“I’d forgotten how beautiful it is here.” Lucie held tightly onto Dale’s arm as they entered Central Park.
“Me too. It’s absolutely perfect. I’m so happy that we’ve come back.”
Snow had fallen heavily the night before and everything was white. The trees either side of the walkway were black against the steely sky and all sounds seemed muted, except for the tweets and warbles that came from those birds brave enough to remain in the park through the winter months.
“Wait up, you two!” Glenda called as she hurried behind them, dragging Hank in her wake.
“I can’t believe that’s the Dakota just across the road,” Hank said, his eyes wide with excitement.
“We were like that last year, Dad. It’s amazing seeing Manhattan for the first time.”
“It’s amazing seeing it for the second time,” Lucie added.
Lucie breathed deeply of the icy air and a thrill ran through her. They’d saved hard for months to make a return trip to Manhattan, something that had been made easier by paying just one mortgage, as Dale had finished his house renovations in August and Lucie had moved in with him. She was still getting used to living somewhere so spacious after being at her flat, but every day after work, she experienced a wave of excitement as she knew she’d soon be heading home to Dale.
Glenda and Hank had been keen to accompany them to New York ever since they’d been asked. It was a first for Glenda, being away from her family over the festive season, but since Lucie and Dale had returned from New York last December gushing about their trip, she had vowed to try new things, including travelling further afield. They’d arrived in the city two days ago and were staying at a very nice hotel just five minutes’ walk from Central Park. It wasn’t The Plaza, and it wasn’t as luxurious as the hotel they’d stayed in last Christmas, but it was in a good location and had everything they needed. Its nightly rate was reasonable, which meant that they’d be able to do some Christmas shopping too.
They stopped in Strawberry Fields in front of the Imagine mosaic. Just like last year, the ground around it was covered in snow, but someone had wiped the centre clean.
This time last year when they’d stood here, things had been so different. For starters, Petra had been about to get married, but after catching Harry in the toilets with Tania, she had decided to make some big changes in her life. Petra was currently backpacking around the world courtesy of her employer, and the monthly emails she sent Lucie suggested that she was having a fabulous time. As for Lucie, she was still working at St. Clothilde’s, but she was also doing an Open University Masters in Creative Writing, which she was thoroughly enjoying. She wasn’t sure yet what direction the qualification would take her in, but it was exciting knowing that there would be possibilities available to her.
“Imagine.” Hank rubbed the toe of his boot over the edge of the mosaic. “I’ve always wanted to see this. Thanks for inviting us. I don’t think we’d have got round to coming out here if you hadn’t. Right, Glenda?”
She shook her head. “It was something we talked about years ago, but then having the boys and being so busy, we accepted that we probably never would.”
“Life is for living, Mum and Dad. I told you this.”
“I did worry about leaving everyone over Christmas but Helen said she’d be fine going to her parents’ this year and, well… as for Ieuan, he’s probably having a great time in the Maldives with Barry.”
“Things change, Mum. They can’t stay the same forever.” Dale patted his mother’s shoulder. “Anyway… I have something I need to attend to.”
Lucie caught a look between Dale and his mother. Something was going on.
Dale walked to the centre of the mosaic and took a deep breath then released it slowly.
“Dale, what are you doing? You look like you’re about to recite Shakespeare or something.”
“No, my darling. Not quite.” He pointed at the mosaic beneath his feet. “Lucie Quigley… Imagine a man and a woman who’ve been friends all their lives. Since they were very young children. Can you do that?”
Lucie chewed her bottom lip. People had stopped walking and were staring at Dale as if he was taking part in street theatre.
“Lucie! Answer him,” Glenda said.
“Oh. Yes, Dale. I can imagine that.”
“Okay then. Now imagine that they went all the way to Manhattan for a winter wedding one year and during that trip, they finally admitted how they felt about each other.”
“I can do that,” she said.
“Now… Imagine if one year later, the couple made a return trip to New York. And…” Dale dropped to his knees. “The man told his girlfriend how much he loved her, how much he’d always loved her and asked her to be his wife.” He reached into his coat pocket and brought out a small black box. “How’d you think that might go, Luce?”
Lucie looked into his big brown eyes. She felt light and floaty, as if she were made of gossamer and at any moment she’d be carried away on the breeze.
Dale opened the box and there, in the centre of a cream satin cushion was a ring. Lucie moved closer and gasped. “It’s just like my pendant.” She fingered the tiny silver book with an opal heart on its cover, that Dale had given her last Christmas.
“Yes, Lucie. I had it made especially to match.”
“It’s a silver band set with diamonds and the heart is an opal,” Glenda interrupted. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Mum!” Dale frowned at Glenda. “Shhh!”
“Sorry!” Glenda placed a gloved finger over her lips.
“Lucie, I cannot imagine my life without you. Will you please be my wife?”
Lucie glanced at the crowd of people who’d gathered around the mosaic. Every pair of eyes flicked between her and Dale.
She crossed the space between them and held out her hand. “Yes, Dale. Of course I’ll be your wife!”
He pulled off her glove, and slid the band onto her ring finger. As he stood up, Lucie fell into his arms.
As their lips met and Dale swung her off her feet, the crowd erupted into applause.
When they finally stopped kissing and Dale lowered Lucie to her feet, she held up her left hand and gazed at the ring. It shone as she moved her hand from side to side.
“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful, Dale.”
“I have.”
“Really?” She met his eyes.
“Of course. You – my beautiful bride-to-be!”
“Congratulations!” Glenda and Hank enveloped them both in a hug, and the crowd of onlookers began to disperse.
Something cold landed on Lucie’s nose. She looked up. Snowflakes floated down from the sky, white and feathered, cold and wet.
“I’m sure she knows,” Dale whispered. “Wherever she is.”
“I think she does,” Lucie replied, her heart full of emotion. Dale knew her so well.
“Now then… how’s about champagne at The Plaza?” Hank asked. “Our treat?”
“That sounds fabulous, Dad. We’ll catch you up.”
Hank and Glenda walked away and Dale pulled Lucie into his arms.
“Merry Christmas, Lucie Quigley.”
“Merry Christmas, Dale Treharne. You know… I thought last year was my best Christmas ever! But I think this one even beats that.”
“Really?” His eyes sparkled as he scanned her face.
“Really.”
Then, hand in hand, they crunched through the snow, headed for The Plaza, fully intending to celebrate their engagement and to enjoy a very merry Manhattan Christmas.
The End