One Wish In Manhattan (A Christmas Story) (35 page)

A
ngel speared
an olive with her fork, missed its centre and sent it flying off the table and onto the floor. Hayley raised her eyes at her daughter and cast a glance out the window at the worsening weather. The snowfall had continued relentlessly the last few days and now there was a good couple of feet in places that hadn’t been cleared by the ploughs. Michel had started to become almost a constant in their lives much to Angel’s pleasure. Finally, just yesterday, Angel had gone out with him alone, to the Brooklyn Museum. Angel having her father in her life had also softened the edges around the conversation they’d had about Oliver being a little more than Dean’s boss. Angel hadn’t said very much and Hayley hadn’t pushed the subject. Her daughter was having to take on so much at the moment it wasn’t fair to expect her to adjust to everything overnight. But she knew Hayley and Oliver were dating and for the time being he was still called Mr Meanie. Hayley still didn’t know when she was going to explain Oliver’s health issues, if at all. The truth was, they hadn’t talked about it much themselves. They’d spent the last couple of days just enjoying being together. Eating burgers bigger than dinner plates, browsing the shops on Fifth Avenue, taking in the sights and sounds of a city gearing up for Christmas. Oliver’s heart condition and the McArthur Foundation fundraiser – those two topics were strictly off the agenda for now.

‘More garlic bread, Angel?’ Tony asked, winking at her.

‘Tony, if you give that child any more garlic bread she’s going to be keeping vampires away for the foreseeable future,’ Cynthia stated, raising her head from her leather portfolio.

‘My dad likes garlic bread. We had some for lunch the other day,’ Angel informed.

‘Want to see how we make it here?’ Tony offered. ‘Special, secret recipe dough,’ Tony informed.

Angel stood up, scraping back her chair. ‘Can I, Mum?’

‘No eating it,’ Hayley warned.

‘Come on,’ Tony encouraged. ‘What happens in the kitchen stays in the kitchen.’

Hayley took a sip of the white wine she badly needed and pushed a piece of paper towards Cynthia. ‘Here’s the details of the table magician.’

Subtle, she’d found, was the best way with Cynthia. The woman looked at the print-out with a dubious expression on her face.

‘He comes highly recommended. I spoke to three hotels that have had him work there. He’s been on TV and he even supported David Copperfield back in the day.’

‘And you think the fundraiser attendees will find this appealing?’ Cynthia asked with scepticism.

‘Have you ever had a table magician before?’

‘No and there’s probably a very good reason for that.’

‘Illusion is really on trend, Cynthia, I promise you.’

‘Is he expensive?’

‘No, and with
my
magical skills of persuasion I reckon I can get him for a song … well … a trick … you know what I’m saying.’

Cynthia sighed and let the paper drop to the tablecloth. ‘It’s futile to oppose, I’m guessing.’

Hayley grinned. ‘You won’t regret it.’

Cynthia gave her a warning look over the top of her designer reading glasses. ‘No live animals.’

‘I promise,’ Hayley said, slipping the magician’s details into place.

‘So,’ Cynthia said, closing her folder and taking a grip of her wineglass. ‘You and Oliver.’

Hayley swallowed. They hadn’t talked about this at all. She knew Cynthia knew and she was sure Cynthia knew Hayley knew she knew but she didn’t know how to broach the subject. She had gone from terrible hygiene operative to fundraiser planner then to the girlfriend of Cynthia’s son in such a short space of time. They’d only talked business. There had been a lot to organise. And she had been avoiding it.

‘Yes, it’s becoming a thing since the embarrassing ice skating photos made the papers.’

Cynthia smiled. ‘I haven’t seen him look so happy in years.’

Hayley nodded and clutched her wine glass a little tighter. Oliver’s condition was at the forefront of her mind. She took a breath. ‘How did you do it?’

‘Do what?’

‘Love someone who wasn’t going to live a long life and not let it seep into everything.’ Hayley shook her head. ‘When he first told me it didn’t make a difference. I care for him so much it just seemed unimportant …’

‘And now?’ Cynthia asked.

‘Nothing’s changed, I still want to see where this is going and I feel more for him than I’ve ever felt for anybody, but knowing what I know makes me question everything.’ She sighed. ‘Is this going to be the last burger we share together? Could this kiss goodnight be it for us? Should he be running around the park or should he be taking things easy? What happens when Angel eventually accepts him and gets too close?’

‘Never, ever think about it during sex,’ Cynthia stated.

‘Whoa!’ Hayley said, clapping her hands over her ears. ‘Table magician, table magician.’

Cynthia laughed. ‘Listen, although Ben and Oliver’s grandfather died young, before we lost Ben we didn’t know about the gene. I’ve had most of my life not having to think about it. Which is why you have to persuade Oliver to do the sensible thing.’

‘The sensible thing?’

Cynthia sucked air in through her teeth. ‘I knew he wouldn’t have told you all of it.’ She shook her head, her set blonde hair moving only slightly. ‘There’s a chance he might not have the gene,’ she stated. ‘There’s a test.’

Hayley was mid-sip and she coughed, trying to hold onto her wine. ‘What?’

‘Last year, just before Richard died, we had a letter from a consultant, a heart specialist. His team had done extensive research into the condition and they had come up with a test that can detect the abnormality. They offered Richard and Oliver the chance to take it, to rule out or rule in the condition.’

‘And they didn’t take it?!’ Hayley exclaimed.

Cynthia shook her head. ‘Neither of them. Both extremely stupid and very selfish. She sighed. ‘I think, getting to sixty-five had surprised Richard already. He felt he’d had a good life and he was going to go out any way the good Lord saw fit. Oliver … well he’s been convinced he’s dying ever since Ben died.’

Hayley shook her head. She couldn’t believe this. He had a chance. He might not have the gene and he wasn’t going to find out one way or the other. It was crazy. And he was selfish! Why wouldn’t he take the test? He could find out once and for all that he didn’t have this condition! She looked at Cynthia. ‘Did Richard have the defective gene in the end?’

Cynthia nodded sadly. ‘No one knows how he survived as long as he did but I’m grateful for it every day.’

Today, in the middle of a snowstorm, ice cream was a big thing. Oliver let a breath go, watching it mix with the freezing air and twist with the exhaust fumes of the slow-moving traffic just in front of him.

Hayley was trusting him here. Showing him that what they had started together really meant something to her. He had his first official date with Angel and he was petrified. He had no idea how to be, or what to do and he was now competing with a new father on the scene who, from all accounts, was adapting excellently to his new role.

A yellow cab crawled up alongside the kerb and stopped. The back door opened and out Angel came. Winter boots on her feet, jeggings and a red woollen coat covering the rest of her. Her brown hair was tied up in two ponytails, reindeers on the elastic bands. She looked to him, wrinkling her nose slightly. He smiled, waved a hand. Angel just carried on looking.

Hayley got out of the taxi and closed the door behind her, waving a thank you to the cabbie. His insides clenched at the sight of her, like they always did. He smiled and she didn’t respond either.

‘Hey,’ he greeted as they approached the entrance of Marvin’s Ice Cream Emporium.

‘Hey,’ Hayley responded, a frosty note to her tone.

He clapped his hands together. ‘All ready to fill ourselves with the good stuff?’

‘We ate a lot at Romario’s at lunchtime,’ Angel informed.

He frowned, pushing open the door for them. ‘You went to Romario’s?’

‘It was a business meeting, with your mum, about the fundraiser I’m not allowed to mention,’ Hayley stated, sweeping past him.

‘I didn’t say you couldn’t mention it.’ He took her arm. ‘What’s going on?’

‘I don’t know, Oliver, you tell me.’

Her expression was hard and he really had no idea what he’d done to warrant it.

‘Ooo, Mum, they’ve got hundreds of different toppings!’ Angel exclaimed, excitedly, stepping onto the black and white tiled floor of the shop and looking to the counter.

‘Well, if you’ve got room around that loaf of garlic bread in your stomach then you go for it.’

‘Hey, Angel, let me show you what I always had here when I was your age.’ He stepped away from Hayley and led the way into the shop.

‘You came here when you were nine?’ Angel asked, looking up at him.

‘I started coming here before I could walk. My brother liked it,’ he stated, staring through the glass at the different containers of ice cream and toppings.

‘More than shrimp?’ Angel asked, fixing her gaze on him.

The question took him by surprise. ‘How did you know he liked shrimp?’

‘Cynthia told us. We’re having shrimp for the starter at the McArthur Foundation fundraiser.’ Angel smiled proudly. ‘It was my idea. The main course is Mrs Futcher’s daughter’s favourite food and the pudding is a special cheesecake Mr Wright’s wife used to make before she got ill.’

Oliver swallowed. It was wonderful and heart-breaking all rolled into one. Just like the foundation itself. He put a hand on Angel’s shoulder. ‘And you came up with that idea all by yourself? Your mom’s always telling me how smart you are. Now I really know.’

T
he smell of toffee
, caramel, chocolate and cream was so powerful it was almost sending Hayley into a sugar coma on its own. But despite the sweet ambience it was difficult to be here, sharing this first proper meeting between Oliver and Angel, when she was so mad with him.

‘Can I have another bowl?’ Angel asked, looking up at them both, a chocolate button stuck to her chin.

‘Angel, you’ve had three already,’ Hayley reminded her.

‘I know but I really wanted to try the mince pie flavour and that’s limited edition. It mightn’t be here after Christmas Day.’ She batted her eyelashes at Hayley then turned the eyes on Oliver.

‘One more?’ Oliver asked, the question directed at Hayley.

‘She’s playing you,’ Hayley told him.

‘I know. I don’t care. It’s almost Christmas,’ he responded, grinning at Angel. ‘Go get yourself some more.’

Angel leapt up and rushed to the counter while Hayley finally let out the sigh she’d been holding in for an hour.

‘Are you going to tell me what’s going on?’ Oliver asked, picking up his coffee cup and cradling it in his hands.

Hayley folded her arms across her chest, her eyes going to Angel, ensuring she was far enough away not to hear.

‘When you told me you were going to die young you neglected to mention quite a crucial little thing.’ She stared at him.

‘What?’

‘That there’s a test you can take to see if you have the rogue gene.’

Oliver shook his head. ‘My mother told you that.’ He put the coffee cup down. ‘She had no right to.’

‘She had every right to. I’ve put my faith in you, Oliver, you’re meeting my daughter right here, in the capacity of someone I care deeply for, you should have told me.’

‘What difference does it make?’

‘You might not have the gene!’

He shook his head again. ‘Don’t do that, Hayley. I’ve told you how things are. Don’t hang on to any false hope that I’m going to be drawing an annuity, because my condition is
hereditary
. My brother had it, my father had it, Grandpa Drummond …’

‘Oliver, for God’s sake, there’s a test to take. Even if you
do
have the condition at least you’ll know for certain.’

‘I
do
know for certain. I’ve been having warning signs for months now.’

‘Then take the test and get a little piece of paper that says you’re going to die young. It’s clarity. It’s being prepared. It’s …’

‘Being reminded.’

‘You’re being bloody-minded and selfish,’ Hayley spat. ‘I want to know. I want to see it in black and white. Because until I do I’m always going to be hoping it’s not true.’

He let out a sigh. ‘You told me you could deal with this.’

‘I can, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’m still into the
Miracle on 34
^th
Street
kind of thing.’ She sighed. ‘And you of all people should still have some faith in wishes.’

She watched his reaction to her words, hiding her lips in her cup of hot chocolate. She knew confirming what he thought would be hard for both of them but there was a tiny part of her still gripping tight to the belief that life couldn’t be that cruel to this family, or to her.

‘When they wrote to us, the test was still in its early stages. They used the words
experimental
and
risk
.’

‘Anything’s got to be better than nothing, hasn’t it? And things will have moved on.’

She watched him, his eyes looking into the mid-distance, as if a hundred thoughts were invading his brain at once. Was she asking too much of him? In a week she would be returning home and what happened to their relationship then? There was only so much you could do on FaceTime.

Finally he nodded. ‘If it means that much to you …’ He reached for her hands and joined them with his. ‘If clarification is what you need then … I’ll do it, I’ll take the test.’

Joy filled her up and she smiled, squeezing his hands tight. ‘Thank you, Clark.’

‘Oliver!’ Angel called. ‘Shall I have rainbow sprinkles or chocolate chips?’

Oliver smiled at Hayley, letting go of her hands and getting up from his chair. ‘Are you really asking me that question, smart kid? You know the answer, have both!’