, no, I think it was good to get it when I did. It was like…’ He cleared his throat. ‘It was like she was still here.’

The waiter brought their food and placed their plates down in front of them. ‘There you go, Mr and Mrs Armstrong, enjoy.’

Lily gaped open-mouthed and lifted her hand as if she was going to correct him, but Adam gestured to stop her. ‘Don’t, Lil, it’s fine. The room’s in that name. Don’t worry.’