"Oh, count me in, in that case," David said and clapped his hands with glee. "I love that place. Fantastic clear water. Weather is amazing."
I glanced at Josh and he smiled at me and kissed my knuckles.
"We'll let you know when we make a firm decision," he said.
After our meal, which was authentic Korean BBQ, and which I worried would give me indigestion, we said our goodbyes, hugs and kisses and promises of keeping in touch, we left.
"Seriously, you two fly to LA anytime you need to get away from the cold. My door is always open to you both and the bedroom will always be ready."
David and Josh hugged and kissed, and they had a moment together, their foreheads pressed against each other. They'd been through a life-altering event together and it had changed them both.
As we left the house and I turned back to see the brothers standing on the front entryway, I smiled. I had always felt I lost out as a child not having other siblings, and now I had four, with the possibility of four sisters-in-law on top of it.
I truly felt blessed.
6
Josh
New Year's Eve in Times Square is an event of a lifetime if you're not from Manhattan, but for me, it was just a huge crowd of people, some of whom might be very drunk or intent on picking my pocket -- or worse. But Ella wanted to go and ring in the New Year surrounded by tens of thousands of others, so I felt I couldn't argue.
Reg wasn't happy, however. Before we left for LA, well in advance of the date, I'd spoken with him, wanting to arrange it so Ella could have her New York Ball Drop experience.
"It'll be nearly impossible to keep you safe if you insist on staying in the middle of the crowd," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"What are our options?"
He shrugged. "You could spend the evening in one of the clubs or restaurants in the area and then go out for the dropping of the ball at midnight. We could provide several bodyguards who could surround you, go with you into the crowd. You could stay for the ball drop, and then leave, going back to the venue afterwards. Or you could watch it on a flatscreen. Pretty much every bar with one will show the ball drop at midnight."
"Ella really wants the experience," I said. "Do whatever you can to make it happen. Get us a seat at The View. It's a good location close to Times Square so it won't be a big deal to get down to street level to watch the ball drop, get us in, and then get us out." The View was a revolving restaurant at the 48th floor of the Marriott, its patrons the well-heeled, and wanting a view of Times Square while they ate or partied.
Reg nodded. "If that’s what you want, that's the plan. I'll make it happen."
"Thanks," I said, and we shook.
So, when we arrived back in Manhattan and finished unpacking, we had to get dressed up and ready for our night on the town.
We both put on our best night-out-on-the-town outfits, me in a steel grey suit, black tie and white shirt, and Ella in a little black dress, hose and heels. Over top went our warmest coats, gloves and boots to protect us against the weather. Then, we were driven to The View near Time's Square where we would enjoy a dinner and drinks. When the time came, Reg and his crew would escort us to a spot where we could see the ball drop. It might not be in the middle of the crowd, but it would have to do.
I didn't want Mr. Fedora to show up and threaten either of us. I still had no idea who he was, but until I did, I took it as a threat to one or the other of us, or both of us.
Not the best end to one of the worst -- and best -- years of my life.
* * *
We sat at our table in 'The View' as it was called, sipping our champagne cocktails and admiring the scenery outside our window. The crystal was all polished, the silverware, too. Linen tablecloths, brass fixtures finished the decor. Suits were thousands of dollars each and the diamonds in the ears and on the fingers of the women were huge.
"I don't belong here," Ella said, glancing around at the other patrons.
"You do now," I said and wagged my eyebrows.
She smiled and took a sip of her cocktail.
"A lot happened to both of us this year," Ella said. "You lost your father, became CEO of MBS, and bought the Chronicle."
I took her hand. "And I met you." I kissed her knuckles tenderly. Then, I leaned over and kissed her as well. "But speaking of big years, how about you? You graduated with your degree, you and Jerkface split, you moved to Manhattan and landed a plum job with Macintyre Publishing with an office looking out over Fifth Avenue."
"And I met you," she said, mirroring my own words.