Falling in Love in New York

by HILL, MELISSA

  Yet now Abby realised that much of their time together had been all about trying to please Kieran and keep him happy, which was simply impossible, as he was a man who never could be pleased. The moods and sulks, not to mention the unpredictable temper, she thought shifting uncomfortably in her seat–it hadn’t been right, had it? And while she’d love to be able to say that Jessica was welcome to him, she couldn’t bring herself to believe that just yet.

  But what she did know was that as much as her mother was hurting now, as much as Teresa was grieving, she was grieving for a love that had been mutual, honest, and enduring.

  And Abby had never experienced a love like that.

  Chapter 23

  A week or so after her return from Italy, Abby thought again about going back to work. It was now six months since her accident, and in that time she’d done some amazing things–some she’d always wanted to do, and others that she hadn’t, but one way or another they’d all played a part in enriching her life in ways she could never have anticipated.

  Her list had helped her formulate some fantastic experiences and memories, and there was no doubt that in the process she had become much, much closer to her family. She was grateful for the huge effort they and Erin had gone to in helping her through the worst of it, and realised just how important they were to her and how lucky she was to have them in her life.

  But perhaps, best of all, she’d finally begun to really start getting over Kieran and putting the hurt of his betrayal behind her, and although she couldn’t say she’d completely forgotten him or everything he’d done, she now knew that she was capable of moving on without him.

  And seeing as she hadn’t had any major lapses or blips or indeed any recent sign of memory deterioration recently, it also looked to Abby as though her plan to fight the damage was working, despite what the doctors seemed to think.

  “We’ll just have to wait and see,” Hannah trotted out her usual mantra at their most recent session. “With these things, you just never know.”

  But the idea of going back to work, back to some form of normality, was especially heartening and the day before she’d given Frank Duffy a call and asked for a meeting.

  It had been ages since she’d set foot in Duffy Masterson and although Frank had been some way amenable to the idea of her return when she’d phoned he naturally enough, she supposed, had a few reservations about her abilities. A detailed report from Hannah about how the nature of her injury should not affect the part of her brain responsible for mathematics and logic should sufficiently allay these worries, although Abby knew that if he did let her come back, her performance would no doubt be under the spotlight for a while.

  But that was the way things were going to be from now on, Abby realised. Everything she said and did would be assessed and examined closely for signs of anything out of the ordinary. She should be used to it at this stage!

  So, on a sunny morning in late May, Abby returned to the accountancy firm to meet her boss and discuss with him the idea of returning to work and she hoped, take the next logical step in reclaiming her life.

  The meeting went reasonably well, all her old colleagues greeted her enthusiastically upon her arrival at the office, but for some reason in person Frank seemed much more reluctant about having her back than he’d been on the phone.

  “I’m just not sure Abby,” he said. “This business can be very stressful as you well know.”

  “I know but instead of being reassigned to my usual clients, maybe I could start by working on some of the smaller stuff?”

  By this she meant the easier, more straightforward accounts, clients that were usually pawned off on newer staff or trainees and which under normal circumstances an experienced accountant like Abby could do in her sleep. She supposed she couldn’t blame Frank for being wary – until she’d proved herself up to the task she herself couldn’t be sure how she would perform, so a test of her brain’s ability would be welcome in more ways than one.

  “Abby love, I’m sure you’d be fine with the numbers and all that, but it’s only been six months and the doctors recommended at least a year, didn’t they?”

  “I know, but Frank, I’m going out of my mind at home with nothing to do all day.” Granted what with having to first come to terms with the injury and then complete the list she’d had plenty to keep her occupied for the last while, but now that she’d come back down to earth, Abby was bored.

  “Look, why don’t you have another chat with the doctors then, see what they think?” he said, and Abby knew her boss was giving her the brush-off. Blast Hannah for insisting on the full year off, surely she knew that keeping her mind occupied could only be good for her brain?

  “OK,” Abby replied, her disappointment almost palpable.

  Frank looked guilty. “I’m sorry,” he said again. “Believe me, I’d like nothing better than to have you back, but at the same time I don’t want to be responsible for … well you know … for anything going wrong.”

  “Fair enough.” She supposed she could appreciate his position; after all if anything did happen he’d never be able to forgive himself, or perhaps more importantly his solicitor would never be able to forgive him! Still, it was disheartening to think that people were still suspicious of her capabilities, even though she’d proved time and time again both to herself and everyone else, that she was fine.

  “Well if you don’t mind my saying so, I think that old bump on the head might have done you a bit of good actually,” Frank joked, when Abby eventually agreed with his reasoning. “You seem a lot more relaxed and certainly much smilier these days!”

  It was true she thought, while she’d always worked diligently, before the accident (and particularly following the break-up) she was quiet and reserved and tended not to mix with her work colleagues all that much.

  “Ah, don’t mind me,” Frank back-pedalled, obviously worried he’d overstepped the mark. “I was only joking, I know you’re had a terrible hard time of it altogether.”

  Abby shook her head. “In all honesty, you’re not the first person to think that and there’s probably a bit of truth in it. Before the accident, I know I probably wasn’t the most fun person to have in the office.” She smiled. “If anything, the bump on the head taught me that I shouldn’t take life so seriously, so yeah, maybe it has done me some good.”

  “Still, I hear there could still be some … some more side effects?” he ventured, his tone gentle.

  “Yes, but you know what these doctors are like–always concentrating on the negative.”

  “I surely do,” her boss agreed vehemently. “Sure, I remember one time, they brought me into hospital to get a verucca removed, put me under the anaesthetic and everything, and when I woke up they told me that they couldn’t find it! Can you believe it? With all their fancy diplomas they didn’t think to check if bloody thing had gone away by itself before carting me off to theatre? And I falling down with the hunger from fasting the day before! What kind of a health service do we have at all, I wonder? Sure for all they know, that bump could have done you no harm at all.” He grinned. “I certainly don’t see anything wrong with you anyway.”

  Exactly! Abby thought pleased that someone else was finally coming round to her way of thinking.

  “So come back to me in a few months time and we’ll see how you are then, how does that sound?” Frank said, giving her the elbow once and for all.

  “OK then,” Abby agreed with a sigh, wishing that everyone would just try and have a little more faith.

  As it was a gorgeous sunny day and warm for this time of year, after leaving Frank Abby decided to venture down town for lunch, the office being only a two-minute walk from Grafton Street.

  She grabbed a takeaway coffee and bagel on the way, having had the bright idea to go into Stephen’s Green and have her lunch in the park; she and about a hundred others, she thought ruefully upon arrival. Office workers, young mothers and various other people were sitting on benches, on the edge of the fountain
s or strewn out over the grass, all trying to make the most of the rare sunshine.

  She was just about to choose a suitable patch of grass to sit upon when at the last minute she spotted an elderly couple vacating a wooden bench nearby.

  Glad of the opportunity to eat her lunch in comfort, Abby quickened her pace and was just about to claim the seat when she spotted a blind man and his guide dog about to do the same thing. Hesitating quickly at the sight of the dog, she allowed him claim the seat instead.

  “You’re welcome to sit here too, there’s plenty of room,” the man offered, evidently sensing her presence, or perhaps he was only partially blind?

  Slightly thrown, Abby wasn’t sure what to do. “No, it’s fine,” she began protesting, not at all comfortable in the dog’s proximity, although this one seemed quiet enough. Then again those dogs had to be, didn’t they?

  “It’s OK, I can always sit on the …” Then her voice trailed off when she realised the man was looking at her strangely. And yes, he was definitely looking right at her, not just in her direction or straining to make her out, he was looking at her and he was smiling.

  “Well hello again,” he said, with a broad grin. “Fancy bumping into you here!”

  He seemed so convinced he recognised her that Abby wasn’t sure how to break it to the poor man that she’d never seen him in her entire life, let alone knew him. It was obvious he’d mistaken her for someone else, what with him being blind and all, she reasoned uncomfortably. God this was awful, how could she tell the guy that he’d made a mistake? The last thing she wanted was to embarrass him in public like this, especially when the couple alongside them on the bench were very obviously ear wigging!

  “Um, I’m really sorry,” Abby began, mortified to have to say this, “but I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. It’s understandable, of course … I mean … it’s not your fault and…” she babbled on, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her.

  But at this, the man started to laugh. “Oh God, sorry, no wonder … this isn’t a… I’m not blind or anything,” he said, indicating the Labrador, who looked up and dutifully wagged its tail.

  Abby frowned, confused “You’re not?”

  “No, not at all. This isn’t my guide dog, well she is mine but,” he broke off, shaking his head. “Sorry I can see why you’re confused. There’s nothing wrong with my eyesight and,” his voice dropped to a whisper and he looked sideways at the other couple who were now getting up to leave, “she’s not actually a guide dog.”

  He grinned mischievously and again Abby was struck by the familiar way in which he spoke to her, clearly convinced they had somehow met before.

  But had they? Abby didn’t think so. He was very good looking with his dark brown hair and even darker eyes, and she was certain she would have remembered if….

  Then all of a sudden, her heart skipped a beat, and a trickle of fear began to make its way up along her spine.

  “I’m sorry, where did you say you knew me from?” she asked, somehow managing to find her voice.

  “Well New York of course,” he replied, as if this was a stupid question. “On Christmas Eve? We met in Central Park when the squirrels made away with your sandwich ...”

  At this, something niggled in the corner of Abby’s mind–something she couldn’t quite get a handle on. But when there was no immediate recognition on her part, the man went on. “I spent the afternoon showing you round the city, we did the whispering thing in Grand Central Station and went up to the Rockefeller Centre, the Top of the Rock? Don’t tell me you can’t remember?”

  Heart hammering, Abby wracked her brain, trying furiously to figure out where all of this was coming from. She remembered being in New York of course–remembered staying with Claire and Zach and baby Caitlyn in their apartment. And she remembered the family having a really nice Christmas together and going to St Patrick’s Cathedral for Midnight Mass but that was about it. She certainly had no recollection of meeting some strange guy any time throughout her visit, let alone spending an afternoon with him on Christmas Eve. So clearly he must be mistaking her for someone else and–

  “Abby?” he said then, and at the mention of her name, suddenly her entire world began to spin, as she realised without a shadow of doubt that this guy really did in fact know her, and couldn’t possibly have mistaken her for someone else. Which could only mean …

  “Abby? Are you all right? Bloody hell, you’ve gone as white as a sheet!”

  Those were the last words Abby heard before her head filled up with stars, and the world suddenly went black.

  The day had started reasonably well for Finn. The weather was warm, the skies clear and bright and as today was his day off he’d decided to head into town for a while, taking Lucy along for company.

  The two of them had taken the bus right into the centre of the city, Finn preferring to leave the jeep at home, and had disembarked at O’Connell St. Despite the crowds on one of the busiest thoroughfares in the country Lucy weaved through the throng of tourists and shoppers, negotiating their route with practised ease. Finn was gratified that she hadn’t forgotten any of her previous training. Then again, once a guide dog always a guide dog, he supposed and speaking of which…

  Finn reached into the rucksack he carried with him and strapped a visibility vest onto Lucy’s back, a cheeky little trick of his that ensured the two of them got access to every public amenity and retail premises in the city.

  OK, so he knew he was being incredibly brazen and more than a little dishonest, but it was almost lunchtime, and it wasn’t fair to leave poor Lucy tied up outside alone while he ate–particularly not when she was used to going into these places, and knew exactly how to behave. So while the easygoing bus driver hadn’t batted an eyelid when he’d boarded with a dog in Balbriggan, Finn knew that the owners and managers of most city centre establishments wouldn’t be too pleased to allow him access unless Lucy looked to be a working dog.

  Having enjoyed a hearty fry-up in one of his favourite café’s, he and Lucy eventually continued walking across O’Connell Bridge and onwards to Grafton Street, another hugely crowded area, which with its multitude of determined shoppers and noisy buskers could test the patience of most humans, never mind retired guide dogs! But yet again, Lucy was totally at ease with at all.

  “Good girl!” Finn praised, proffering a treat when they eventually reached the gates of the Green.

  The dog wagged and munched enthusiastically on her snack before almost instinctively standing to attention and awaiting her next instructions. Finn shook his head in silent awe realising that poor old Lucy was still a long way off getting used to retirement, if ever.

  “OK, let’s go inside then,” he said, thinking it might be nice to sit for a while and just watch the world go by.

  Lucy dutifully led him into the park, across the low stone bridge above the duck pond, and out towards the main seating area where there were lots of people sitting on the grass and park benches, reading newspapers, drinking takeaway coffees and idly watching the world go by. Here, Lucy attracted considerable attention, with many people turning to look and smile in their direction as they passed.

  “Not much chance of a seat around here, is there, girl?” Finn murmured, glancing around in the hope of spotting a vacant bench.

  Then, just as he was about to give up, he saw a couple preparing to leave the bench closest to him. He and Lucy quickly went to claim the vacant seat at exactly the same time as a fair-haired woman coming in the other direction.

  “You’re welcome to sit here too, there’s plenty of space,” he said, when the woman stepped back to let him take it.

  “No it’s fine …”

  Finn looked up quickly, instantly recognising her voice. It couldn’t be … could it? he wondered, trying to get a better look at her face beneath the mane of mid-length curly blonde hair. But even this was more than enough for him to decide that yes, it was exactly who he’d thought.

  “Well hello again,�
� he said, smiling broadly. “Fancy bumping into you here!”

  The woman looked at Finn and to his immense embarrassment, didn’t seem to register any recognition whatsoever, so much so that for a brief second he worried that he’d made a really stupid mistake. But no, it definitely was her; Finn would recognise those huge innocent-looking eyes anywhere. But how did she not recognise him? He hadn’t changed that much since, had he? OK, so today he might be dressed a bit shabbier and was in badly need of a shave but …

  Then realising that she was staring uncomfortably at Lucy, he understood. Of course! Finn started to laugh before trying to explain about the dog and the fact that he wasn’t at all blind. But still the girl seemed genuinely confused that he could possibly know her, despite the fact that the two of them had spent the best part of Christmas Eve wandering around Manhattan seeing the sights and having a laugh. How could she have forgotten that so soon? Unless this wasn’t her at all, maybe she had an identical twin or something?

  But when Finn tried to jog her memory about how they’d met in Central Park when a squirrel stole her sandwich, something very strange happened.

  The girl (Abby, he remembered) suddenly looked frightened out of her wits, almost as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. Stupidly, Finn wondered if she was some kind of criminal and he’d accidentally blown her cover or something. There certainly didn’t seem to be any other reasonable explanation for her to not recognise him.

  “Abby? Are you OK?” he asked, and then to Finn’s complete and utter astonishment the poor girl out-and-out fainted right in front of his eyes.

  Chapter 24

  Abby opened her eyes, feeling something wet and cold on her face. She sat up quickly, wondering how on earth she’d ended up lying on the ground like this, and why a huge, scary-looking dog was resting alongside her, watching her intently.