by Mandy Baggot
‘I … don’t know if posting photos of me in New York is going to make Dan change his mind about me,’ Lara admitted.
He wanted to ask why, but he sensed her reverie. He stayed quiet.
‘Well …’ She swallowed, as if speaking was tearing at her heart. ‘I told you he changed his Facebook relationship status to “single”.’
‘Lara,’ Seth said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She inched herself back, resting her weight against the barricade.
She shook her head, but he caught the tears in her eyes. ‘Well, he’s also going to Scotland for Christmas with friends and another woman and … I don’t know what I did wrong.’
He put his hand back on her shoulder, firmly, he hoped, comfortingly. ‘Listen, I know I don’t know the situation, but why do you think you did something wrong?’
‘Because that’s what always happens to me,’ Lara said. ‘I gave my guinea pigs potato peelings because I didn’t know they couldn’t eat them and they died. I moaned that Bill in the office didn’t make tea often enough and two days later he handed in his resignation and my dad was stuck with no help at one of our busiest times of the year. And my mum … my mum probably left because I always wanted to wear army combats and jeans and not party dresses and tights!’
She was practically hyperventilating, and Seth turned her slightly, putting a second hand on her other shoulder. ‘Hey, breathe …’
‘Everyone always leaves me,’ Lara said. ‘That’s why I have to stay in Appleshaw, with Aldo and my dad. Because they rely on me and I’m not going to be the one that leaves like everyone else.’
‘Lara, stop,’ Seth said.
‘Now Dan is gone too, and I don’t know why I’m trying to cling on. If he doesn’t want me then I should just let him go. He can join the rest of the list of people that have left me.’
‘Lara, don’t.’
‘And I don’t even know why I’m telling you all this. I don’t tell anyone this. I’m Lara Weeks, unafraid of anything, kicking ass on a daily basis, climbing up trees rescuing zoo animals and—’
‘Crossing the Atlantic to meet with me,’ Seth interrupted.
‘Yes, totally that and I completely apologise for it.’
‘I don’t want you to,’ Seth said, one hand coming off her shoulder and going to her hair. He so wanted to touch her hair, but his hand hovered in mid-air, unsure. ‘Lara, I’m having the best time, the coolest time I’ve had in a long time, and given that I’ve just discovered my mom is a homeless prostitute that’s quite something.’
‘You are?’
He nodded, heart palpitating a rough rhythm. He swallowed and put his hovering hand back down on her shoulder. ‘I like a girl in jeans and combats.’
‘You’re just saying that,’ Lara said with a laugh. ‘Just to make me feel better.’
‘I promise, I’m not.’ He looked into her eyes. ‘Listen, I’m gonna take you and Susie to Bryant Park tomorrow. There’s the best Christmas market and ice skating and … do not wear tights under any circumstances. It’s definitely a jeans and boots excursion.’
‘Seth, what I said about the photos and Dan, it’s …’ Lara began.
‘You’re tired of me already. I knew it,’ Seth said, letting her go and folding his arms across his chest.
‘What you did, replying to me on Twitter, caring to bother … it was a really sweet, lovely thing to do.’
Now his stomach juices started to curdle a little. He hadn’t been sweet and lovely, Trent had. And it had only been one tweet – a cheesy TV line. But it had obviously meant a great deal to her.
‘Let me take you and Susie to Bryant Park tomorrow,’ Seth jumped in quickly. ‘Let’s take lots of photos of everything NYC has to offer and it’s up to you if you post any to social-media channels or not.’
‘I know I said I wasn’t a fan of shopping, but I do love a Christmas market,’ Lara admitted.
‘Then it’s a d—’ Seth stopped himself from saying the word ‘date’. ‘A deal,’ he concluded.
‘A deal,’ she repeated with a smile.
Thirty-One
Seth Hunt and Trent Davenport’s apartment, West Village
‘Good, you’re up!’ Trent clapped his hands together as he entered the kitchen.
Seth had been awake for a few hours, mind churning over everything that had happened over the past few days. His birth mom, the two baby hats, the impromptu audition at Cafe Cluny, and … Lara. He had thought rather too much about Lara. More than he should have and nothing in the realms of platonic. In the end he’d got up, dressed in sweats and gone running before the city fully came to life. Christmas had been in abundance, decorated spruces pinned to hotel frontages, strings of lights hanging from every lamppost and structure, the scent of sweet gingery spice in the air. The streets had been crunchy with snow, the sidewalks frosted like icing on a cake and working his body through exercise in the fresh morning air had been invigorating.
‘Yeah, I’ve been for a run and then I’m going to Bryant Park.’
‘When?’ Trent asked, grabbing the orange juice Seth had just removed from the fridge out of his hands.
‘This morning. Ten.’
‘Oh no, no, no. I’ve got plans for you,’ Trent told him. ‘You’re opening up a winter wonderland near Washington Square.’
‘What?’ Seth exclaimed. ‘Today? When? And how come this is the first I’ve heard of it?’
‘Well … they wanted a famous doctor and David Tennant couldn’t make it.’ Trent unscrewed the cap on the juice and drank straight from the bottle.
‘You mean they wanted anyone who could make it and you suggested me. It’s not got anything to do with your friend Carlson again, has it?’
‘Seriously, Seth, do you not think I learned my lesson after the peanut butter incident?’
‘It is him, isn’t it!’ Seth exclaimed, taking back the orange juice.
‘No,’ Trent insisted.
‘Trent!’
‘OK, yes, but I owe him a favour. He did a good deal for my sister on a car she desperately needed because the school her kid goes to now is in the middle of Nowheres-ville, and this is a new venture for him.’
‘It’s his winter wonderland?’ Seth asked. ‘Is it gonna be just a car lot with spray snow over the merchandise?’
‘The exact details of the wonder in the wonderland are sketchy, but he’s got the press coming and there are definitely reindeer for the kids to pet and you’re one of the new Stand for Wildlife ambassadors, and my best friend so …’
‘God, Trent!’ Seth exclaimed. ‘I’m not sure making you my agent was my best move.’
Trent gasped, putting his hand to his chest. ‘I’m wounded. You’ve Nerf-gunned me right here.’ He thumped his chest.
There was no way he was going to let Lara down. Bryant Park had been his suggestion and … he really wanted to see her. He had friended her on Facebook last night for two reasons. Firstly so, if she wanted to, she could tag him in any photos they created and secondly because he really wanted to look at her profile. Except she had yet to accept. And that search bar had been blinking at him for another reason … suggesting he inputted his birth mother’s name. He had got as far as typing ‘Candice’ and then backed out.
‘I met Toby Jackson at Cafe Cluny last night,’ Seth told Trent, pouring himself a glass of juice then handing the plastic bottle back to his friend.
‘You did? How did it go?’
Seth smiled as he remembered his ‘performance’ in the French restaurant. How he had become the character of Sam and how much Lara had loved it.
‘He told me to come to call-back,’ Seth said.
‘Oh, my freaking God! No way! That is awesome!’ Trent held his hand up to be high-fived and Seth obliged. ‘That’s what I’m talking about! You and me, the dream team, huh?’
‘Well …’
‘OK, so I’ve got some finishing bits to do on my nut commercial this morning, but I will try and meet you at Carlson’s Christmas World a
t twelve. It’ll be easy. Just say a few words, cut a ribbon, stroke a reindeer and you’re out of there.’
‘Carlson’s Christmas World?’ Seth said, shaking his head.
‘Carlson’s Christmas World today, lead role in a Universal picture tomorrow. This season is gonna be epic.’
Thirty-Two
Bryant Park
‘I will not be ice skating,’ David announced, shifting from one foot to the other as they stood outside the large area given over to what seemed like hundreds of glass chalets filled with Christmas wares. A large golden tree dominated the scene. It was like someone had parted the hard steel skyscrapers and inserted a little piece of village into the mix. It was somewhat more streamlined than the higgledy-piggledy stalls at Appleshaw events but it all still looked highly seasonal, with an added New York touch.
‘Why not?’ Susie asked. She put her arm through his and hugged him close. ‘You love to dance. We could pretend we’re Torvill and Dean doing a sexy rumba.’
‘Dancing is fluid,’ David said. ‘Unless you are a professional ice skater, trying to move fluidly and fluently with metal knives on your feet is never going to happen.’
‘Ah,’ Lara said. ‘But, if you don’t ever practise then how can you become professional?’
‘Lara, there are some things in life that you’re born to do and there are other things you realise you will never be skilled at.’ He shook his head, flakes of snow displacing. ‘Like me with hair styling.’
‘Oh, David, I actually think you’re very good at cutting hair no matter what anyone else says,’ Lara joked.
David opened and closed his mouth, inhaling snowflakes and looking distraught.
‘David, that’s just Lara’s idea of a joke,’ Susie said. ‘Actually, she was just saying last night, when I told her about the woman with the hairpiece shaped like a Christmas star, that she fancies a change. And I thought, instead of me giving her a hair makeover, perhaps you could do it.’ Susie smiled. ‘Who wouldn’t want their hair styled by someone who looks after a prince?’
‘Lara,’ David said, sliding into her space, a look of pure joy in his eyes. ‘I make you look like Angelina Jolie.’
‘I think that might be a little ambitious,’ Lara replied. ‘Considering her hair is long and she’s beautiful and—’
‘We can extend!’ David said, his fingers in her hair, pulling a little.
‘Ow!’ Lara stated. ‘That hurts!’
‘It was all about the new weave last night at the show, wasn’t it, David?’ Susie remarked, nodding.
‘Before new technologies, the hair pieces resemble the backside of a dirty racoon,’ David said knowingly. ‘This might be OK if you are my great-aunt Luciana, but if you are not then …’
‘I’ve heard enough!’ Lara announced. ‘Please, Susie, get the crazy cutter out of my follicles!’
‘Hey,’ Seth said.
Lara spun around. ‘Oh, thank God, someone sane! Help me, the mad hairdressers are trying to get me to sign up to extensions and new looks I’m really not sure about.’
‘Well, hello,’ David said, giving Seth an approving look up and down. ‘I don’t believe we’ve met this side of a TV screen.’
‘David, this is Seth. Seth, this is my boyfriend, David,’ Susie said.
‘It’s really good to meet you,’ Seth said, holding out his hand.
‘You too, Ese.’ David shook his hand then looked deep into his eyes. ‘Have you thought about turning blond?’
‘Er, no. I mean, unless it was for a role.’
‘Step away, David,’ Susie ordered. ‘Give the man back his hand and come and let me choose what you can buy me for Christmas.’
Susie tugged at David’s coat sleeve and pulled him towards the entrance to the market.
‘So,’ Lara said, smiling at Seth. ‘What’s the best thing about this market? I’m thinking there’s got to be some great food stalls.’
‘There are,’ Seth admitted. ‘But, listen, before we go in, I have to leave in a couple hours, earlier than I thought. Trent has promised my services to one of his friends and basically, well, I have to open a real bad-sounding winter wonderland.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, really. Sorry.’
‘Don’t be sorry, it sounds like fun and I’ll probably be bored of shopping by then.’
‘You wanna come?’ Seth asked her, surprised.
‘I can’t think of anything more fun than a bad-sounding winter wonderland.’
‘Cool,’ Seth replied. ‘Great. Carlson will really appreciate your support and you may even get a car bumper sticker.’
‘A Christmas gift for Tina! Result.’ Lara smiled. ‘Come on, before those two start buying me hair.’
The air was thick with so many fragrances – chilli, mace, sweet candy, butterscotch, chocolate, ginger – and carols and festive songs rose up from every corner. Seth remembered coming here with his parents, buying gifts and donating to the various charity buckets. He’d eaten bagels as big as his head and met Santa. He wondered if that would have all happened if his birth mother hadn’t given him up. Knowing who she was had definitely made him start second-guessing quite a bit.
But, the real highlight was watching Lara take in the Christmas market. She’d baulked at yoga wear and fluffy angora sweaters and had tried on a wide solid silver necklace that she claimed cut off her air supply. Then she had toyed with the idea of getting her dad a jar of garlic pickles from Pickle Me Pete. The way she looked at things was so singular. Everything was regarded in so many ways, making it more of an experience than just a product. For him it was like seeing the whole world through fresh eyes. And now, finally, before he had to think about leaving for Washington Square, they were at the edge of the ice rink preparing for skating. David and Susie were still getting boots to fit after David complained that nothing felt quite right. Seth wasn’t sure either of the hair stylists were going to get on the ice at all.
‘You’ve skated before, right?’ Seth asked her, over the sound of Christmas music and the swish of experienced skaters’ blades.
‘I will give anything a try,’ Lara answered, stepping forward.
‘Wait! What?’ Seth exclaimed. ‘You can’t just go and step out on the ice like that if you’ve not skated before.’
‘Why not?’ Lara asked.
‘Well, it’s, you know … not that easy.’
‘You mean you think I can’t do it.’
‘I would never say that.’
‘Hmm, your mouth is moving and the words are coming out but I’m not sure I believe you.’ She went to step off onto the rink again.
‘Lara, seriously, you’re gonna give me a heart attack if you just step out like that,’ Seth said, taking hold of her arm.
‘What’s this?’ Lara exclaimed. ‘Getting all controlling? Perhaps they should have given you the Christian Grey role.’
‘Very funny,’ he answered. ‘But, be serious, the first time … it’s harder than you think.’
Lara closed her eyes and grimaced. ‘I almost feel like I’m having the sex ed talk at school again.’
‘And I feel like if I let you stride on out there I’m gonna be taking you to the ER.’
‘I don’t know which part worries me the most. The bit where you said if you “let” me, or your concern about the ER when you are a virtual doctor.’
‘Please, take it slow.’
‘Well, slow or not, I’m not going to be able to find out what it’s like unless you get off me.’
‘You could hold on to me,’ Seth suggested.
‘Like a five-year-old?’
‘Most five-year-olds here skate better than I do.’
‘I’m going on now,’ Lara said, picking his hand up from her arm and getting ready to step off the firm ground.
‘Lara! Lara, wait!’ His calls were in vain as she stepped off onto the ice. But, after a few tentative slips and slides and a little arm flailing, she righted herself, found her balance and began moving across
the rink almost confidently. He pushed off, his ability taking a few metres of rink before it kicked back in.
‘Are you like this with everything?’ Seth asked, skating up alongside her.
‘Like what?’ Lara replied.
‘So confident. So unafraid.’
‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, doesn’t it?’
‘So, they say,’ Seth answered. ‘But not everyone is brave enough to live their life like that.’
‘I’m not like that with everything,’ Lara admitted. ‘Practical things like this, like climbing trees and avoiding carnage in my truck at the advent parade, they’re all about belief in your own ability. I don’t doubt my ability to do things.’
‘And you should definitely keep going with that.’
‘I just doubt everyone around me,’ Lara admitted. ‘No, that’s unfair, not everyone, not my dad or Aldo or Susie or Mrs Fitch – although she did go a bit weird when she was on the wrong medication – and I thought not Dan but …’
‘You keep your circle close and your world tight because …’ Seth began as they got to the first corner of the rink.
‘Because if you trust too much you’ll only be let down. That’s why I never had a proper boyfriend before Dan. The tom-boy-who-drives-a-truck-and-drinks-beer-and-lives-in-a-barn novelty tends to wear off as soon as they meet my almost-brother. Plus, I’m very picky.’
‘But if you lose your faith in human nature and never step outside of your comfort zone with it, then …’
Seth watched her lift one skate off the floor and balance precariously on the other skate. ‘I’m out of my comfort zone. I’m skating on one leg in New York City when I’ve never been out of England before. I got up close and personal with a lemur on my very first day here and I ate sausages in a garden in the snow and last night I sucked Mussolini … wait, no, definitely not that … I ate mousseline and chicken in a great French restaurant and watched this amazing actor perform something special just for me.’
She slid effortlessly over the ice, elevated leg stretching out behind her now as she grew in confidence. Shivers spiked down his spine. The novelty of her, as she had called it, was only strengthening in his mind. Then she turned, slipping a little before laughing and making a grab for his arms.