Chapter 25
Bethany
“Bethany, would you like to go out today?” My mother asks from the couch in her hotel room. I’ve been coming over as much as I can, wanting to spend time with both my parents while I have the opportunity. Who knows when we’re going to see each other again? Even though we haven’t had much time I’m so happy we’ve all been able to reconnect over my surgery. It may have been an awful circumstance, but I firmly believe it saved our relationship as a family.
“Sure.” I smile, unable to believe tomorrow morning they’re being taken back to the airport to Atlanta.
“I’m so tired of being stuck up in this hotel room. I don’t normally mind binge watching tv shows with you, but goodness, I need to stretch my legs!” As a teenager when I was home in the summer’s we would either binge watch shows, or read the same books. My favorite thing to binge watch with her as a kid was Lord of the Rings. Of course, we’d already read the books, and they were so much better. However, I never minded staring at Orlando Bloom for hours on end.
“Where should we go?” Mom asks, standing up and I watch as she grabs her crossbody purse from next to the TV.
“Well, we’re not too far from Times Square. You haven’t done much touring around, have you?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
My mom is the type of woman you have to push to do anything. I don’t think she’s afraid to go out on her own, but she’s definitely a socially awkward person. “Sounds good. Let’s go!”
I’m a bit surprised at her eagerness to go out into a place with thousands upon thousands of people, but I’ll take it. Knowing Dad, he’d rather stay inside and get some work done. As a kid, he always brought his laptop with him on our family vacations just so he could make sure he was staying ahead of schedule.
Mom and I head to the elevator down the hall and go downstairs into her hotel lobby. She didn’t stay at anything too fancy, but every New York City hotel has some element of extravagance with it. We head out toward the doors that lead onto the streets and I flag down a taxi, not wanting her to have to walk for an extended period of time. She’s been complaining for the last couple of days how her knees have been bugging her.
We slide into the back seat of the taxi. Surprisingly, I’m happy with the fact it doesn’t stink of the city streets. “Where to, Miss?” The driver asks.
“Times Square, please.” I respond, and the second I do he heads down the road and merges into more traffic.
Mom looks out through the windows, staring up at the skyscrapers. We’re from the pacific north west and while my Dad worked in a congested semi-city setting, my mother had worked in the county. “Are you alright?” I ask her, placing my hand on her shoulder.
She turns toward me, with a light-hearted smile crossing her face. “Yes, I’m perfect. You might not know this, but this is the first time I’ve ever been to New York City. While the circumstances may have been awful, I am grateful we were able to re-connect and had the opportunity to explore this city.”
Another fifteen-minute car ride in city traffic and the driver lets us out right around the corner from Times Square. We walk straight into the chaos that is New York. Tourists, bus tours, and New Yorkers combine in the streets. You can tell who are from here and who aren’t. The New Yorkers turn up their noses and sigh with frustration. Tourists smile, looking adoringly at the sights and sounds.
I have to admit, I’ve been to many places throughout the world, but there’s no place like New York.
“Let’s grab a coffee over across the street. Okay?” she asks, and I nod. I could go for an iced latte anyway.
The two of us head across the street as soon as traffic stops. There’s a small café that sits almost in the center of the square, but not quite. It kind of reminds me of a tiny island. “What kind of drink do you want?” Mom asks as we approach.
“I’m thinking a pumpkin spiced latte. I know it’s early, but I’d kill for one if I could.”
“Already? Oh, heck. What am I getting on you for? It’ll be time for them before I know it. Hard to believe September is only a couple weeks away, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it sure is. This year has gone by so quickly. Hasn’t it?” I question, realizing I just did what she always does, finishing a sentence with a question.
“Yes, it has.”
We go up to the café door and walk inside, entering into the glorious smell of spices and sweets. Upon entry I distinctively smell cinnamon, nutmeg and apples. Shoot, if they have an apple fritter I’m a goner.
“Oh, bear claws and apple fritters!” She sounds so excited as she says it. I can’t blame her, though. Mom is where my love for all things apple and pumpkin came from. Dad is a complete opposite, wanting things as bland as they can be.
“Can I help you two lovely ladies?” A British man asks us.
“I’d love two medium iced pumpkin spice latte’s please, a bear claw and an apple fritter.” I tell him.
“Is that all, Miss?”
“It sure is. Thank you.”
“That’ll be thirteen-forty-seven.” I dig in my purse and hand him a twenty-dollar bill and wait for my change. After he gives me my change, I put a couple dollars in the tip jar and head down the counter where I see others are waiting for their orders.
Oddly enough, this city coffee shop is pretty dang quick. We’re both handed our coffees, plus a bag with our goodies and go over to a booth in the corner of the shop, sit down and start sipping on our deliciousness.