day we could go back and explore it in style, even though we had yet to make that happen.
Till today. Till right now.
We clasped hands as we approached the city. I knew from the way the corner of Audra’s lip dug into her cheek, she had missed none of our exuberance, but I didn’t care. It was thrilling to be back in the city that never slept.
I heard if I could make it there…
Whether we looked stupid or not, Fern and I couldn’t resist craning our necks to look up at all the towering skyscrapers as the limo prowled between. As we got closer to the hotel where we were staying, I felt my heart race. Suffice it to say, it was a hotel I never thought I’d have the funds to actually book. It looked like a castle itself, right across the street from Central Park. Heads turned as we arrived. Audra handed us bags complete with hats and sunglasses, which we donned immediately.
“Invite no attention. Make no eye contact. Walk swiftly. Stay with me.”
The concierge met us when we arrived. Audra took control of everything, while Sean stayed behind to tend to our bags. Before I knew what was happening, we were whisked up to an opulent penthouse suite that took our breath away the second they opened the door. It was a two-story suite with separate bedrooms on each level. The first floor overlooked the park, and the second-floor master featured a private terrace overlooking midtown.
Roses were waiting for us, including Charlemonde roses and the Aldaynean Rose, which oddly made me feel more at home in the surroundings now that I knew their special history.
I climbed the stairs to the second bedroom, where petals had already been laid on the bed.
Fern was right on my heels. “Mmhmm,” she said in that knowing way of hers. “Nothing romantic about that at all.”
I laughed. “Come on. We have a photo to take.”
We headed out into the city to complete the task presented to us by our younger sister. With our faces hidden under tourist hats and sunglasses, we blended into the crush of people around us, who didn’t seem to care who we were or what we were doing.
It was paradise.
Though we wanted to prowl the park, the Empire State Building was in the opposite direction. Sean ensured we got there safely and in quick order so that we could head up to the top to get the picture we had promised Dallas. Sean took it. God bless him, he tried not to smile as we took a dozen, some silly, some serious. I wore Dash’s tutu wrapped around my wrist for every single one.
Once the required task was complete, Sean left us for a moment so that we could enjoy the view for ourselves. It took our breath away as we stood there, arm and arm, looking over the city in the early afternoon sun.
“This is every bit as amazing as I thought it would be,” Fern said.
I shook my head, thinking about our extraordinary circumstances. “No. It’s better.”
She nodded in agreement.
On the way back down, we stopped in the gift shop to ensure we got some goodies for our siblings. I couldn’t resist a little touristy snow globe, which was my first unofficial gift for Peanut. I wanted him to be surrounded by tokens of my adventure.
We headed straight back to the hotel. Fern spied a hot dog cart next to the park. “Ooh let’s get a hot dog!” she exclaimed.
My stomach rebelled. “You’re on your own,” I said. “I just want a nap.”
She pouted. “Party pooper.”
When the car stopped, she hopped out and headed for her hot dog and I headed straight for the room. I was in the elevator when I felt my phone buzz in my purse. It was the platinum phone.
“Hello.”
“Hi,” I said, a little more breathlessly than I intended.
“How was your flight?”
I laughed. “You mean the magic carpet with wings?”
I was rewarded by his warm, soft chuckle. “I suppose I do.”
“It was amazing,” I said, angry that I couldn’t find a better adjective. Amazing was what you’d call a sunset. Miraculous was more along the lines of what Auggie produced on the regular.
“I hope you were able to get some rest. We have a busy day.”
“We do?”
“A couple of friends of mine will be visiting you, to prepare you for the show and after party tonight.”
“Oh,” I said. That wasn’t on the schedule. “I guess I should have taken my nap on