Amy, not knowing what to say, decided the best thing to do was say nothing. His words were coming from his heart and were flowing like her tears.
‘I know that he loves you. But, I love you Amy. I love you more. So I’m asking you’ his voice broke ‘please pick me. Marry me?’ With that, he took a small beautifully ornate wooden box from his jacket pocket. Opening it, she could see that inside was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was a solitaire diamond easily a couple of carats set in a cluster of smaller diamonds. It had an antique appearance that twinkled and shimmered for all its worth.
‘It’s stunning Adam’ Amy was lost for words.
‘Amy, will you marry me?’ Adam repeated the words.
‘Oh my God Adam…I don’t deserve this. I don’t’ she panicked
‘Yes. Yes, you do. I should have known the hurt you were feeling. I didn’t but now I do’ he sat up beside her now ‘I am not loosing you, I’m just not’
He was deadly serious. He had no intention of ever letting her near Sean again.
‘Adam I…’ what was she supposed to feel? She wanted with all her might to say yes. The words just simply wouldn’t come out. It was the proposal any woman could want. The perfect man. The perfect ring. But it wasn’t perfect for her. It didn’t feel right. Her reaction was beginning to dawn on Adam, a deep-set frown appearing on his face.
‘You don’t like it’ he referred to the ring.
‘No, no, no. God that’s not it at all. Holy mother, it’s beautiful’ she couldn’t believe what she was doing but she was going with her instincts on this one. ‘Adam it’s not the ring. I can’t even tell you how beautiful it is. I couldn’t do it to you. If I did, I would only be hurting you in the end. It would be a lie’
Amy knew in her heart that what she was doing was the right thing. She was not about to start a new life based on a lie. She wondered about the outcome of this scenario had she not spent that night with Sean. Something told her that for one reason or another she would probably be turning him down. Thinking of Sean now she wondered what her answer would be had it been him standing in front of her.
‘Christ slow down woman would you’ Liz awoke from her slumber in the passenger seat beside her ‘What’s your game? Are you trying to kill us before we get there at all?’
‘Sorry, I was just thinking of last night’
‘I bet’
‘Am I an idiot?’
‘Do you really want me to answer that?’ Liz grinned at her friend.
‘Should I have said yes?’
‘I don’t know, should you?’
‘Are you going to answer every one of my questions with a question?’
‘Will I?’
‘Right, I’m pulling in and you can get out and make your own way to the airport!’ now Amy was joking.
Sitting in silence both girls were lost in thought.
‘You know you did the right thing’ Liz turned to face Amy watching her drive with a serious expression.
‘Why doesn’t it feel like it then?’
‘I don’t know. Would it have anything to do with Sean…you know your answer?’
‘I don’t know Liz. Clearly, I don’t know my arse from my elbow lately’
‘Well, you have been doing things that have been a little out of character for you’
‘I have, haven’t I!’ Amy giggled in response.
‘That’s not necessarily a bad thing you know. You’ve had a lot to deal with this past while and you are just finding your way. Don’t be so hard on yourself’
‘Ever the wise woman Liz. Ever the wise woman! You’re right, you know. It could very well be about Sean’
‘You know you haven’t said one way or the other how you really feel for him’
‘I wish I knew’
‘I think you do, you’re just not being honest with yourself’
‘Mmmmm maybe’
Amy vowed that she would come back from New York with all decisions made and that she would have a clear mental picture of where she was going with her life and what people she would be bringing along with her. She had made it clear to Adam that he would not be part of her new life. He wasn’t angry. She guessed that he didn’t believe her. She hoped that he was ok. He left her without much of a fuss at all. For someone who had just proposed to her, he didn’t put up much of a fight after she had told him that she would have to say no. It might have occurred to him that she was playing hard to get. But unfortunately for him, that wasn’t the case.
21
‘Is it too early for a beverage?’ quizzed Liz, as she propped herself up on the counter as they were checking in’
‘I’d doubt that the bar would be open at this hour!’ Amy was in no mood for alcohol.
‘Well that’s a bit shit now isn’t it’ Liz huffed as she pounded her case up onto the baggage check in area. Technically, it was still her bedtime so Amy guessed she was in for a rough ride until at least eight. She checked her watch. It was only six. Damn.
‘Do you know it’s like hauling a child around? We are on holiday…just so you know! You should be excited. We are going to New York! Let me repeat that for you….New York!’
‘Ok, ok, ok! Jeeesh…I’m tired’
‘Look, you can sleep on the plane. Buck yourself up and start smiling’
Amy nudged her friend and took her gently by the arm, marching off for their departure gate. The wait for security was relatively short and Amy only beeped twice going through the metal detector. Normally she would hold up the line, while she tried to explain why the damn machine kept on beeping. When she was younger, she had pins placed in her arm from a nasty fall off a horse. She always dreaded the security gates at airports. Come on, did she really look like she was going to have an explosive device on her person? She learned that saying such would get her nowhere. On a trip to Spain many moons ago, she was hauled into security offices in Dublin Airport for saying such. She explained for two hours that 'No, she was not a terrorist' and 'No, she did not have any explosives'. She wondered at the time if there were any terrorists on the planet with a Galway accent. That too, would have been kindly answered for her but the nice security guard with the thick inner Dublin accent was ‘not at liberty to discuss it’. Today thankfully, she escaped any further drama.
Putting their shoes and coats back on, the two girls linked arms and headed to find their gate after passing all necessary checks at the American pre-clearance. Shannon, while not known for its huge selection of duty free, was just big enough to find a few little bargains. Examining an assortment of half price perfumes, Liz bounced over to Amy.
‘Ohmygod Amy!’
‘Ohmygod What?’ she didn’t even look up from eyeing the perfumes on front of her.
‘I see you’ve left your tired Tracy head back at the security gates…you don’t want to go leaving that behind’ Liz gave an eye roll, having woken up.
‘Oh shut up and look over there’ Liz pointed in the direction of a lone soldier dressed in what looked like combat gear.
‘Good God’ Amy wasn’t long putting down what she had in her hands.
‘Jesus Mary and Joseph he’s gorgeous’ Liz loved men in uniform and Amy could see the appeal now that there was a real soldier in her presence.
‘Do you think I should go over and say hello?’
‘Well, you’d be braver than I would but by all means…’
Afraid to walk directly up to him Liz said that she would bide her time. With that, they abandoned the shopping and said that the best thing to do was to get a coffee and some breakfast. They had an hour until their flight was to board and so went in search of the restaurant. Rounding the corner for the bar area and boarding gates the two girls took a breath. Stopping in their tracks both were hardly able to move. Directly ahead of them lay a sea of uniformed American soldiers.
‘I have died and gone to military heaven’ whispered Liz.
Straightening themselves up and pretending not to notice the stares in their direct
ion, they clip clopped their way to a few spare seats. Before reaching their destination, a loud wolf whistle was propelled in their general wake. Both mortified and flattered Amy’s cheeks burned. Liz was in her element. Amy, not at all interested in talking to them, did take a mental picture of the handsome men in uniform. It never hurt anyone to window shop. She giggled to herself. Even though they hadn’t even got on the plane she was already having a good time. Looking at her friend who was chatting away to a young man next to her, she thanked God for such a wonderful friend. Liz has always been there for her. Through thick and thin, the good and the bad. She was honest and open and tried to give her the best advice she could. While she may not always be right and had been known to be a pain from time to time, her sentiment was always in the right place. That said, Liz’s instincts were usually on the money. When it came to people, their motives and what made them tick she had a deep understanding of what it was to be human. Amy guessed her life experience had taught her a lot. She would be forever grateful to her friend for helping her through the past year. Without her, some of the knocks would have been too difficult to come back from. She hoped that someday she could repay her good friend for all that she had done.
Saying goodbye to her new friends, Liz was sad. She could have stayed there forever listening to the stories about Iraq and Afghanistan. These poor men and women left their families and friends behind and gave their lives to the American army. Some of the soldiers hadn’t seen their families in over a year. They had witnessed terrible atrocities but yet laughed and joked like they were kids. Amy figured that they had to learn to deal in some way with their experiences and the life they had chosen.
The flight was comfortable and relatively fast for the journey they had to make. Aer Lingus was, as always, professional and courteous. On other flights with airlines who will remain nameless, it was very easy to feel like some class of an animal crushed into your seat. On one such an airline, when Amy was visiting some family in London, she took an early morning flight. The highly rude flight attendants ushered her to her seat as if she was a prize cow in an overcrowded mart. Already put out by their lack of general manners, she went to turn off her phone after one of the tangoed attendants scolded her for having it on. After being bumped in the arm by a fellow passenger, she let said phone fall after which is flew back under her seat. Unbuckling her seatbelt as the orange lady sped through her safety demonstration, Amy turned in her seat to ask the gentleman behind her if he might possibly see her phone. As luck would have it, the two people behind her (German tourists) did not speak any English so she suspected she looked like a blithering idiot. Not getting anywhere with Hansel and Gretel, she knew she had no choice but to call for help.
‘Please remain in seat madam’ called the attendant with an accent from her position at the top of the plane, highly unimpressed she had been interrupted from her demonstration. It didn’t matter to her that not one individual was paying her any attention. That was, until she roared at Amy.
‘I SAID STAY IN SEAT’ she repeated an octave higher.
Amy was just standing up to press the call button above her head as she searched for her phone.
‘Sorry I…’ she didn’t have an opportunity to speak.
‘SIT’
‘Listen missey, I am simply looking for my phone. It fell and I can’t find it’ Amy was sick and tired of being roared at.
‘Oh well…mmmm’
This one would definitely push the boat out. Little miss tangoed pursed her lips and looked like she might combust from over thinking. She was pretty but overdid herself with tan, false eyelashes and bleached blond hair.
‘I…mmm well….’ She was thinking ‘ah yes! Your phone, it behind you, yes?’
‘Yes’ said Amy cautious about what her plan might be to retrieve her phone.
‘You see, when plane take off, phone will go back. But then…’she nodded seriously to reassure Amy and was obviously pleased with her plan ‘then when plane land’ she gestured with her hand to demonstrate what she meant ‘plane straight and your phone with come back….yes…ok thank you’ and with that she was gone.
Amy didn’t know where to look. Was this woman serious? Were there some candid cameras hidden? This woman and her colleagues were responsible for the safety and wellbeing of all the people on the plane.
‘God forbid there would be an accident’ Amy pipped to the woman sitting beside her. Thankfully, after rooting around for half an hour, asking this one and that one, a little boy hand delivered the phone to the top of the plane where the flight attendant promptly handed it back to Amy.
‘See I tell you…all ok, yes?’
‘Yeah’ she grumbled ‘no friggin thanks to you!’
Laughing quietly to herself at the thoughts of that journey, this flight could not be compared. Classical music played in the background and passengers were handed out newspapers and cups of tea. Everyone seemed happy and no one roared at anyone to sit down. Liz was asleep again beside her. After their Irish breakfast, she made herself comfortable with a blanket and threw her legs up on a spare seat beside her. Amy on the other hand, was unable to sleep with thoughts of Adam and Sean racing around in her head. She picked up a magazine and skimmed the glossy contents. Across from her were a couple, most probably Irish. They had with them, the cutest little boy wrapped up tightly in a blanket. He looked like he was about six months. He slept, oblivious to the goings on around him. She watched how his mother looked at him with such love and tenderness. He had cried a little upon take off, his ears hurting with the pressure. Amy wondered if that would ever be her. She had always thought she and Frank would have children but that never happened. Since their breakup, people often said ‘God aren’t you lucky you didn’t have any children with him!’ She never fully understood statements like that. How could anyone be grateful for that? Children were always a blessing whatever the circumstances between their parents. When people said that, it hurt and annoyed equally.
A few hours into the journey, Amy decided to watch one of the movies playing on the screen in the seat ahead of her. The movie known for how hilarious it was, didn’t make her laugh. Her mind was too full to take in anything else. Abandoning that, she looked at her watch; she had three more hours to go until they reached JFK. Reaching for the little pillow she had placed under her seat when they boarded, she decided that a little snooze wouldn’t go astray. She would probably need it. Liz was not the type to sit back and relax when she got into holiday mode. Amy knew that there would be lots of cocktails, sightseeing and shopping. Yes, she would definitely need a sleep.
22
‘I can’t believe we are actually here’ Liz squealed with delight.
‘I know…how cool!’ Amy was excited as they sat in the back of a yellow cab crossing over the Hudson towards Manhattan. The air was crisp as a fresh fall of snow began to tumble to the ground. The skyline was exactly like she pictured it, as they came closer to one of the most famous cities in the world.
The hotel they had chosen was located just a few blocks from Times Square. It was perfect for what they were looking for. Cheap and cheerful, yet clean and centrally located. As they stepped out of the warm car, it was absolutely freezing outside. Steam rose from the sewers beneath as the warm air hit the cold air above. Taxis whizzed by honking at pedestrians who dared to get in the way. Sirens blazed on by from fire engines and cop cars. People rushed by, oblivious to other passersby some of them talking on mobiles, others walking in groups. The city was alive and animated with different cultures and ethnicities. Grabbing their suitcases from the cab driver, they walked through the revolving doors into the lobby of the hotel. It was definitely cheerful with its bright airy colours and festive cheer. Only a week and a half until Christmas, a huge tree was positioned directly under a striking crystal chandelier. Black and white tiles covered most of the flooring, which led to thick dark red carpet on the stairs to the right of the oversized beautiful Christmas tree. Checking in, both found that they were exh
austed. Making their way to their room on the fifteenth floor, they agreed that after a shower and a change of clothes, they would feel a lot better.
‘I am so glad we did this. I know we’ve only just arrived but I’m going to wet myself with excitement, I swear’
Liz was without doubt the most excited Amy had seen her in a long time. Her tiredness dissipating as she slowly realised that she was on holidays.
‘I know love. Sure it’s about time we went away. The year has been rotten and I’m thinking that this is the perfect ending’
‘Will you quit it…sure the years not over yet. We’ve loads of mischief to get up to yet’
Liz answered as she tip toed over to the mini bar, rooted around and pulled out a selection of alcohol.
‘Now this is more like it’ she cackled.
‘Liz, I’m afraid to inform you that it’s only morning time here!’ Amy educated her friend.
‘Will you give over, sure we’re on Irish time'.
Laughing away to their hearts content, they tore into the mini bottles of wine. Having downed the last of the chardonnay, next they attacked the spirits. It was lunchtime when they tumbled out of the hotel room, both giggling from tiredness and the effects of the alcohol. Knowing that they should probably hold off on full blown alcoholism, for the meantime at least, the tourists decided that a bite to eat was in order.
‘Where should we go then?’ Amy pondered.
‘God, I don’t know? Lets go for a walk and see where we end up?’
‘Yeah, sounds good to me’ Amy agreed
Walking and chatting while they looked for a restaurant, they popped in and out of a few shops along the way. Refusing to pass by a 70% off sign without a quick look, in a short while, they were laden down with bags. Unable to go on without sustenance, they stopped at a small cafe for lunch.
‘I’d eat a nuns arse through a convent gate’ Liz cried as she practically fell into her seat in the corner of the busy restaurant. Amy laughed as she watched an elderly couple sitting close by, turn in shock at Liz’s outburst. Taking her seat, she sighed and bent over to loosen her sneakers.
Whiplash Hotel Page 18