A Walk in Wildflower Park Page 27

  ‘Hey, slowly,’ said Hudson, taking the glass off her. ‘It’ll be completely fine. I promise you.’ The way he looked into her eyes as he said it made her insides turn to mush. ‘Let’s get something to eat and then I’ve booked us in for a massage.’

  ‘Booked us a massage?’

  ‘It’ll help you to relax.’ He tilted his head. ‘It’s not together or anything weird.’

  ‘Good. Thank you. Nothing weird is good.’

  She drank plenty of water at Hudson’s instruction, took the medication her doctor had prescribed to help her stay calm and came back from her massage feeling like she couldn’t be bothered to do much at all. Before she knew it, Hudson was gathering up their carry-ons and ushering her towards the gate, which turned out not to be a gate at all but another less equipped waiting area.

  All was well until Hudson took her over to where three small children had their noses pressed to the glass of a giant window. Anna saw what they were looking at – an enormous plane. Her knees buckled and at the same time Hudson’s hand snaked around her waist to keep her upright.

  She looked up into his blue eyes. ‘I’ve got you,’ he said.

  The tunnel down to the plane was the best part. The enormous plane she’d seen through the glass seemed much smaller on the inside. Their seats were near the front and as soon as she’d sat down someone was offering her a glass of bubbly, which she politely turned away.

  Hudson made sure she had what she needed from her bags and then stowed them in the overhead lockers and began fiddling with a screen that seemed to have popped up out of nowhere.

  ‘You okay?’ he paused to ask.

  ‘Yeah. Are we taking off yet?’ She held her eye mask tightly in her hands.

  ‘No. About twenty minutes.’

  It surprised Anna how much waiting around was involved. ‘It’s like airlines want to give you maximum opportunity to get as panicky as possible. If you checked in and went down a chute straight onto the plane it would be far better.’

  He gave her a warm smile. ‘You could suggest that on your feedback form.’

  Her eyes darted about agitatedly. Everyone else was either settling down to read a paper, getting out a laptop or fiddling with their screen. Nobody else was panicking.

  ‘Distract yourself with something. Watch a film.’ He pulled out the inflight magazine and handed it to her.

  When the plane started to move she hadn’t expected it to go backwards. ‘What’s happening?’ Her voice was a squeak. ‘We’re going backwards.’ She didn’t remember this bit.

  ‘It’s called push back. We are up against the terminal building so they have to reverse away. We’ll soon be going in the right direction.’

  Or straight to hell, was all she could think. And she closed her eyes and tried to stem the panic. It didn’t feel like the medication was kicking in yet. A loud noise engulfed the aircraft and Anna let out a shriek. Hudson’s warm hand enveloped her own. She opened her eyes and then quickly closed them. She couldn’t speak. Her shoulders were so high they were almost touching her ears. The noise increased and the plane started to speed forward.

  ‘It’s okay,’ said Hudson. His voice soothing and in total contrast to the unholy racket the plane was making. His thumb tenderly stroked across her knuckles and she fleetingly thought how nice that might be if she weren’t having a panic attack.

  ‘Is this normal?’ she managed to squeak out.

  ‘Completely normal. And here we go.’

  ‘Argh!’ Anna couldn’t halt the small scream that burst from her when the front of the plane came up. Her heart was racing. Her eyes were tight shut. She could feel sweat sticking her hair to the back of her neck. She gasped in some air.

  ‘Here, sip some water,’ said Hudson, prising her fingers from the arm of the seat and giving her a cup. She opened one eye and took it from him. ‘You did it. You’re flying. Well done.’ He pretend chinked his paper cup against hers.

  She glanced over to the nearest window and nearly vomited as the plane banked, dipped down one side and clouds whizzed past to reveal green fields a very long way below. Hudson took back the cup of water.

  ‘This was a very bad idea.’ Anna resumed clutching the seat.

  ‘Here’s what we’re going to do,’ came Hudson’s dulcet tones. ‘You are going to keep your eyes closed. Not scrunched up like used teabags,’ he said. His voice was low and methodical and almost a whisper, making her concentrate to hear him. ‘Okay?’

  She nodded her reply.

  She felt him lift the armrest between them and move his body closer. He was now leaning against her shoulder. He spoke softly into her ear. ‘You are doing great, Anna. I need you to concentrate on your breathing. We need to slow it down. Deep breath in …’ He paused. ‘And slowly exhale. That’s awesome.’ They did this a few times and she could feel her pulse returning to the right side of normal. ‘Now, let’s let the tension out of those shoulders. Imagine they’re a Lilo and someone is letting the air out. Let those shoulders drop down. That’s great.’ She could feel his breath on her earlobe and it made her shudder. ‘I want you to think about your favourite place to sleep. Picture it and …’ Hudson’s voice had a soothing rhythm to it and whilst Anna was listening she also wasn’t.

  Before she knew it a sweet female voice was asking someone near her if the lady would like something to eat. She heard Hudson whisper a reply. Anna smiled when she realised the lady must be her. She opened her eyes and yawned.

  ‘Hello, sleeping beauty,’ said Hudson, his eyes twinkling.

  For a moment Anna wasn’t sure where she was. It was a nasty reality jolt to remember she was sitting on a plane. Her mouth was dry but she checked it for dribble anyway. ‘Hi,’ she said, looking about her feeling slightly dazed. She was a lot better for her nap and not nearly as anxious as before.

  ‘About fifty minutes to landing,’ said Hudson, closing his book.

  ‘What?’ Anna was stunned. Had she really slept that long? She checked her watch – she had. ‘You’re like the horse whisperer but for phobic flyers.’

  Hudson smiled. ‘Would you like something to eat? You’ll need to be quick before they start getting ready to land.’ He handed her the menu. It was like reading something from a posh restaurant.

  Hudson waved a hand to attract the stewardess and she appeared at his side. ‘Yes, sir. What else can I get you?’

  ‘I’d like the crayfish sandwich, please,’ said Anna, noting how the stewardess seemed to struggle to drag her eyes away from Hudson. She gave him a fresh look. He was very handsome; he could easily be mistaken for a film star. She mused over how she’d almost come to accept it.

  Anna’s sandwich arrived and she was aware Hudson was talking but she could no longer hear him properly. Her ears had gone all fuzzy. She began opening her mouth wide and waggling her head from side to side like she had water stuck in her ears. Hudson was watching her. ‘Here,’ he said, reaching into his bag and pulling out a lollipop. ‘It’ll help to clear the pressure in your ears.’

  ‘You think of everything.’

  ‘I do my best. Now don’t worry if there’s a little bump when the wheels hit the runway. It’s perfectly normal. Okay?’

  ‘Okay,’ said Anna and it really was. It was okay that she was on an aeroplane at thirty-nine thousand feet and it was okay that it was about to land in New York. A city she had dreamed of visiting since she was a teenager. Everything was a lot more okay thanks to Hudson Jones.

  Hudson repeated the breathing exercises with her as they came in to land and Anna had to force herself to concentrate and stop grinning like a lunatic. But something made her act like a teenager every time he whispered in her ear.

  Hudson led the way and they trooped off the plane and were soon reunited with their luggage, through immigration and being whisked away from the airport in a yellow cab. It felt very special to be cocooned in the back with Hudson. He had a brief chat with the driver and they were soon speeding towards Manhattan. Anna switched her p
hone off airplane mode and it beeped as it delivered messages from her dad, Sophie and Connor all asking if she had got on the plane. She was pleased to be able to fire off a few quick replies to say she had survived the flight and was now in New York. She felt like she needed to pinch herself. She was actually here. She’d done it.

  ‘I know I have no right to be, but I’m proud of you,’ said Hudson. ‘You have conquered your fear of flying. That’s remarkable.’

  ‘Only thanks to you and I can’t guarantee I won’t be a gibbering wreck when it’s time to go home.’ Although she had to admit she was quite proud of herself too.

  ‘Stay alert, we’re going to see a few of the sights on our way into Manhattan.’ Was she imagining it or had Hudson’s accent got a fraction stronger from being on American soil?

  Hudson leaned in. ‘Look ahead.’ Through the windscreen she saw her first glimpse of New York City. The iconic grey skyline she’d seen many times on TV and in films.

  ‘This is the Brooklyn Bridge,’ said Hudson, leaning closer.

  Anna nodded; she was dumbstruck. It was like being in a film. From the taxi she saw the Woolworth Building, Chase Bank and One World Trade Center. She almost twisted off her head trying to catch a glimpse of the famous Coke bottle when they whizzed through Times Square. Before long the taxi pulled up outside their hotel. The driver got their cases from the boot and Hudson tipped him.

  ‘I figure until we step inside the office tomorrow our time is our own. So if you don’t have any plans, would you like me to show you around?’ He looked somehow hopeful.

  Anna didn’t have any plans. This was due largely to her not really believing she would ever make it onto the plane. ‘No plans. I’ve not even got a guidebook,’ she said, dismayed by her own lack of forward planning. ‘Let the adventure begin.’

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Their first stop was a street vendor selling pretzels. The taste of the warm fresh pretzel was divine. Anna and Hudson exchanged raised eyebrows whilst they munched. Hudson’s phone rang and a frown crossed his face as he answered it.

  ‘Emily? I’ll call you back.’ He ended the call. Anna was watching him and he seemed to read her mind. ‘Emily is … my stepmother.’

  It shouldn’t have mattered to Anna who it was on the phone but somehow it did. Hudson tightened his lips and kicked at an unseen stone. She knew his relationship with his father was strained so it was likely relations with his stepmother weren’t a lot better.

  ‘Come on, there’s somewhere I want to show you.’

  After a fair walk they approached a small coffee shop, stopped outside and took in the frontage with its many long windows and dark wood. Anna suddenly realised what she was looking at. ‘You’ve Got Mail,’ she said, clapping her hands together, recognising the coffee shop from the film.

  ‘Correct. Welcome to Café Lalo.’ Hudson was beaming and seemed rather pleased with himself.

  Inside was stunning and Anna felt like she was walking onto a film set. Flashbacks of her much-loved movie swam into view while they got their drinks and some macarons, because Hudson insisted they were the best in town, and found some comfy seats.

  ‘I love it. Thank you,’ said Anna. She was giddy with excitement. She couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to New York than this.

  Day two was less exciting but their first day in the office had gone exactly to plan. The office itself was a floor of an impressive building in Lower Manhattan. Although the building was stupidly tall their company was situated on level four, which was a bonus. It was still high but no higher than the UK offices so Anna knew she could cope. They’d spent most of the day in meetings but they were all productive and informative. It surprised her that she could see herself working there but she could see Hudson fitting in well too.

  Hudson had disappeared for a bit whilst Anna was typing up the day’s notes and when he returned the twinkle in his eyes meant he was fired up about something. ‘Are we nearly done here?’

  ‘I think we are,’ said Anna, her fingers traversing the keyboard at speed. ‘I just need to email this to Roberta so she’ll pick it up first thing tomorrow and know we’re on schedule.’ It was very late but they had packed a lot into their first day.

  Hudson was fidgeting. ‘When you’re done, I need to show you something.’

  Anna glanced up and took in the boyish glee in his eyes. It made her want to know what it was straight away. He ignited a curiosity inside her. ‘Okay. Two minutes.’

  Her phone beeped and distracted her. It was Connor. He had been messaging her a lot. Each message was supportive but she was hoping he’d be asleep by now. She wasn’t sure why she wanted that. Did she need a break from him? She felt uncharitable for thinking it. She replied with a smiley face and switched the phone off.

  After a brief ride in a yellow cab Anna found herself in what appeared to be a small coffee shop. They chose drinks and Anna looked about for a food menu but there wasn’t one. ‘I thought you said they did food?’ asked Anna, and the waiter raised his chin and eyed her suspiciously making her think she’d said something wrong. She wondered why there were so few people when there had been quite a number ahead of them in the queue.

  The waiter checked over both shoulders before leaning forward and in a husky whisper he spoke to Hudson. ‘Dial twenty and say Denny sent you.’ He jerked his head at a payphone in the corner, which Anna had seen another couple use a minute ago. The couple must have left because they weren’t there now. Hudson was grinning. It was like he got the joke but she didn’t.

  ‘What’s going on?’ she asked, with growing unease.

  ‘You’ll see,’ said Hudson, approaching the payphone and doing as the waiter had instructed. Hudson seemed to get some instructions. ‘Yep, got it. Thanks.’

  He replaced the old-style phone receiver and they went around the side where the sign said toilets. There were two toilets but Hudson was pushing on the wall. To Anna’s surprise another door was revealed and they stepped out of the small quiet coffee shop into a large vibrant restaurant. It was like magic. The room was filled with velveteen furniture, opulent 1920s’ décor, elegant chandeliers and ornate mirrors. Someone dressed like an old style gangster greeted them warmly and showed them to a table.

  ‘This is so cool,’ said Anna, giggling a little at the silliness and subterfuge.

  ‘Isn’t it? This is all for the tourists now but during prohibition this really was a speakeasy. Somewhere you could get illegal liquor.’ Hudson’s eyes were alight.

  ‘I love it,’ said Anna. And she was starting to think New York wasn’t the only thing she was falling for. She busied herself with choosing starters and hoped the confusing thoughts that were swamping her brain would disappear. She had Connor waiting for her at home. But he wasn’t exactly waiting patiently – he was messaging her every five minutes.

  The starters were the size of main courses and she wished she hadn’t ordered ribs. Although when they arrived she was sure she could find some room for them. Their conversation was easy: a mix of work and social that flowed naturally.

  Hudson raised his glass. ‘To you conquering your fear of heights and flying.’

  She clinked glasses. ‘I think just the flying one was cured today. I’m still not sure about heights.’

  Hudson seemed to be thinking. ‘I thought it was one phobia?’

  Anna thought about brushing it aside like she always did. It was something she never discussed but without much thought she knew she wanted to share a little about her reasons with Hudson. ‘It’s a very long story but I knew someone who had an accident when I was at university. Her name was Esme and she fell from a balcony.’ She fought to keep her mind on the facts she knew rather than the questions that haunted her.

  ‘That’s terrible. Was she okay?’

  Anna shook her head. ‘She’s been in a coma ever since.’

  ‘And you witnessed her fall?’

  Anna took a drink of cranberry and wished it was something stronger. ‘No
. It was my party, but I’d passed out in my bedroom. I was woken by the screams when she fell. They were playing some stupid drinking game apparently.’ Anna’s mind was going over the events of that fateful evening as it frequently did. ‘If I hadn’t drunk so much, I would have been with the others on the balcony and I might have been able to save her.’

  ‘That’s why you don’t drink,’ said Hudson.

  ‘You got me,’ said Anna.

  ‘Please don’t tell me you blame yourself for this.’

  ‘Yes. I always have. She was my friend, I invited her, and it was my party …’

  Hudson took her hand. ‘Anna. You are the sweetest thing but you have to let this go. Yes, it was a terrible accident. People make bad choices in a nanosecond. This was not your fault.’

  Anna wasn’t sure whether to pull her hand away or not. She liked the contact. It seemed to make his words all the truer. ‘I can’t risk being in the same situation again, which is why I won’t drink. And it happened just a few years after we lost Lynsey so I was a mess for a while and it definitely compounded my phobia. But I think coming here has already shown me that perhaps I am starting to move on.’

  ‘I’m pleased. You deserve to be happy, Anna. Are you happy?’ he asked, his eyes locked on hers.

  What a question. She was momentarily floored. Right now, right at this moment, was she happy? There was only one answer. ‘Yes, Hudson. I’m happy.’

  Anna found herself longing for the office days to be over so she could spend time with Hudson. The combination of the vibrancy and life that flowed through New York and the bond deepening between them were to blame. She loved her job and it was going well but it was what was happening outside the office that was taking up all her thoughts. She spoke to Connor every lunchtime and each time it was like the distance between them was widening. She was calling him because she felt she had to. He was keen and interested, which made her feel guilty for enjoying her time in New York and, more so, her time with Hudson.

  Hudson looked up from his laptop. ‘I’ve finished the write-up. Did you track down the finance information Roberta asked for?’