New York Valentine Read online

  ‘Oh yeah, I can row, baby. Somewhere in the bottom of my sock drawer, I even have a rusty old medal to prove it.’

  He stood up and offered her his arm.

  As they walked together in the direction of the boating hut, Annie finally grinned at him with a stunned excitement. ‘I’m so chuffed you’re here.’

  ‘Are you sure? You looked a little appalled back there.’

  ‘I’m still shocked. But I’m very pleased to see you. It’s getting a bit intense with the dress thing. It’s all still very up in the air. We may have a factory, we may not … they may do the dresses in time, they may not.’

  ‘Inner calm,’ Ed suggested.

  ‘Inner Valium, more like.’

  Annie watched Ed row with giggly admiration.

  ‘Ooooh, what broad shoulders you have,’ she teased, ‘oooh what strong arms.’

  It was so strange to see him here and to see him without at least one baby in his hands. It was rekindling all sorts of tingly romantic thoughts.

  A hunk in a college letter sweater streaked past them, rowing so hard he was pink with effort.

  ‘Harvard rowing team?’ Ed asked. ‘You’ve got to get the practice in.’

  The water smelled clean and green as they floated over it. On the rocks beside the shore small turtles were basking in the sunlight.

  ‘This is so nice. Why didn’t we do this the last time we were here?’ Annie wondered.

  ‘We were too busy exploring other important new areas.’

  ‘We were.’

  Almost all the sightseeing on their last visit had been done inside their locked hotel room.

  ‘Have you flown all the way over here expecting the same again?’ she asked with a smile.

  ‘Well … hoping for some of the same,’ Ed answered. ‘If you can fit me into the hectic schedule, obviously.’ He pointed to her bag where her phone was now ringing.

  ‘Hi?’ Annie answered.

  Elena was on the other end of the line: ‘The factory we like, the one in Connecticut. The owner wants me to meet him there, this afternoon. Annie, you have to come with me.’

  Chapter Seventeen

  Business Elena:

  Grey silk shirtdress (Perfect Dress sample)

  Snakeskin courts (Ferragamos via Svetlana)

  Large purple tote (Marc Jacobs via Century 21)

  Total est. cost: $160

  ‘We long way from Manhattan now.’

  As Elena stood in the hallway urging Annie to hurry up because otherwise they would miss the train, Annie explained at speed to Lana that Ed was in the café downstairs working his way through the muffin menu.

  ‘He’s expecting you to go and join him. I’ve told him to wait there for you. Then you have to look after him until I get back. He’s flown all this way!’ Annie was flooded with guilt: ‘Now I have to go off for the afternoon.’

  She really didn’t want to be in a factory for possibly four or five of the precious hours that Ed was here on his surprise visit. But Elena needed her and Annie was going to have to put business first. It was the reason she was here. They would all just have to get on and deal with it.

  ‘We’ll have a wonderful evening … and the whole of Saturday and Sunday. And he’ll enjoy being with you today,’ she added, to try and calm her guilt. ‘He’s in the café,’ she repeated.

  Lana, freshly showered – it was a teen thing, teens had showers whatever the time of day, maybe because they had no routine – stood holding her towel about her, hair dripping into a little pool on the floor. She knew that when her mother was this wound up it was best to just stand and listen, nodding frequently.

  Then, all of a sudden, Lana’s towel slipped and Annie found herself faced with a full frontal view of her daughter’s full frontal waxing.

  She gasped, and it was hard to recover the conversation from there.

  ‘Probably on his fifth muffin …’ Annie attempted, but then she just had to blurt out: ‘A Brazilian? Have you seriously had a Brazilian? Here? In New York?’

  All the things that this meant whirled around Annie’s head. You didn’t have a Brazilian just for yourself, you had a full frontal scalping to show off to someone else, that much was fact.

  ‘Lana, you’ve not known this guy for very long,’ Annie said gently. ‘Really I should sit you down on the sofa and we should talk right now … but I have to get into a cab with Elena.’

  ‘You’re talking all New York,’ Lana said with a smile.

  ‘You’re looking all New York,’ Annie replied, pointing low.

  ‘Muuuuum, you’ll have to step back a little and leave this to me. I know you want me to look after myself and I will. Now go. Go!’ Lana insisted, ‘I’ll look after Dad for you, even though he probably has a map in his wallet of all the music shops he wants to visit now that you’re out of the way.’

  ‘Probably.’

  Annie kissed her daughter on the forehead. Even in her heels, she had to reach up to do that now. ‘See you later.’

  Pittsfield, Connecticut was not Manhattan. This was obvious as soon as the cab had pulled away from the station and Annie and Elena, along with their fabric rolls, were being driven through a suburban landscape of long streets, grocery stores and houses hidden behind gardens and fences.

  ‘Those cute little mailboxes with flags,’ Annie heard herself pointing out.

  ‘Ya,’ Elena was intrigued by this different scene too, ‘we long way from Manhattan now.’

  The factory was a low brick building right on the outskirts of the small town. A row of cars sat in the joyless car park. Peeling paint and faded signs showed that there had almost certainly been better days at Fashion Parade Inc.

  Elena paid the taxi fare and then the two hauled their fabric towards the reception.

  The man at the door didn’t exactly scream ‘fashion’. In his baggy checked shirt, faded beige cords and small gold-rimmed glasses, ‘Grampa’ was the word more likely to jump to mind.

  But Brad Barrington seemed pleased to see them at first. He shook their hands, ushered them into his neat office and made some small talk.

  But when they lifted the fabric up onto Brad’s big table, along with the design sketches and thin paper patterns that Elena took out of her bag, he didn’t look quite so enthusiastic.

  ‘Making up these patterns in stretchy jersey will be difficult,’ he pointed out. ‘Take the gathered sleeve there, with the bow at the end. I don’t know if we can do that, for example.’

  ‘Maybe you could give it a try?’ Annie asked encouragingly.

  ‘I’d rather not. We’ve got a very narrow time frame here.’

  ‘We have to have the sleeves like this,’ Elena insisted. ‘It is supposed to look like upmarket and chic, but in sweatshirt material. This is the style.’

  Brad Barrington scratched the back of his head and took a long, appraising look at the sketches.

  Silence. One of those silences when clearly no one wanted to back down.

  Annie and Elena stole a little glance at one another. They weren’t going to give in. If Brad here wanted their business he would have to give the dress sleeves a go.

  ‘All right …’ he said finally, ‘I’ll give them my best shot, but I can’t promise they’ll come out OK. Could we have that in the contract? If they don’t work, then we’ll put something simple on there, a button cuff maybe?’

  ‘Yes,’ Elena said, ‘but tight button cuff, then much looser sleeve gathered into it.’

  Annie was impressed with the way that Elena was so on top of all the details.

  ‘Well, if you ladies would like to get comfortable in the waiting room, drink a coffee or two, I’ll take some of your fabric and your paper patterns and we’ll go make you a dress right now so you can see what it’s like.’

  ‘Now? Really?’

  Annie couldn’t believe it would be so quick.

  ‘Yes, really. Settle in over there, read through your contract with us and I’ll come back with the first finished product. H
ave you brought labels for us to sew into the dresses?’

  Elena snapped open her bag and handed over an envelope.

  It was not even twenty minutes later when Brad returned with the dress.

  Annie jumped up from her chair and headed towards him, desperate to take a look.

  Turning the hanger this way and that, she showed the dress to Elena. ‘Look at the seams, so straight, so cleverly done. Ooh, I love the way the skirt flares out.’ Although it was a straightforward shirtdress, the panels of the skirt were cut diagonally to give plenty of flippy movement.

  ‘How are the sleeves?’ Elena asked, her deep voice still solemn.

  Brad held them out for her to inspect. ‘They didn’t go as badly as I’d thought. In fact we got very close to your original design here, we’ve just shortened the ties a little to make it a bit easier to handle.’

  ‘And this you can do on all the other ones?’ Elena asked.

  ‘Yes … yes, I think so.’

  ‘Good.’ Elena didn’t go over the top with her approval. She was touchingly businesslike.

  ‘Try it on,’ Annie urged her, ‘just slip it on over your dress and we’ll get an idea of what it’s like.’

  Elena stood up and slipped her arms into the grey sleeves. She buttoned up the front and did a twirl for Annie and Brad.

  Annie could see now how genius these dresses were going to be. She loved the chic, uptown colourful, silky numbers that Perfect Dress had been producing so far, but this was the fantastic downtown version. A slouchy, casual but totally pulled together look which everyone was going to love. Heels, a belt and a beret, it could do the school run, even the office at a push. Leggings, flats and a slouchy bag, and it was totally sexy weekend.

  ‘I love it!’ Annie said. ‘Isn’t it cool?’ she asked Brad, but she sensed the term was slightly lost on him. This was a man in a checked shirt and saggy cardigan.

  ‘It’s a nice design,’ Brad said professionally, ‘your designer’s really thought the pattern through. It works. Apart from the sleeve, it’s all very simple.’

  The contracts were signed, the delivery dates were agreed and as they climbed into the taxi, Annie felt truly optimistic about the dresses for the first time since she’d touched down at JFK.

  ‘I hope you’re pleased,’ she told Elena. ‘I really think this is going to work, and he’s promised to get everything to us in time for the first due dates!’

  ‘I have to go and show the new dresses to the clients, make sure they still want these dresses, even though they are different from the ones they ordered.’

  ‘But they will,’ Annie enthused, ‘I’ve worked in fashion for years and I know that these dresses are absolutely perfect for right now. They’re really going to sell.’

  Elena still didn’t look especially happy and Annie wondered if it was to do with Sye. To Annie’s knowledge Sye had barely been in touch from his model shoot. But he was due back in town tomorrow, so surely the lovely couple would be able to make up then.

  They sat silently for a while, then Elena’s phone began to ring. She looked at the screen and issued a totally Svetlana-like ‘Tschaaa’ of disapproval.

  Sweeping her hair out of the way, she pressed the phone to her ear.

  ‘Sye, yes, hello. How are you?’

  Annie tried not to listen, but she was in the back of a cab with not much choice. Well, especially as the conversation now took an unexpected turn.

  ‘I am very busy, Sye,’ Elena began. ‘I don’t think I have time to see you this weekend. I don’t know when I’m going to have time to see you … no not next week. Sye … maybe not ever.’

  There was a pause, which Annie assumed must be Sye objecting. But to her amazement all Elena said in reply was ‘No, I don’t think so, Sye. No. Goodbye.’

  With that, she hung up, stuffed the phone quickly into her handbag … and burst into tears.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lana’s dinner date:

  Dark blue boob tube (J. Crew sale rail)

  Black harem trousers (discount warehouse)

  Blue suede three-inch heels (on loan from Elena)

  Silver clutch (Macy’s)

  Packet of condoms (Duane Reade)

  Cloud of perfume (duty-free sample)

  Total est. cost: $125

  ‘Just coffee!’

  As Annie slid the plastic card into the hotel room lock, Ed called from the other side of the door. ‘Annie?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ she said pushing the door open, ‘it’s me and I’ve made it back from the wilds of Connecticut.’

  Ed, wet-haired and wearing a fresh shirt and pair of trousers, was lying on top of the bed. He patted the empty space beside him.

  ‘Lie down, enjoy the soothing breeze of the air conditioning and tell me all about it.’

  It was the best offer Annie had heard for hours.

  She dumped her bags and flopped down onto the cool white sheets. This bed was so soft and springy compared with the sofa bed. ‘Heaven …’ she told him.

  ‘I know: just you, me, a locked hotel room.’

  ‘Was sightseeing fun?’ she asked, turning to put her arm over his waist.

  ‘Yes, but I have even more fun in mind,’ he said and moved in to kiss her on the lips.

  ‘Mmmmm … smooching, it’s been too long,’ she agreed.

  But right on cue, her mobile began to ring.

  ‘Leave it?’ Ed suggested.

  ‘I can’t,’ Annie replied, already up, reaching for the phone, ‘it might be Lana, it might be home … someone might really need me.’

  ‘But I really need you,’ Ed complained.

  ‘Hello … hello?’ There was no sound at the other end, but Annie immediately knew who it was. ‘Mum, is that you, are you there?’

  Ed sat up.

  ‘Mum, it’s Annie here. Did you mean to phone me? Isn’t it very late at home?’

  ‘Annie, I can’t sleep and I just wanted a little chat,’ Fern began.

  Annie noticed how tired her mother’s voice sounded. ‘How are you doing?’ she asked soothingly.

  ‘Oh not too bad. Not too bad at all. But I can’t sleep and I thought you might still be up.’

  ‘I’m in New York, Mum,’ Annie reminded her.

  ‘You’re in New York? What? Now?’ Her mother sounded astonished, as if this couldn’t possibly be right.

  ‘Yes. I’m here for a few weeks.’

  ‘All the way over in New York? Why didn’t you tell me?’

  ‘Well, I did, Mum, but it must have just … gone to the back of the queue, you know.’

  This was their code phrase, because any mention of ‘forgotten’ or ‘forgetful’ made Fern upset.

  ‘Oh no, dear, I wouldn’t let a thing like that go to the back of the queue.’

  ‘I wouldn’t come all the way over here and not tell you, would I, Mum?’

  ‘Well … I don’t know,’ she said, ‘you do always like to rush off here, there and everywhere.’

  ‘Mum, you’re phoning me, all the way to New York on my mobile. I think you should put the phone down and I’ll call you right back.’

  ‘Good grief,’ Fern exclaimed and put the receiver down without another word.

  ‘Would it be cheaper to call her back on the mobile or the hotel phone?’ Annie asked Ed.

  ‘I have no idea.’

  He leaned over and selected a magazine from the bedside table. He had a feeling this was going to take some time.

  ‘I just want to settle her down. Make sure she knows everything’s OK.’

  ‘That’s fine … of course.’

  ‘Are you sulking?’

  ‘Just a bit. I’ll get over it. We’re supposed to be meeting Lana for dinner in …’ he glanced at his watch: ‘twenty-five minutes. You don’t have to miss that, do you?’

  ‘Of course not. She’s going to try and bring Taylor along. I’m not missing that.’

  ‘If you phone your mum back, the romance window will have to close.’

&
nbsp; ‘I have to phone Mum back.’

  ‘I know. Pity.’

  ‘Well, they managed to stay for a respectable two courses,’ Annie said, looking over at the two empty seats at the other side of the restaurant table.

  ‘I don’t think Lana ate much though, she was too excited about him and too nervous about us,’ Ed pointed out.

  ‘She was nervous? I was terrified. For 20, he is quite scary. How often did he mention the words “career plan” and “resumé”? I have no idea why he’s hanging out with Lana and not trying to date an heiress or at least the boss’s daughter.’

  Ed smiled. ‘I know, but don’t be too harsh. I deal with guys like him all the time at St Vincent’s. Their parents are rich and important and all that self-confidence and sense of entitlement rubs off on their kids too. I know sixteen-year-olds even more bullish than him. Please, let’s not fret too much. This is their first week of dating. Lana’s on holiday over here, it’s not as if we’re discussing her future husband.’

  Annie gave a little shriek of terror at the very thought. Then she noticed Lana’s empty glass. ‘He topped up her wine glass more than once … do you think she’s OK?’

  ‘She was when she left,’ Ed reassured her. ‘Taylor said he was going to buy her a coffee and see her back to the apartment. I’m sure everything will be fine. She has a phone if there are any problems. “Just coffee!” she said.’

  ‘I’ve told her he’s not allowed back to the apartment with her. I’m sorry if that’s a bit Victorian but I’m with you, Elena’s probably out, and Lana’s only known this guy for a few days. Way too soon.’

  ‘For unsupervised access,’ Ed added, trying not to smile.

  ‘Bloody right.’

  He reached across and took her hand in his. ‘What about us? Are we tired?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘But are we going to have a coffee? A little dessert? Try to rally?’

  She slipped her hand over his: ‘Two double espressos and a chocolate mousse might do the trick.’

  ‘Here’s hoping.’

  Over the chocolate mousse and coffee, they sent a couple of texts to Dinah and Owen to make sure everything was fine at home, then finally the bill was paid and Ed and Annie made the short walk back to their hotel.