One Winter Weekend

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

F inally, I arrived at Rockefeller Plaza.

I could see the tree as I approached, but getting up close to it was beyond words.

I titled my head back staring up mesmerised at the massive spruce right in the centre of the plaza above the ice-rink.

It was even more glorious in person. There must’ve been a million lights on it. The entire plaza was decorated for the holiday season; beautiful life-sized angels blowing trumpets, and giant painted nutcracker soldiers lined up all round.

Below on the ice rink, people were skating and full of cheer and laughter, while spectators sipped hot chocolate and ate peppermint fudge.

I sat down on nearby bench and gazed at the tree.

Its magic now seemed to only mock my sadness. I thought of Blake again, wanting to cry.

I was only kidding myself with all these distractions. It wasn’t working.

It was then, right in that moment of thinking about him that I heard a familiar voice.

“May I?”

I looked up to see Blake towering over me. He was gesturing at the space on the bench beside me.

I didn’t say anything but he sat anyway.

“Madeline, I’ve been trying to get hold of you all day. The doorman wouldn’t let me up no matter how much I pleaded with him. I tried for an hour at least,” he said.

I just looked at him and while I willed my heart to harden, I could feel my eyes watering over.

His sincere way of talking was enough to make me crack. I wanted things to be as they were before. I did not trust this man. I don’t think I trusted any man at this point.

“Why did you run off like that today?” he asked.

I could barely get the words out. My voice was shaking.

“I watched you, on the steps. Talking to that girl and then I saw you bring her back into the museum, just like we did. Is that what you do to pick up women? It works. It worked on me, I was stupid enough to fall for it, just like the girl today was.”

Blake’s eyes were wide. At first, I thought they were wide at having been caught. But then he spoke.

“Madeline, that’s not what that was — at all,” he gasped. “You’ve got it so wrong, and I’m sorry if what you saw hurt you. That’s the last thing I would ever want to do, but if you would just let me explain …”

“I don’t see the point in an explanation. I could never tell if you were lying.”

“That is true,” he said. “Would you like to meet her then?”

“Meet who?” I asked.

“The woman you saw me with earlier. That’s the only way I can prove that I’m not lying. She’s at my apartment right now,” he said.

“What? She’s in your apartment?” I repeated outraged at his brazenness.

“Yes, I couldn’t make it home for Christmas this year, so she came to the city so that I had some family around.”

“Family?”

“Yes. She’s my sister.”

My heart sank. I couldn't say why, but I believed him.

Now I felt like a complete idiot. I was kicking myself for acting so rashly earlier.

Sarah was right. The problem wasn’t this man. It was me. The breakup had left me a paranoid mess.

“I’m so sorry. I feel so stupid,” I said.

“It’s okay. Don’t be. I’m kind of glad it happened.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I wasn’t sure if you felt anything for me. When we look at each other I can feel a connection, but you haven’t said anything…about what you think or how you might feel. But seeing your reaction today … now I know for sure you feel something too. And that I might be more than just your New York Christmas guide.”

I sat in silence and processed what he had said. Perhaps I needed this to bring me to that next level.

This entire thing had been such a roller coaster.

“So, we’re okay?”

“Yes, we’re okay. And I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling stupid again.

He held my shoulders and turned me toward him.

“No need to apologise. I want you to be honest with me. I know this is crazy and we only just met, but I think we might have something here. I knew it when I saw you for the first time. You’re the best Christmas present I could have asked for. Maybe this was meant to be.”

I looked up at him, my eyes watering over. This dear sweet man was all I could ever hope for and he was pouring his heart out to me. Beneath the most magical Christmas tree in the world.

“Now, I seem to remember I promised you ice skating.”

And when a little later Blake took my hand and led me out onto the ice rink, I looked around again at the twinkling lights on the tree and the scene around us, unable to believe that I was actually here and this was really happening.

Everything felt so surreal. And impossibly romantic - almost like something from a movie.

But then the most magical thing of all happened.

Out of nowhere, it began to snow. Small perfect snowflakes fell on our faces and we laughed amongst the beauty of it all.

This New York Christmas was perfect, even better than I had imagined, more than I could have ever dreamed of.

And as Blake leaned down and kissed me, I also knew I wanted to experience it over and over again.