‘No, walking it back.’
Ed surveyed the tree and then me, eyes wide. ‘You’re kidding me.’
‘Nope,’ I replied, picking up the end of the trunk and dragging the tree behind me, leaving a pine-needle-studded trail in the snow. ‘It’s all part of the magic.’
Ed wasn’t convinced. ‘Right…Here, let me help.’ He scooped up the other end of the tree, cursing as the needles broke through his gloves, and hooked it under his arm. ‘Onward, Duncan!’
Laughing and joking, we walked the three blocks back to my apartment block, enjoying the snow flurries as they patted against our cheeks and landed on our clothes. The sky above us was the colour of melted marshmallows—pale pink and white—as butterscotch-hued clouds heavy with snow drifted slowly across the tops of the skyscrapers. Everyone we passed seemed to be smiling, as if the tree we carried was some kind of talisman that broke through the usual barriers of propriety and endeared us to our neighbours.
I have to say that manoeuvring the tree up to my apartment was a lot less tricky with two people—albeit with one of them moaning incessantly throughout. After much twisting and turning to navigate the narrow stairwells, we reached my front door and, with one final decisive effort, triumphantly delivered the spruce to its desired location. Ed let out a long whistle and collapsed on my sofa, while I made us celebratory coffee to mark the occasion.
‘So,’ I said, flopping down beside him, ‘how come you were up here today?’
‘I was just in the neighbourhood.’
‘You’re never in this neighbourhood.’ I surveyed him carefully.
‘Yes I am,’ he protested.
‘When you come to see me.’
‘Yes. And also when I just happen to want to visit the Upper West Side.’
‘You hate the Upper West Side.’
‘I do not.’
I turned to face him, now highly suspicious. ‘Yes, you do. You always say it’s full of people with more money than brains who view shopping as some kind of vocation.’
He had to concede that point. ‘One of my particularly favourite personal observations, that one.’
‘Hmm. So why decide to come shopping here today?’
‘I like the cheese at Zabar’s.’
‘You are such a liar.’
‘I am not. It’s a well-known fact that their cheese selection is excellent,’ he replied defiantly. ‘I like cheese.’
‘Be serious.’
He held up his hands. ‘OK, OK, you win, Miss Marple. I happened to be in the neighbourhood because I wanted to make sure you’re all right.’
‘I’m fine. I’ve just got my tree, so I’m happy.’
The Steinmann Stare locked on. ‘That’s not what I meant.’
‘So what are you getting at?’
Ed sighed. ‘I wanted to make sure you’re all right with me.’
‘Sorry?’
‘I owe you an apology. Again. This is becoming a worryingly regular occurrence for me these days.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘I feel like I haven’t supported you enough.’
‘Yes, you have,’ I disagreed. ‘Anyway, the shop’s been crazy, we’ve had the students helping out and you’ve been busy.’
‘But you had the David thing.’
‘All sorted. He knows where I stand and I feel better for saying it.’
Ed’s voice became gentler, ‘And—the Nate thing.’
‘What Nate thing?’
‘He hasn’t been around lately.’
I folded my arms defensively. ‘He’s been busy as well.’
‘What—avoiding you?’
‘Ed, that’s unfair.’
‘You like him, Rosie. It’s plain as day.’
‘He’s my friend.’
‘I think he likes you too,’ Ed continued.
‘He’s engaged. As in, getting married to someone else,’ I retorted. ‘And you know how I feel about relationships. You are so way off on this.’
Ed held his hands up. ‘I’m sorry, Rosie. It’s none of my business. And it’s beside the point. I wanted to say sorry for not being there for you, that’s all. It’s just that I’ve—’ He broke off, running a hand nervously through his dark hair. ‘I’ve been a little…preoccupied lately.’
‘Ed, we’re fine.’ There was something in his expression that I couldn’t place. ‘What’s been on your mind?’
He took a deep breath and squared himself to face me. ‘Now this is hard for me because of—you know—the iceberg thing?’
The earnestness of his expression made me giggle involuntarily. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said, trying to stuff my laughter back behind a serious expression. ‘Take all the melting time you need—just be sure to clear up afterwards, OK?’
The twinkle had made a welcome return to his eyes. ‘Philistine. All I wanted to say was that I’ve had a revelation, of sorts. You remember when you said to me that the time to start worrying was when you wanted a specific somebody, not just anybody?’
‘Erm, yes, I think so.’
‘Well, start worrying.’
I couldn’t believe it. ‘Really?’
He nodded, a vulnerability suddenly cracking the usual steely exterior. ‘Absolutely. Now is that time.’
I stared at him for a while and—I’m not quite sure why—I began to detect the slightest ripple of sadness deep within me. Maybe it was because someone I had always assumed would be forever single, like me, had made a leap I wasn’t prepared to take. Whatever it was, I mentally pushed it away and smiled my brightest smile instead. ‘Wow. That’s—that’s wonderful. So how did she break through the iceberg then? The sheer warmth of her love melted you, eh?’
Ed raised an eyebrow. ‘You read way too many chick-lit books for your own good. It’s nothing like that. It’s, uh, a bit of an afar thing, actually. She—she has no idea.’
‘Yet.’
‘Sorry?’
‘She has no idea yet. But you’re going to tell her, right?’
He shook his head wildly. ‘Absolutely no way, José. I am not prepared to jump that far. I’ve only just reached this momentous stage in my “melting”. I don’t want to do anything drastic.’
‘That’s fine, but remember Billy Whitman and his watercooler girl. Don’t leave it for ever to tell her.’
He grimaced. ‘I know. I will tell her—when the time is right. It’s just too early for that right now.’
I smiled at him and patted his arm. ‘I’m proud of you. You’re doing so well.’
‘Don’t patronise me,’ he retorted, blushing slightly.
‘I’m not. I’m really pleased. So—who is she?’
‘That information is classified,’ he stated, military fashion.
‘Right,’ I said, grabbing a cushion and waving it menacingly at him. ‘Then I will have to resort to other methods to get it.’
A sparkle of mischief washed over his face. ‘Oh, right, attack first, ask questions later. You are so US military.’ He snatched the cushion from behind his back and swung it at me. Skilfully, I ducked, landing a counter-blow squarely on his chest. ‘Ohho, that’s war now!’ he yelled, pulling another cushion out and pummelling me with both at once. Giggling, I pulled my weapon back as far as I could in order to get as much swing as possible. Unfortunately for me, I lost my balance, toppled backwards and landed in an unceremonious heap on the floor.
Laughing uncontrollably, Ed reached down and helped me up, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me as we collapsed into breath-stealing guffaws. Gradually, our laughter subsided—but the embrace remained, his chin resting on my shoulder and my cheek pressed against his neck. It felt safe. Instinctively, we both pulled away and sat facing each other, wide grins spreading across our faces, flushed from the laughter.
Ed checked his watch. ‘Well, it’s time I headed off. I want to check on the Saturday kids on my way home. And you,’ he added, waggling a finger at me sternly, ‘have a Christmas tree to decorate.’
‘Yes, I have,’ I smiled as we stood and
went to the door. ‘So, Mr Iceberg…’
Ed walked out into the hallway and turned back to face me. ‘Yes?’
‘Happy melting.’
The wide, crooked grin flashed brilliantly and he saluted me before walking down the stairs and out of sight.
Chapter Nineteen
In the last weeks before Christmas, Kowalski’s was busier than I have ever seen it. Our floristry graduates’ help was invaluable, not least because it meant Ed and I could focus on the last event of the year—but by far the biggest: Mimi Sutton’s Grand Winter Ball. Though both of us were a little apprehensive about the job, we had meticulously prepared everything well in advance, doing as much of the structural stuff as we could before the day of the event.
Quicker than we would have liked, the big day arrived and Ed and I packed the van to take everything to the venue. It was just before 7 a.m. and the pale winter sun was barely breaking the horizon when we pulled up at the rear entrance to The Illustrian, a large hotel just off Broadway. The owners had recently renovated the ornate Victorian ballroom and this was to be the setting for Mimi Sutton’s pièce de résistance. An enormous room on two levels, with an elaborate staircase rising magnificently from the polished marble floor, the location was breathtaking.
Our footsteps echoed conspicuously as we hurried across the ballroom carrying our boxes. It was difficult not to be overawed by the place, and Ed sensed my trepidation at the task ahead.
‘Hey, boss, it’s going to be great,’ he assured me.
I laughed nervously. ‘I know. We’re fine.’
At eight thirty, Marnie and the grads arrived, shattering the relative calm of the place with their excited exclamations over the work Ed and I had already completed. The staircase was now adorned in swathes of green garlands with white roses, carnations and tiny fairy lights woven through them. I had to admit that the overall effect was stunning and, as a centrepiece, it would take some beating. Having assigned various tasks to my team, I grabbed my camera and began to take pictures of the staircase. Twisting round to focus on Ed’s structural masterpieces gracing the pillars at the entrance to the ballroom, I suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure walking casually towards me.
‘Hey, Rosie.’
‘Nate, long time no see, eh?’ Ed replied, quickly appearing at my side. ‘We had you down as Missing in Action.’
Nate rubbed the back of his neck and looked sheepish. ‘Yeah, well, I was, in a way.’
Ed wasn’t finished and I sensed a steely attack thinly disguised beneath his humour. ‘So you thought you’d just show up and say hi, then?’
‘Ed,’ I cut in quickly, ‘can you start the grads on the window displays, please? I’m a little concerned that Jocelyn and Brady may go a bit gung-ho with the foliage.’
He observed me carefully. ‘Sure,’ he replied, shooting a warning stare at Nate before he left.
Nate frowned as he watched Ed walk away. ‘I take it I’m not his favourite person right now.’
I shook my head and smiled, trying to look unconcerned. ‘He’s fine, just a little edgy with the event and everything.’
‘He’s very protective of you.’
‘Yes, he is. But we all look out for each other. Good team spirit, that’s all. Just the Kowalski’s family sticking together. Besides, I think we’re going to need it today.’
Nate nodded and looked round at the room. ‘It’s a great space,’ he smiled, ‘and the perfect place to showcase Kowalski’s work.’
‘It is pretty special,’ I agreed. ‘It’s—’
‘I should have come to see you,’ he blurted out suddenly, bringing his eyes back to mine, waiting for my reaction. ‘I’m sorry, Rosie. Can we—uh—can we go somewhere? Grab a coffee, maybe?’
My heart had begun to race and I suddenly felt too warm. ‘There’s quite a lot to do here and—and I’m not sure the team would be too happy with my leaving them.’ I glanced over at Ed, Marnie and the grads, catching Ed watching us.
Nate seemed to be thinking about something, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on me. Then, as if a silent decision had been made, he reached out and squeezed my arm, nodding at me. ‘Stay there, OK?’
Taken aback, I nodded dumbly. He walked purposely over to my team and said something to Ed. Marnie caught my eye as Ed and Nate walked to one side and appeared to be deep in conversation. A big part of me didn’t want to watch them, didn’t want to know what they were discussing, so for a while I tried to avert my attention to the team, the other arrangements, the ceiling—anything rather than look at my two friends.
I was about to look back when a loud voice shattered the relative silence of the room and stole my attention. Mimi Sutton had arrived in a flurry of silk and chiffon.
‘There she is—the woman everyone’s talking about!’
I smiled weakly as she approached me. Her smile was all benevolence as she held out her immaculately manicured hand, almost as if bestowing some great honour on me by doing so.
‘This is simply perfect,’ she smoothed, casting her eye round the room too fast to actually see anything but enough to give the appearance of interest. ‘I knew you could deliver.’ Her eye caught sight of Nate, still locked in conversation with Ed and apparently unaware of her arrival. I saw her smile tighten and she looked back at me. ‘Could I steal a few moments of your time, perhaps? There are just one or two things I need to clear up before this evening. Minor points, dear, nothing to worry about. Is that possible?’
There was something in the lightness of her voice that struck an uneasy chord inside me, but I had no reason to refuse. ‘Of course. Would you like to meet my team?’
‘Perhaps later. I’d like to see the staircase garlands in greater detail,’ she stated, taking hold of my arm a little too firmly and propelling me at a considerable speed across the ballroom floor.
When we reached the staircase, she relinquished her grip and began to inspect the flowers and foliage adorning the banister with red-taloned fingers. ‘Excellent, excellent.’
‘I’m really pleased with the result,’ I said, as calmly as I could, pushing the nauseating ball of concern to the pit of my stomach. ‘It’s by far the biggest centrepiece Kowalski’s has done—’
‘Why is he here?’ Mimi snapped, her face still a picture of grace and favour and her eyes fixed on the arrangement in front of her.
‘S-sorry, who?’
‘Nathaniel.’
‘I—um—I’ve no idea.’
‘Don’t play the innocent with me, Ms Duncan,’ Mimi retorted, a scarily cold edge appearing in her voice. ‘I am too busy to play games with you.’
‘Mimi, I honestly don’t know why he’s here,’ I replied, beginning to feel annoyed at her tone. ‘He’s only just arrived and it seems he wants to talk to my co-designer.’
‘Nonsense. He came to see you and you know it. I’m not entirely sure what his relationship with you is, but I do know his relationship with my daughter.’
‘With respect, I fail to see how my friendship with Nate is relevant—’
‘It’s all relevant, Ms Duncan. The happiness of my daughter is my greatest concern. You are threatening that.’
‘Sorry?’
Mimi’s eyes shot to mine, a nasty purpose igniting her glare. ‘Nathaniel Amie will never make a decision on his own. He is too casual for his own good with that lackadaisical attitude to life. Caitlin cannot—and will not—wait around for him for ever. He appeared to be finally reaching a decision about their future—until you came along.’
My pulse was thudding at my temples and I had to fight to retain my composure. ‘Nate is my friend, Mimi. Nothing more.’
‘Since he met you, Ms Duncan, he has been more quarrelsome with Caitlin, less co-operative and more inclined to delay what will be an inevitable culmination of their courtship,’ Mimi snarled through gritted teeth. ‘Caitlin has forbidden him to mention your name in her presence because it causes so much conflict.’
I wasn’t quite sure how to take this info
rmation. Nate’s relationship with his alleged fiancée remained much of a mystery to me, even after all our conversations; but to hear that they were arguing because of me was intriguing. ‘Forgive me, I don’t know what you want me to say.’
‘It’s quite simple really. I want you to tell me you’ll stay away from Nathaniel.’
‘I haven’t been pursuing him,’ I replied, folding my arms protectively across my body, ‘and I have no intention of being the cause of conflict for anyone. If Nate decides to visit my shop—which he frequently does in order to buy flowers for your daughter—then I can’t be held responsible.’
Mimi’s eyes burned as she leaned closer to me. ‘Be very careful, Rosie. Do not mess with situations you cannot possibly hope to understand.’
‘So, Mimi, how do you like the work here so far?’ breezed Nate as he suddenly appeared beside us. Mimi’s smile returned and she embraced him for three melodramatic air kisses.
‘Nathaniel, what a surprise. Are you looking for me?’
‘Mimi, even though being in your company is always a joy, I’m afraid I’m here on business.’
Mimi’s expression clouded. ‘Oh? Is it the amendments for the book, darling? Only—as you can see—my head is full of the event today.’
Nate shook his head and took a step forward, placing himself between Mimi and me. ‘I wouldn’t dream of discussing those with you today of all days,’ he grinned. ‘I’m here to see Rosie.’
Mimi’s smile began to strain at the edges. ‘Oh? I’m afraid Ms Duncan is incredibly busy with her own masterpiece right now. Can it not wait?’
‘I’m afraid it can’t. I’m here to persuade her to write a book.’
‘And this conversation couldn’t happen—say—next week?’
‘Regrettably not. I, as you well know, will be visiting my parents for the holidays, so I need to clear up my commission roster before the end of the year. It’ll only take thirty minutes—an hour at most. I’ve spoken to Mr Steinmann and he assures me the team can spare her for that time.’
I glanced over at Ed and caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow and gave a vague smile. I knew he must be dying to know what the conversation was about.
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