New York City
Allison awakened in Mike’s arms in a strange bed in a bedroom she had never entered before. Yet she felt more content than she had in years, maybe since she used to curl up on the little bench in her mother’s colourful closet and dream about the future.
Home. That was how she felt now. Like she was safe at home. Lying there nestled against Mike’s strong body, she felt safe for the first time since her mother was snatched away from her. She didn’t move, afraid to dilute the magic.
They were going to Coney Island today to be silly adolescents. Because of the early losses both had suffered, they had missed that step. Allison smiled, thinking of it. They would ride the Cyclone and eat hot dogs and Mike would win her a teddy bear by hitting the gong at the Strong Man booth.
Somewhere during the night, Mike had told her he had something important he wanted to talk to her about in the morning. He wouldn’t say what it was, but she knew it was nothing terrible. On the contrary, she felt sure that it was clear sailing for her and Mike after their night together.
Somewhere around two in the morning, they had emerged from their love-tangled sheets, starving. Neither had eaten dinner. He made omelettes that were better than the ones she made. Omelettes and champagne looking over Gramercy Park still illuminated by gas lamps from almost two centuries ago.
They had talked through her madness of the night before. Mike understood her more than she had realised. He could relate to her fear of being abandoned, and that the fear was nothing short of terror. They both knew it was linked to the sudden loss of her mother.
In time, with Mike’s love and steadfastness, she knew she would learn to trust again.
That settled, they had returned to bed and made love again, then fallen asleep in each other’s arms.
Now the sun was bright. It must be almost noon, she thought, stretching like a cat. She couldn’t resist kissing him.
He stirred and, without opening his eyes, he rolled on his back and pulled her on top of him so their bodies were in perfect alignment. They fitted together like two lost pieces of a puzzle that had finally found where they belonged.
‘What about the Merry-go-round?’ he said softly. ‘Are we too old for the Merry-go-round?’
She kissed him gently. ‘Never too old.’
But there was to be no Merry-go-round that day. Or hot dogs, or serious discussions. Mike’s cell phone rang. He was about to shut it off without answering when he checked the caller ID. He slid her aside and sat up.
‘Captain Michael Dennison here.’
Allison also sat up and pulled a sheet around herself, watching his face with growing unease.
‘Where? What time? Has a rescue been launched? Got it.’ Mike was up now and pacing. ‘Who is on manoeuvres in the area?’ He listened. ‘Roger that. I’ll be at Teterboro Airport by 1300 hours. Have someone waiting, engines running.’
He hung up the phone. Allison searched his face for answers, afraid to speak.
He headed for the bathroom.
‘Kevin?’
‘MIA. Behind Enemy Lines.’
‘Oh, dear God. Are they looking for him?’
‘Of course. But they’ll never find him if he’s hiding. I need to go.’
‘What do you mean, you’re going?’
‘I’ll be able to find him. I taught him survival.’
‘So tell them. Tell someone where to look. Mike, you can’t go.’
The only sound from the bathroom was the noise of the shower.
Allison started to shake.