The City that never sleeps.
I stood in front of the train station with a woman I barely knew anymore.
She used to be the person I knew the best but now today standing in front of me in her tastefully cut Donna Karen suit she seemed like a different woman.
"Bella you know your father would have loved to be here." She smiled feebly patting my shoulder.
I nodded even though we both knew this was a lie. My father was no longer any sense of the word. He was no longer Charlie the dad who would go to all of my dance recitals no matter how awful I was and went to all of the spelling bees I had come first place in. He was less of the man I knew, the man my mom married- the loving, caring, down-to-earth New York City policeman. And more like the politician people expected him to be. My parent's marriage was strained because of the change and if they didn't have me I was sure they would be divorced by now.
"Bella honey, don't look so forlorn. You know if I could have done anything to keep you with us…"
"I know." But truly inside I knew she was slightly relieved that I was leaving and she no longer had to lie to me.
"You'll be better off in New York. I know I had hard feelings for it and your grandmother but that shouldn't ruin your chances. And at any rate you would hate campaigning I certainly don't enjoy it but it needs to be done."
I nodded dejectedly understanding my dismissal.
"Don't worry mom I understand."
My voice sounded hollow.
Rene wiped a stray tear.
"Well your train leaves at four."
We lifted the few pieces of luggage I brought onto a small baggage cart.
Suddenly the tears came.
Renee wrapped her thin arms around my shoulders and squeezed.
The action felt stiff and forced her starched suit sleeves against the plain cotton of my worn tee shirt.
"I love you Bella and I'll see you in only three months."
She released me and her own eyes filled with tears.
"Goodbye Bella."
"Bye Mom."
I turned around pulling my cart with me I walked to the waiting area.
I wiped my eyes I would miss Rene but not the lady she'd become – the senator's wife –but the mother I knew was still inside the shiny well groomed shell.
And as I boarded the train I knew as hard as it was to admit it I was glad I was leaving.
I sat down in a seat by a window pulling Wuthering Heights from my large canvas carry on bag.
Luckily the trip to New York didn't take long as I got lost in the lives of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. But all too soon the train stopped into Grand Central and I was ushered from the terminal into a sleek black town car.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting, the train was thirty minutes late."
"Oh don't worry Isabella."
"You know my name?"
"Oh I'm sorry my name is William Black. I've been you're grandmother's driver for years now. She's told me quite a bit a bout you."
"Oh. But please I hate the name Isabella it bothers me call me Bella."
William's eyes crinkled with his smile.
"Well then you can go ahead and call me Billy."
He winked and turned back to focus on driving.
I smiled he reminded me of a happy grandfather figure,
As we pulled in front of my grandmother's town house –my new home for the next few months- I started to think that maybe New York was a nice place to live and it had earned it's reputation unfairly.