by Helga Jensen
‘Are you ready for a surprise I’ve arranged for you?’ asks Jamie. ‘Thought we could make a night of it; hope you don’t mind.’
‘No, of course. What’s the surprise?’ I ask.
‘Ah, you’ll have to wait and see,’ he says.
As we wait for the bill to arrive, Jamie opens up about his conference that starts tomorrow and tells me what it is all about. It sounds pretty awful and is for some IT thing about fraud, or something. I want to know what the surprise is, but it is only fair I pretend to listen to his IT talk.
Finally, the server returns with our change, and I put my jacket on.
‘I hope that was enough of a tip,’ says Jamie. ‘I’m always scared I’ll get it wrong.’
‘I know, me too,’ I agree as we head out the door.
We flag down a yellow cab as it drives past. I wonder where Jamie’s taking us next.
‘To 219 West 49th Street, please,’ directs Jamie.
‘Where on earth are we going?’ I ask.
‘You’ll see.’
* * *
I love being in the yellow cabs, looking at all the sights. It is so beguiling and magical and I look forward to bringing the boys here one day. We could even end up living here if I were to marry Patrick. I wonder if they would like it here; it is so different to the countryside that they have been brought up in.
‘We’re here,’ says Jamie.
I look out the window to see crowds of people queuing. I eagerly jump out of the cab.
‘This is your surprise,’ he says, putting a protective arm around me as I get pushed by some Italian tourists.
We are standing outside the Ambassador Theatre, and there is a huge billboard advertising Chicago.
‘Wow, we are going to see a musical!’ I say, thrilled.
What a fantastic opportunity. I haven’t had time to think about sightseeing and enjoying New York. This is about as awesome as it gets, a show on Broadway!
‘Is Catherine Zeta-Jones in it?’ I ask Jamie.
‘No, she was in the film.’
‘I know someone who went to school with her,’ I say, proud of my claim to fame.
‘Amelia, everyone in Wales claims to know someone who went to school with her,’ Jamie says, laughing.
‘Fair enough. Oh, I did speak to Keith Chegwin on the radio once,’ I quickly add.
‘Okay, you win. You know more celebs than me.’ Jamie laughs.
We happily sit down in the mezzanine row of the theatre. Jamie has chosen our seats carefully and we have a clear view of the stage.
The curtains part and the stage comes alive. This is so exciting!
I never really knew the story of Chicago but it is set in the twenties. There is a lot of dancing about and some fabulous jazz music, which makes it invigorating to watch. The only thing is that it is actually about a chorus girl called Roxie, who kills her husband’s mistress. I have to wonder why Jamie would bring me to see something involving an extramarital affair like this. Does he think I should have done that to Tanja Tart? No, surely not.
In the interlude, Jamie tells me that the show has been on for twenty years, so it was probably on when I came to New York the last time. That is a coincidence; maybe that is why he thought of this show for me.
‘Why did you choose Chicago?’ I finally ask him.
‘I don’t know, because I thought you’d enjoy it,’ he mutters.
Oh, so there was no ulterior motive. I really must stop analysing everything and instead enjoy the moment. I have had the most amazing day ever. A walk in Central Park with my possible future husband and now a Broadway show with one of my best friends.
We leave the theatre, amid the masses of crowds, and look for a cab once again.
It is easier that we are now staying in the same hotel, as we can take the cab together.
‘I’ve had so much fun, Jamie,’ I say as we practically stumble into the lift. ‘Those Manhattans are a bit strong though, don’t you think?’ I add.
Jamie is busy agreeing with me when the doors open for his floor.
‘Right, this is me. Take care, Amelia. I’ll see you when I have some free time, okay. Don’t forget, please don’t do anything silly with Patrick,’ he says.
He reaches out and gives me a hug.
‘Okay, I’ll try to be sensible,’ I say.
I hold the lift doors open as Jamie gets out on his floor.
‘Hey, what was it you wanted to tell me earlier, by the way? You said you had some news and then we started talking about everything else.’ I remember.
‘It was nothing important,’ he says.
‘Come on, tell me. Or I won’t sleep wondering what it was,’ I say.
‘It was only about Megan… She dumped me right before the flight, that’s all.’
‘What?’ I say in disbelief.
The lift doors close with Jamie on the other side. I desperately try to press the button to open them, but it’s no use as I am on my way up to the fifteenth floor.
Poor Jamie. Why didn’t he say something earlier? That is so typical of him, he probably didn’t want to spoil our lovely evening. Surely, I should have realised that something was wrong though. Did I miss a sign? I suppose I never even asked how Miserable Megan was. Had I asked, he may have told me and I would have been able to talk about it with him. I should have asked about Megan; it’s just that I didn’t really want to know how she was.
Oh, Jamie. As always, he has tried to make me happy with a lovely evening and hidden any pain he is in. He really is too good for this world.
Chapter 26
Sacramento – where is that?
By the time I reach the room and pull my phone out of my handbag, I have nine missed calls from Patrick. I read over the text he sent me half an hour ago. He must have sent it when we were in the cab on the way home.
Sorry I had to leave. Tried calling so many times, I hope you’re not mad at me. Flying to Sacramento on an urgent assignment. Message you in the morning. xx
I am at least grateful that his disappearance wasn’t a ploy to escape from me.
I tap ‘Sacramento’ into my phone: where on earth is that? Perhaps I could have gone with him. It would have been fun to have gone on an assignment with a journalist.
Lying in bed, the feelings of happiness and joy I had all day have washed away. I suddenly feel a bit sad. Miserable Megan has dumped poor Jamie and I feel a bit dumped too. Plus, I wish I was reading bedtime stories to the boys. It doesn’t feel the same going to bed without kissing them goodnight. I message Dick to tell them I’m saying night night. Tears start to prickle my cheeks.
Everything feels pointless. I flew out to see Patrick and now he has been called away and I don’t even know how long for. I only have three days left here; what if he doesn’t come back by then? And Jamie… Why on earth would anyone dump him? That’s Megan for you, I suppose. Sian and I said it would end in disaster. I will put money on it she is running off with the yogi she met in Bath.
Jamie doesn’t respond to my message checking to see if he’s okay; he must have fallen straight to sleep. For me, on the other hand, it is a different story. It seems to take forever to get to sleep even though I am sprawled out on a lovely queen-size bed. I must eventually fall asleep, though, as I wake up dribbling all over my synthetic pillow.
* * *
I get ready for breakfast, popping on my favourite comfortable jumpsuit, so that I have plenty of room to scoff bagels. Unfortunately, Jamie had to leave early to register for the conference and is having breakfast at the convention centre. I hope his head wasn’t too bad after all the drinks last night.
Although the hotel is targeted at business travellers, a man and a woman who are definitely together sit on the table beside me. I wonder if she is the CEO of a multimillion-dollar corporation and he is her limo driver, either that or the man is having an affair with his PA.
The man leans over the table to feed the woman – how romantic. Nobody has ever fed me toast; I wonder if Pat
rick would feed me toast.
The red-haired woman with the toast-feeding man takes a big bite of it, crunching at it seductively, and they both share a private joke. I feel an enormous pang of jealousy. Why can’t that be me? I wonder if they ever argue. Maybe the reason they get on so well is because they don’t have to live with each other every day.
I take comfort in the enormous buffet. I have already had eggs benedict, which would normally fill me for at least an hour, but I can’t help going for seconds, thirds and fourths. At this rate even my one-size-bigger Spanx aren’t going to fit. That is if Patrick ever returns and I get the opportunity to wear them.
I am biting into the most delicious pain au raisin when I see my phone light up.
It is Patrick on WhatsApp with his morning greeting. Today, it is a little different though.
Hey, blueberry muffin XX
Blueberry muffin? Is that because he thinks I am fat and spotty?
Blueberry muffin???? xx
I type back, noting he is still online.
Lol. I want to eat you for breakfast, of course. Xx
I burst out laughing in the middle of the dining room. That is the cutest thing I have heard, unless he is genuinely a cannibal, of course.
Haha, very funny. I love it XXXXXX
Okay, I got a bit carried away with the kisses there, but I really miss him and want to see him.
Good news – I leave Sacramento tonight. Be back in NY by tomorrow morning Xx
Soooo happy to hear that. It’s weird coming all the way to see you and you’re not even here! Xxxxxx What assignment are you doing in Sacramento anyway? XXXXX
Office stuff, to do with the company I work for. They have offices in Sacramento. Long story, quite complex xx
Two kisses. Hmm, I even gave him capital kisses.
You’ll have to tell me when you’re back then. I’d love to hear more about your work xx
I’d better calm down on the kisses.
Listen, gotta go, boss is here. I have to be in the Manhattan office for 10am for a breakfast meeting, but I’m free tomorrow evening. Can we meet then? XX
That would be wonderful Xx
I’m thinking Japanese. Is that good for you? XX
Oh, yes, Japanese is perfect. Xxxxx
I am well aware that I have added too many kisses there, but who cares if I seem overly keen? I am overly keen.
Patrick will be back soon, and we are having dinner in a Japanese restaurant. I am in heaven once again. I feel like I am floating on a cloud – a big, fluffy, wonderful cloud.
Chapter 27
Streets of Manhattan – time to shop
Whilst I examine some Lego in an enormous toy shop on one of the main streets, my phone rings for what seems like the billionth time. I am trying to decide between some Star Wars Lego or this Mindstorm Lego robot stuff. I know the boys would love the Mindstorm thing, but it is super expensive. Will the boys even keep it safe, or will they lose half the pieces as usual? I ignore the phone until I decide to take two smaller boxes of Lego instead.
With my decision finally made I can check my phone. I see that it is Dick. My stomach lurches immediately. I wasn’t expecting him to ring. He wasn’t due to call me. Why is he calling? I spoke to the boys when they woke up. They were all excited about their day ahead at some amusement park.
The minute he speaks I drop the two boxes of Lego. My hands are shaking as I press ‘Jamie’ on the phone.
‘I need you urgently. Can you meet me at the hotel?’ I ask between sobs.
‘Okay, but can it wait a while? I’m just at the conference,’ he says.
‘No, it can’t wait. Please, can you meet me at the hotel now?’ I ask urgently.
‘Okay, I guess I can be there in about ten minutes. What’s this all about? Are you okay?’
My walk back to the hotel is one big daze. I bump into so many people.
‘Watch it, lady!’ shouts some rude man. If only he knew what was wrong, then perhaps he would have some sympathy for me.
My eyes are blurry with tears, and I wipe my white sleeve against my smudged black mascara. I don’t care that the waterproof mascara could stain this top forever. It will be a reminder of the worst day of my life.
Once I reach the lobby, Jamie comes running in.
‘What on earth is so urgent? What the hell?’ he asks as he notices my blotchy, tear-stained face.
A smart young woman in a suit stares at me as I sob all the way through the lobby, but I really don’t care who is looking at me.
‘I’ll tell you in the room. Let’s go up,’ I say.
‘Okay. I’ve managed to get out for the rest of the afternoon, so no rush back,’ he says. ‘It’s just some teamwork exercise later, nothing important.’ He mutters on, but I am not listening to any of it.
I open the door and my knees go from under me. I collapse in a heap on the floor. I have been brave for so long that the moment I enter the room I can’t take it any longer. The whole hotel must have heard my desperate screams.
‘You have to calm down and tell me what’s going on,’ says Jamie, lifting me on to a nearby chair.
‘It’s that Tanja Tart. She’s… she’s… lost them,’ I say. The reality hits me once again. Saying the words out loud makes it all real and the pain strikes me again.
‘What do you mean, Tanja Tart has lost them?’ Jamie asks, bewildered.
I sit down, then stand up again. I can’t sit down in this state of panic. My chest is so tight. I try to focus on my breathing. I need to calm down and think rationally.
‘We don’t know the full details yet. The police are there with them and taking statements. Dick said he would ring me as soon as there are any further updates,’ I say.
Jamie places his hand on top of mine, but I pull it off, unable to remain still. I am going to wear the carpet out in a minute; I have walked up and down this room so many times.
Despite being told that Dick will contact me with more information, I try to call him. However, his line is constantly busy. I couldn’t focus in the shop and don’t even remember what he said properly. I heard the words ‘Jasper and Rupert are missing’, and then my head went all blurry and I thought I might faint.
The boys have been missing for two whole hours. They could be anywhere by now. Someone may have sold them to human traffickers; they could have dyed their hair green and they are now completely unrecognisable. The nasty folk who kidnapped them could have removed their kidneys to sell, or anything. Oh, my gorgeous boys, please don’t remove their kidneys. Their beautiful, beautiful kidneys. How on earth am I supposed to cope? I need to speak to Dick immediately. Why can’t I get through? Why is he not calling me? He is the only one who knows what is going on.
‘Amelia, please sit down. It’s not going to help anyone running around the room like this,’ says Jamie. ‘Can I make you some tea?’
‘No, I don’t want anything. Why would I want anything? I only want my beautiful baby boys!’ I shout. ‘My babies. I should never ever have let them go away with Dick and Tanja. You could see they couldn’t manage the boys at the castle. Why did Dick leave them with Tanja Tart?’ I sob.
Jamie puts his arm tightly around me.
‘I don’t know that he really left them with Tanja Tart. You said that the boys ran off when Dick went to pick up her caramel latte,’ he says.
Is that what I recalled to him? I don’t even know what Dick said. I am in a state of confusion; thankfully Jamie remembers what I have told him.
‘That woman. First my husband, now my boys. I hate her. Hate her, hate her, hate her,’ I scream.
‘Try to calm down a bit. Focusing your hate on that woman is not going to get the boys back. We need to focus on finding them now and keeping in touch with Dick,’ says Jamie.
I know this makes sense, but right now I need to pour out my pain and hatred on that horrible woman. If it wasn’t for her, so many things in my life wouldn’t have happened and now to lose the boys. This is the final straw.
‘Dick is their dad and I’m sure he is terrified. I don’t think Tanja Tart will be his favourite person right now, either,’ says Jamie.
‘I should think so too. And where are the police? Why aren’t they ringing me? I’m their mum,’ I say.
I’m their mum and I wasn’t even with them. What sort of mum am I?
‘They need to be out there looking for the boys at the moment. They’ll be busy,’ says Jamie. ‘I’m sure they’ll find them; the park they were in is massive. I’ve had a look online. They could be anywhere there,’ he adds.
‘That really isn’t helping, Jamie. They could be half way around the world by now. Put the news on,’ I demand. ‘Maybe there’s something on the news.’
There are so many channels it is difficult to find any news. It is mostly repeats of The Bold and the Beautiful and Judge Judy.
We finally find an American news channel who are talking about some shark that has been spotted on a beach. What if they have been eaten by a shark? Were they near the sea?
I start to imagine the next set of headlines. You know how the media twist these things.
MUM LEAVES KIDS IN THE COMPANY OF TANJA TART FOR NEW YORK ROMP AND KIDS GET EATEN BY SHARKS.
News reporters will be interviewing Mrs Hopkins in number 9, and she will be saying, ‘She was a terrible mother. She was always late for school with the kids and she once made a school project out of a wine box’.
She will definitely make me sound like an alcoholic.
She has never liked me since Jasper’s ball smashed through her prize petunias. I so hope the news reporters don’t knock on number 9. Please knock on sweet old Mrs Charles in number 12 instead.
I try Dick’s number once again. It finally rings out.
‘Hi,’ he answers. I feel as though I will explode with anger at him.
‘How could you have lost them?’ I scream.