not much. We should be fine,” she said as she stepped back indoors. “Tell me you brought sensible walking shoes, or our first stop will be at a store.”
“I brought some Adidas and a pair of Madden boots,” I said, hoping that was good enough. I didn’t own anything other than them and a bunch of sandals and flip-flops.
Danika pivoted her head from side to side like she was hitting an imaginary ping-pong while she thought. “Wear the boots. But if your feet start hurting, let me know.”
“Okay.”
“Is there anything you want to see?” Danika asked as she sat back down in one of the barstools after pouring out four mugs of coffee even though neither boy had come out of their rooms yet.
“I thought you were going to show me everything.” I started to pout as I pulled out the stool next to her and sat just as both guys walked out, fully dressed and ready for the day. It wasn’t fair that it took guys ten seconds to get ready when us girls had to adjust our whole appearance before we could even leave the house.
“I am,” she reassured my overactive brain. “But I was just wondering if there was anywhere that was a must-see on your list.”
“Morning,” Chance said as he planted a kiss on Danika’s cheek and stood across the counter from us. He reached for one of the mugs, poured something weird and green in it, stirred, and took a sip.
“I want one too,” Mac said as he kissed the side of my head before joining Chance at his side of the kitchen instead of sitting down.
“What are you girls talking about?” Chance asked, and Danika told him that we were trying to plan the day.
I interrupted, “I want to see Central Park. And what’s that famous hotel that’s in all the old movies?”
“The Plaza?” she asked.
I snapped my fingers excitedly. “Yes! The Plaza. And, um …” I paused, trying to think of where else we could go, but I was drawing a blank.
Mac leaned across the counter between us. “Not to be a downer or anything, but I’d really like to go to the 9/11 Memorial. If no one else wants to go, I can go alone,” he started.
I swallowed hard as the images from that day flooded my mind. None of us were old enough to remember when it had happened, but every year on the anniversary, the same horrifying pictures and videos were repeatedly shown that it felt like we had been.
“I want to go,” I said.
“Me too,” Chance agreed. “I haven’t been yet.”
Danika looked sad, and I wondered if her dad had known anyone who died that day or not. “Of course we’ll go. It’s important. You should see it.”
“Not today though,” Mac interjected. “Just at some point before we leave, okay?”
“Is that big tree up yet?” I asked, meaning the one they showed on television every year.
“The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree?” Danika asked, shaking her head. “It doesn’t go up until December. But I think Macy’s decorated their Christmas windows already. You have to see them. You’ll love them, Sunny. I wonder what the theme is this year,” she kept talking to herself, and I found myself getting emotional.
New York was filled with so many familiar things that had been made famous by television shows and movies, and now, I’d get to see them all in real life. It was surreal even if I wasn’t sure exactly why, and I wondered if this was how people felt about Los Angeles when they visited for the first time.
“We should eat something light here. Then, we can walk over to Central Park. That could take hours. We can go into The Plaza Food Hall for lunch. And then we can swing by Times Square and the Macy’s windows. How’s that sound?” Chance asked, sounding like a New York native already.
“I forgot about Times Square,” I said, smacking my hand on top of the counter like a little kid. “How could I forget about that?”
“Go get dressed. Wear layers, Sunny. I have a jacket for you. Maybe two pairs of socks,” Danika directed. Clearly, she was feeling better already.
“Two pairs of socks?” I complained. I’d never worn two pairs of socks in my life. What if my shoes don’t fit over them?
“Trust me,” Danika said. “Your toes will thank me.”
I got ready in record time, not wanting to waste a single minute of daylight. My head was spinning as Mac walked into the