Love You Too: PART FIFTY THREE

-NATE-

"T? Are you okay?" I said, leaping out of bed to realise that she wasn't beside me.
"Morning" she said, braced over the toilet.
"Aww sweetie, here" I said, scraping her hair off her face.
"I'm okay now, don't worry" she said, sitting down.
"Here" I said, offering her a hand.
"No, I need to sit down"
"Let me carry you back to bed" I said, scooping her up off the floor.
As I lowered her carefully onto the bed, my phone began to ring. "Sorry" I said, as I answered it.
"Nate" the man on the other end said.
"Dad, how are you?"
"I'm good, how's Tiffany?"
"Not too good this morning, but it's to be expected. Poor thing" I said, looking down at her.
"I know what you're going through, your mother had a terrible time. Anyway, I called because I need someone to come in today and help out. We've got some Chinese in and they're interested in buying part of the company, and I need someone to come in and take them round New York. Are you up for it? I'll pay you"
"Dad, I'd love to help out, but I don't think I should be leaving Tiffany today"
"Well its up to you. It really would help and you don't need to be in for another two hours. Call me in the next half an hour if you change your mind" and with that, he hung up.
"What did your dad want?" she said, sitting up in bed.
"He wanted to know if I'd go in and entertain some Chinese business men today. I said no though, because I'd rather stay with you today" I said, sitting alongside her.
"Well I'd rather you helped your dad out. We're going to need all the support we can get when this baby's born, and with him on side..."
"You'd be alright on your own?"
"Of course! I'm going to have to get used to it when you're at school and I'm about to give birth anyway"
"I'm not looking forward to that" I replied, already dreading having to leave her.
"Well its a long way off" she said, reassuring me.
"5 months now"
"But still. Don't worry about it!"
"So you think I should go in?"
"Yes I really do" she replied, slowly getting up and heading over to my small closet. She went in for a few seconds before emerging with a pair of charcoal coloured suit pants and a blue shirt with white pinstripes. "Wear this"
"It's not too casual?"
"Then wear this too" she said, handing me the matching jacket.
"Thank you" I said, kissing her on the head and taking the clothes from her. "What are you going to do today then? I'll try and plan something for us to do later"
"Let me plan it. And I'll probably just wonder round the Upper East Side. I might go and see Sarah again"
"Good idea, but please be careful down there. I don't want you getting hurt"
"I will, don't worry"

-TIFFANY-
Nate left on the dot of 10am, and as soon as he left I dressed into a pair of white jeans and a grey loose sweater. I wasn't feeling overly glamorous today, so I felt this attire was perfect. I grabbed my black Ray Ban wayfarers as I left, throwing my hair into a messy topknot. I knew exactly where I was going to go first: my favourite cupcake shop. If you can't treat yourself when you're pregnant, when can you?
I walked down Madison Avenue, before switching to Fifth, and as I walked past Saks Fifth Avenue, I saw the ideal location for tonight's touristy date.
Across the street from the famous department store is one of my favourite places in New York: an area of greenery ranging from palm trees to fountains, right opposite the Rockerfeller Centre. I'd been up the tower many times, as it offered the best views of the city in my opinion. But I'd never been up at night, so I went inside to enquire.
"Hey, I was just wondering how much it is for two adult tickets at about 8pm?"
"$32 each" the man behind the register said to me.
"Right, and how much would it cost to rent out the top layer of the tower?"
"For you to buy it for the evening?" he said, in shock.
"Yeah"
"Let me get the manager" he said, backing away.
After a long time of debating and haggling, we finally settled on a price. It helped that the manager was a huge fan of Vogue and especially of last months edition, but I like to think it was my excellent haggling.
I continued past Times Square and down Broadway until I reached Baked by Melissa: the cake store that's ideal for dieters. The cakes are so delicious, and in a range of delicious flavours from cookie dough (my personal favourite) to tie dye, s'mores to cookies and creme. The best part about these cakes is their size: about the same size as the inside of your palm.
I ordered a dozen, knowing I'd eat three and keep the rest in the fridge.
As I continued back up to the Upper East Side, I found myself walking past my favourite store on the whole planet: Tiffany's.
I walked outside, glancing in all the windows at the elaborate displays that depicted scenes in Venice, adorned with Tiffany jewels. As I meandered around the outside of the store, I reached into my cupcake box and I began to eat another.
"You look just like Audrey Hepburn right now!" the man guarding the door said to me.
"Oh!" I said, realising how much I did.
"You're Tiffany aren't you?"
"Yes I am. Do you know me from Vogue?" I said, slipping off my sunglasses.
"No, I've seen you in here since you were a little girl. I remember faces and names!" he said, opening a door for me "Coming in?"
"Yes, thank you!"
He bowed in front of me, and held his hand out indicating that I should move into the heart of the store.
I looked around the ground floor of the store, taking in the atmosphere. I contemplated all the times I'd resorted to coming into this store; the amount of times I'd found solace inside these four marble walls.
I headed to the elevators on the back wall, and asked the attendant for floor 3.
"It's lovely to see you again Tiffany" he said, tipping his hat
"Thank you" I said, never before realising how many of these members of staff I recognised, and who recognised me.
"I stepped out, and was faced by a counter packed full of Tiffany Keys: one of my guilty pleasures. I looked at the array of keys: gold, Tiffany blue and silver, small, medium and large, diamond, plain and engraved. I simply had to have one.
"How much for this one?" I said, pointing to a key that was medium sized and silver, with 'Please return to Tiffany's' engraved on it.
"$185" the female member of staff said to me.
"I'll take it!" I said, gazing at its faultless exterior. Just as I was pulling out my card, another member of staff whispered into her ear.
"You're the... The... Vogue? Tiffany?" she said, eyes open in amazement.
"Yeah, that's me!" I said "I know you probably don't recognise me in these clothes. I'm just having a lazy day!"
"I think you look incredible! Oh my goodness! Well I've been told to give you a discount, so that's $120" she said, eyes still a little wide.
"Thanks" I said, handing her my card and smiling at the senior manager who had whispered in her ear. I recognised him as Marc, the man who used to come to dinner at my mother's when I was little.
I continued my descent back down to the ground floor of Tiffany's, Tiffany blue bag in hand. There is no better feeling than leaving a Tiffany's store, with a coveted bag in hand. I left the store glowing, waving to the gentleman on the door as I left, taking in the last of the summer rays.
It was September 1st, so summer was at a close. Tourists had left the city, and it was just us now: the locals. As I danced down the emptier Fifth Avenue, bag swinging beside me, I could help but feel an overwhelming sense of fulfilment. I was in a great place right now, and nothing could bring me down.