CHAPTER TWO
The courier arrived at dead on four with my passport and I breathed a sigh of relief as I signed for it.
As I popped it in my handbag, ready for the next day, I checked I had my travel money card as well. Yes, all present and correct. Then I wondered if maybe I should have ordered some currency as well. It was always useful for tips in restaurants... that kind of thing. And what about the taxi at the other end? Richard would obviously have cash but it would be nice to be able to pay my way.
I shrugged my coat on again and walked round the corner to the travel agent on Sunnybrook High Street to hopefully buy some dollars to take with me.
I couldn’t resist a quick peek in the jeweller’s window next door. The gorgeous silver bracelet I’d spotted on an earlier occasion was still there and just for a second, I pictured splashing out and treating myself so I could wear it to New York.
Of course, I knew I’d do no such thing.
My Granny Olga had taught me the importance of being thrifty right from when I was tiny, and old habits tended to die hard. It was annoying in a way because I never felt comfortable buying myself anything I considered a bit too extravagant. There was always that nagging voice in my ear telling me the money would be far better in my savings account... saving for something more sensible like a house. (Richard and I had been saving for a while now to buy our first property together.)
With a rueful smile, I took one last lingering look at the bracelet and went into the travel agent’s.
The woman behind the counter smiled when she handed the envelope over and said that New York was her favourite destination of all for a short break.
‘I got engaged there, many moons ago,’ she confided, a starry look in her eyes as she played absently with her name badge. ‘Barry took me all the way up to the top of the Empire State building and proposed right there. He got down on one knee and I said yes – of course – and everybody clapped.’
‘Oh, that’s lovely.’ I felt quite teary hearing about this woman Geraldine’s gorgeous love story.
‘I know.’ She crossed her hands over her heart. ‘Barry knew that Sleepless in Seattle was my favourite movie ever. That’s where they meet in the film, you know? At the top of the Empire State Building?’
I smiled. ‘It’s a great film. So how long have you been married?’
‘To Barry? Well, that one lasted five months.’ She grimaced. ‘The length of time it took me to realise he preferred men and I was just his cover story.’
‘Oh. Right.’
Geraldine beamed at me. ‘But I’m married to Roger now. Eight blissful years on Sunday, in fact.’
I smiled. ‘Well, happy anniversary for Sunday!’
‘Thank you.’
‘Second time lucky!’
She grinned. ‘Third, actually. In between Barry and Roger, there was a brief dalliance with a car salesman called Eric.’
‘Ah.’
She leaned across the counter and murmured, ‘After I found Barry in a highly compromising position with our next-door neighbour’s male gardener, I was so livid I chucked all his belongings onto the front lawn then I marched straight down to the local car showroom with his credit card and bought myself a sports car.’
‘Wow. And Eric showed you the car?’
‘Yes.’ She gave a mischievous grin. ‘He showed me a good deal more than that the following night.’ She shrugged. ‘I was obviously on the rebound and it would never have lasted, but we had a great time in Las Vegas.’
‘Gosh. You’ve led a really . . . interesting life.’
‘Well, you only live once. You’ve got to make the most of it, haven’t you?’
‘You’re right.’ She really was. Instead of being worried that this trip might not be all I wanted it to be, I should embrace it with gusto.
Life was for living!
With that in mind, after I left with my dollars, I paused once more outside the jeweller’s window and smiled fondly at the silver bracelet on its plush velvet cushion. The price was ridiculous. But when did I ever treat myself to anything? I worked hard and saved hard, and I deserved it! It would be lovely to wear it in New York on a special night out with Richard.
I was about to go into the shop when I realised it had closed for the day.
Turning away, I felt a strange mix of disappointment and relief. I’d have felt guilty buying it. So it was probably best that it wasn’t to be.
It also meant I’d have more money to spend in New York with Richard!
*****
On the flight over, I was still aware of a little knot of anxiety inside at what the next few days might bring.
I was so looking forward to our reunion. But what if Richard wasn’t as pleased to see me as I was to see him?
I couldn’t seem to shake the nagging little doubt I’d felt, hearing the sound of that woman’s voice in the background when I’d phoned him that time. He’d said it was the TV and I knew that logically of course I should believe him. Because Richard had never, ever given me a single reason to mistrust him. It was my problem, not his.
I prided myself on being a fairly confident and self-assured sort of person. But the separation seemed to have made me feel quite vulnerable. I’d even started to doubt if Richard really loved me, which deep down I knew was ridiculous.
Everyone knew that the first flush of romance didn’t last long. But settling into a steady relationship was even better, really. In the end, having someone who was always in your corner – a best friend as well as a lover – was far more important than romantic gestures...
I knew my occasional indecisiveness had started to irritate Richard, and he hated the soaps and romcoms I liked to watch. And by the same token, his increasing insistence on tidying up after me could drive me bananas at times. His flat had become like a show-house lately. He said now that he was working such long hours, it made life easier to keep everything in order. Mugs were whipped away to the dishwasher almost before the last swallow had been consumed and they certainly weren’t allowed to rest on a side table, even with a coaster underneath them. (Because what if the coaster ended up with a ring on it.)
These were things we laughed about because no one was perfect. Differences like this were a normal part of any good, solid relationship.
And absence, of course, made the heart grow fonder. That’s what they said, anyway. So why on earth was I worrying?
Hopefully, our reunion would banish all my silly little fears...
*****
Sure enough, as we hovered over JFK airport preparing to land, the nagging doubts melted away and were replaced by a huge surge of excitement.
I was in New York!
And Richard would be there at the arrivals gate to welcome me!
A flood of emotion coursed through me. I’d missed him so much and these few days together were really precious. We needed to make the most of them.
I recalled Geraldine and her amazing zest for life. She didn’t let worries or disappointments get her down. She simply moved on to the next adventure.
Maybe it was time I became ‘more Geraldine’?
In years to come, I’d look back on this trip with fond memories, whatever happened with Richard and me in the future. It was an adventure in hopefully a whole string of adventures that would make up my life experience.
I couldn’t wait to get off the plane and see him standing there, waiting for me...
*****
I suppose I’d been imagining the stuff of Hollywood movies.
Two lovers, their eyes meeting across a crowded airport arrivals gate, running straight into each other’s arms to be reunited at last after a protracted and anguished separation.
The reality wasn’t quite like that, of course.
But at last I was free of the endless queues at customs and immigration – and walking towards Richard and his smiling welcome.
‘Hey, you!’ He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed tightly.
I hugged him back fiercely, my eyes wet with emotion. ‘I’ve missed you,’ I murmured into the roughness of his navy winter coat.
‘Missed you, too.’ He smiled down at me and took my hand. ‘Come on. Let’s get you out of here. You must be exhausted after your journey. How was the flight?’
‘Yeah, it was fine, apart from my neighbour. He was your typical man expecting total dominance over the shared arm rest, but apart from that...’
He chuckled. ‘I hope you’re not lumping me in as a “typical man”.’
‘Never! You’re far too nice to hog a woman’s space.’
He squeezed my hand and as I smiled up at him, I felt the glorious relief of knowing that although we might currently be living on different continents, there was a lovely ease in the way we slipped right back into the old banter as if we’d never been apart.
I’d been stupid to worry. In fact... what on earth was I worrying about in the first place? I couldn’t even remember now, with Richard’s hand in mine.
Everything was going to be fine. More than fine, actually – because as we departed the airport in one of the famous yellow cabs, Richard was already outlining the most delicious-sounding plans for my first night in New York...