The day ended with a small slice of the chocolate dessert along with coffee or tea. Blake and his father also shared what I guessed were spiked glasses of eggnog.
“Merry Christmas,” Blake said as he hugged Mara and I before seeing us down the elevator to the street where a cab was waiting to take us back to SoHo. “What’s your phone number, Anna Louise? Maybe I’ll give you a call one day soon. We can talk pianos and maybe play a duet or two.”
“I’d like that, Blake. Thank you for a wonderful Christmas.” I gave him my number as he entered it into his phone. I thought about what a far cry this day had been compared to what Christmas in Wisteria with my family would’ve been like.
Mara raised an eyebrow as we climbed into the cab. “Blake must like you. I’ve never known him to date much. Always too busy with his studies and concerts.”
“Do you think I dare tell him he’s the reason I’m taking lessons and writing music?”
“Maybe over dinner sometime, but not right away,” Mara replied.
“Your family is so kind and considerate. I always liked coming to your house growing up.”
“They are great parents,” Mara replied. “I feel so bad about how your mother treated you, but you’re free now and doing amazing things with your life. You’ll make it, Anna Louise.”
“Thanks, Mara. You’re the best friend anyone could ever have.”
“So are you, Anna Louise.”
~ ~ ~
Even though I’d enjoyed spending Christmas Day with the Holbrooks and treasured the gifts I’d received, I thought about Savannah spending the holiday in the hospital alone. As I changed out of the dress I’d worn to Blake’s and into my jeans and a sweater, I asked Mara, “Would you like to go with me to visit Savannah in the hospital? She’s probably all alone. I bought a gift I’d like to take to her.”
“Of course. I haven’t seen her since the Christmas festivities at the hospital. I know you have. How is she doing?”
“She seems to be doing better, but a lot of things still scare her. Beth and Ashley spend as much time with her as they can too. Savannah and Ashley are becoming friends.”
“Ashley is so caring. She may be the one to get Savannah to talk about herself and her family. Is Savannah’s arm still in a cast?”
“She’s still in a cast, but I think she’ll be able to navigate what I bought her. I’ll grab the present, then we can head to the hospital.”
“I’m going to text Daniel about where we’re going. He’s coming by later so we can exchange gifts.”
“Can I ask what you bought Daniel?” I questioned, retrieving Savannah’s gift from my room.
As Mara slipped into her dark-purple down jacket, she said, “Don’t laugh, but I bought this big popcorn bucket and filled it with bags of his favorite sweet treats, a package of combs, a bottle of good smelling shampoo, a gift certificate to Bloomingdale’s, two tickets to a Broadway show, and a booklet of car wash tickets. He takes me everywhere and I thought maybe I could at least wash his car for him.”
“That’s a great gift, Mara. Daniel will love it.” The cab pulled up and we climbed in. “Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital,” I said to the driver.
At the hospital, I paid the cabbie as Mara and I walked up the sidewalk and into the hospital. Savannah was watching a kids’ show on television as we came into her room. “Merry Christmas, Savannah,” I said. “I have something for you. Hope you like it.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking closely at the gift wrap covered with lots of different frolicking snowmen. “They look like Frosty the Snowman.”
“They do, don’t they?” Mara said. “Hi, Savannah. It’s good to see you again. Do you remember me doing all of the face paintings at the Christmas festivities not long ago?”
“I remember you. You’re Anna Louise’s friend.”
“And roommate, but don’t tell anyone, okay?”
Savannah smiled at Mara and started to open her present. I’d bought her a purple kid’s computer tablet so she could play games and learn how to do some other things on it, too. I had checked with the hospital to be sure they had Wi-Fi so Savannah would be able to use her tablet right away. Her eyes grew huge when she saw what it was. “I’ll set it up for you, if that would help.”
“Yes. I wouldn’t know what to do.” Before long, we had it running, then she picked out her favorite game she’d played on my phone coming to New York. “This is awesome. Thank you, Anna Louise.”
“You’re welcome, Savannah.” I hugged her tight. “Do you know when you’ll be leaving the hospital and where you might be going?”
“I don’t know when, but Ashley said the other day she’d like to take me home with her. Wait until she sees my tablet. She and I can play together.”
“It sounds like you and Ashley are becoming good friends. Is that right?” I asked.
“I’ve never had a friend, but I think Ashley is my new friend.”
I gazed over at Mara and she looked back at me. I could tell Mara’s heart was breaking as much as mine was. “Mara and I have to go home now, but I’ll be back to see you soon. I’ll play one of the games with you when I return.”
“That would be fun. Like we did on the bus.”
“Exactly. You get well in the meantime,” I said, giving her another big hug.
Mara hugged her too. “I’m glad I got to see you again. Get well soon.”
Back in the cab, Mara said, “That was the perfect gift for Savannah. I could tell she loves playing games.”
“Thanks, Mara. I wasn’t sure if I should get her a tablet or not. But I think it will help her make friends while she’s still in the hospital. Kids love to play games.”
“Big kids, too.” Mara laughed.
“I’ve never mentioned this, but Savannah’s mom reminded me so much of my own mom when I saw her treating Savannah badly on the bus. I knew I needed to reach out to Savannah or it was going to be an awfully long ride, and when I found out they were going to be getting off at the same stop in Manhattan, I was glad Savannah was sitting with me and not her mom.”
“It’s so hard for me to understand that kind of treatment, having the loving parents I do,” Mara replied. “Why would anyone want to harm their own child?”
“Anger and poverty are two reasons I can think of right off the top of my head. My mother is an angry person and I think Savannah and her mom lived in a kind of poverty we can’t even imagine.”
“I guess that’s why we celebrate Christmas every year,” Mara said. “There’s a reason you and Savannah were brought together when you were. Merry Christmas, Anna Louise.”
“Merry Christmas, Mara.”
Chapter 9
As the alarm went off the next morning, I jumped out of bed and dressed for work. I peeked into Mara’s room before leaving. There she was, all curled up in a little ball, sound asleep. She and Daniel planned to go to New York University today so she could get enrolled in classes for the upcoming semester. They’d both be going to NYU. Daniel would swing by and pick her up in the mornings, but she’d probably have to take a cab home most afternoons. As I was about to go out the door, I noticed that Mara’s new easel, canvases, and paints had somehow taken up residence in our dining room. I smiled, thinking how much I loved seeing her paintings come alive as she worked away on them. I envied her talent and creativity, but knew that writing music and playing the piano were my forte. And, with any luck at all, Mara’s brother, Blake, would become a friend and fellow pianist.
Thomas had his head in the computer when I slipped in the back door and walked out into the store. “Good morning, Thomas. Hope you had a nice Christmas with your family.”
“Good morning, Anna Louise.”
He didn’t look up, but when I stepped into his office, I could see the moisture in his eyes. “Oh, T
homas. This had to be a hard Christmas without Mr. Cutler.” I gave him a little hug.
“The hardest. He’d played Santa Claus to my children ever since they were young, but this year there was no Santa Claus. Everyone was sad, but we made it through as a family.”
“I’m so sorry. I don’t want to add to your sadness, but I’d like you to see what Mara gave me for Christmas. Would it be okay if I set it on the desk by the phone?”
Thomas looked at the black and white portrait of Mr. Cutler and me in front of a baby grand piano and began to smile as his dad smiled back at him. “Mara does amazing work. I love the smiles. Of course, you can place it by the phone.”
“Thank you. Mr. Cutler’s smile always made my day better.”
“Mine too,” Thomas said.
As I set the portrait down next to the phone, the front door opened and in walked Chase. My heart started to flutter. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him since we’d moved out of the Blue Sky Apartments. “Chase. It’s good to see you. How are you? Did you have a nice Christmas? Can I help you?” Oh no, I’d bombarded him with questions.
“It’s good to see you, too. I’m doing well. Had a nice Christmas. I was on call Christmas Day. And, yes, you can help me.” He laughed as he strolled toward me.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Reporter Man?” By now Thomas had come out of his office to see what all the chatter was about. I don’t think he’d ever heard me ramble on like that before.
“Chase. Good to see you again,” Thomas said. “Hearing Anna Louise babble on like that had me concerned.”
“Good to see you, too, Thomas. I think she’ll be okay now that she’s stopped rambling. How are you doing these days?”
“Better,” Thomas replied. “I saw the article you did on Pop and me in the New York Times. My wife cut out the story, along with photos of the bombings, and added them to the family scrapbook. Great piece of journalism.”
“Thank you. I know Anna Louise thought the world of Mr. Cutler and now she’s lucky enough to have his son as her boss.”
“My dad and Anna Louise were quite a pair,” Thomas replied with a slight smile. “Well, I’ll let you two young people talk. I have a piano to tune that’s quite a distance from here. Will you be okay while I’m gone, Anna Louise?”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll text Daniel if I need anything. Have a good trip. Talk to you when you get back.”
“See you later.” He grabbed his leather bag and waved as he went out the back door.
“What awesome people you work for, Anna Louise. The newspaper isn’t quite as friendly as the Emporium.”
“Understandable. Your job is probably a lot more stressful than mine.”
“Probably. But what I came in for was to ask if you’d like to spend New Year’s Eve with me at the New York Times party? Just to warn you. It’s a big shindig. All formal-like. What do you think?”
“Sounds nice to me.” Chase looked as handsome as always in his reporter duds, but for some reason, butterflies were flying around in my stomach today.
“You wouldn’t mind hanging out with a bunch of people you don’t know on New Year’s Eve?”
“Not if you don’t mind my hanging on tight to your arm most of the night,” I replied as I smiled into those translucent green eyes of his.
“Don’t mind at all. Are we on for the big party, then?”
“We’re on. Is there anything else I can do for you today?”
“Nope. I’ll be by your place around eight o’clock on New Year’s Eve.”
“Thanks for the invitation, Chase. See you New Year’s Eve.”
“See ya, Anna Louise.”
A few minutes after Chase walked out of the store, Mara and Daniel strolled in. Both of them with super-giddy grins on their faces.
“So why are you two gracing me with your presence this morning, and what’s behind those huge smiles I’m gazing at?” I couldn’t help but laugh. They looked like two young teenagers who’d just gotten away with something they shouldn’t have.
“Us?” they echoed together.
“Yes, both of you. Mara, you first.”
“Well, you’ll be delighted to hear that I’m now enrolled at New York University. My credits from Chicago will transfer into the liberal arts program here at NYU. But the most amazing thing happened while we were standing in line waiting to talk to the counselor. Notice my empty tote bag.”
“I do now, but what’s that got to do with those giddy looks on your faces?”
“It means I sold two of my paintings while we were just standing there in line at the college. I talked a couple of rich girls into buying them. Actually, they started it. Wanted to know what I had in my cute, bright-green tote bag with the shiny butterflies on it.”
“Congratulations. But I think you could sell a dead mouse to a lady on a chair. Not only are you a great artist, but one heck of an entrepreneur.” I glanced over at Daniel who had his arm around Mara’s shoulder and was pulling her close. My eyebrows went up at that sight. “So, Daniel, what do you think about my friend Mara?”
“Where do you want me to begin? She’s beautiful, smart, talented, gifted, and great fun to be with. Is that enough for starters?”
“Enough already, or she’ll get a big head.”
I was glad to see Thomas had a smile on his face when he came in the back door a little later, carrying his brown bag. “Hi, everyone. Good to see you, Mara. I could use you this afternoon, Daniel. Need you to deliver a couple of baby grands around the city.”
I followed his eyes as he noticed Daniel’s arm around Mara.
“Sure, Dad. I’ll just run Mara back to her place and come right back.”
“Hi, Thomas,” Mara said. “Guess what? I enrolled at NYU this morning and sold two paintings while we waited in line.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Mara’s a born saleswoman and she likes money,” I added before she could say anything.
“If you ever need a job, come see me.” Thomas winked at Mara, chuckling all the way into his office.
~ ~ ~
High above the streets of New York in the Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel where I was spending New Year’s Eve with my friend and former neighbor, Chase Monroe, I listened to the music in the background as I stared out into the moonlit night, holding a crystal glass of sparkling water with a lime wedge. I smiled over at Chase, who was enjoying a glass of champagne, as he too looked out into the celestial night sky. Soon, millions of electrifying fireworks would fill the midnight sky over New York and all around the world with breathtaking colors, ushering in another New Year.
Earlier, when Chase and I had first arrived to join the party, the ballroom seemed to have already been in motion for some time. Holding on to Chase’s arm for dear life, I’d walked in beside him wearing the same shimmering, one-shoulder, white gown and sparkling jewelry I’d worn to Blake Holbrook’s Carnegie Hall concert, with the exception of the bright-pink orchid Chase had slipped over my wrist. Chase, with his New York-styled black hair, dark evening clothes, white shirt, and bow tie, appeared to be the most valiant man in the room. I actually felt safe being with him.
Then, as we made our way through the New York Times crowd toward the refreshment table, or should I say tables, Chase smiled over at me and took my hand in his, leading the way. Several tables stood adorned with foods one could eat with their fingers, while others held the most glittering array of crystal glasses I’d ever seen, along with champagne on ice, wine fountains flowing in various colors, and numerous bottles of what had to be very expensive bottles of liquor. They had to be expensive because they didn’t look anything like the cheap bottles my mother threw in the recycle bin for my father to take out to the curb each week.
A light tap on my bare shoulder brought me back to the
ballroom. “Not sure what has you looking so forlorn, but would you like to dance, Miss Anna Louise?”
Hearing Chase’s deep voice, I turned and smiled. “I’d love to, Mr. Monroe.”
“I’ll take your glass and set it right over here next to mine while we dance.” Chase placed our glasses on one of the tables, then took my hand as we stepped out onto the dance floor. He pulled me close as we danced slowly to the music. “You look beautiful tonight, Anna Louise.”
“Thank you. You appear more like Armani tonight than Calvin Klein, but they both look astonishing on you. Debonair is the word I’d use.” I laughed with a twinkle in my eyes.
Chase bowed, and then pulled me even closer. “I’m so glad you moved into the Blue Sky Apartments when I was living there. It was awful until you got there.” He frowned, wrinkling his brow.
“I thought the Blue Sky was awful, too, until I met you that first day. I couldn’t believe anyone in New York would help me clean up a mess like that, but you did.”
“Never could resist a damsel in distress.” Chase chuckled. “I’d been there just long enough to know what kind of place it was and that you were new to New York and needed help.”
“Other than Mara, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had. Thank you for bringing me here tonight. You work with some very nice people, but they do seem to have an edge to them.”
“That comes from always being under the gun to make one deadline or another.” He paused. “I suppose I’m starting to act like that, too.”
The Gift of Goodbye Page 9