Honeymoon fun…
XX
Matthew lightly smacked Mary's backside as she lay naked under the sheets. "Get up lazy legs." He said playfully into her ear as he leaned over and caressed his fingers down her bare back.
Mary just groaned and pulled the sheet up higher over her body. He thought he heard a murmured "shut up" under her breath but he was not sure.
Matthew had awakened early despite the jet lag from the trip from London to New York. He was still getting used to all the time differences and had changed his watch to reflect the Eastern Standard system.
They had left Downton later than they wanted the morning after the wedding. They had awakened somewhat sheepishly but agreeably satiated to realize that they had overslept well into the midafternoon of the next day.
Mary pulled her sheets down, woke up with a start as the sun streamed in upon her face, and pressed a still asleep Matthew until he too opened one eye and said, groggily. "What?" His stubble, grown in from the clean shaven wedding look, rubbed against her cheek as she leaned in to his face insistently whispering in a not so quiet voice, "Get up!"
He blinked and closed his eye again.
She pulled his sheets all the way down making him groan in the chill of the air as the fire had gone out sometime during the night. Or was it the early morning Matthew dreamily queried himself when they had laid down next to the glowing embers as he massaged her naked back.
They had returned to the bed and the covers after the chill was too much and snuggled down while Mary spooned up against his backside. Eventually they fell asleep.
The memory was sweet. But the morning sun finally struck his face and Matthew opened his eyes, finally awake. His blue eyes blinked rapidly in the light.
"Ugh!" He groaned again and sat up only to enjoy the vision of Mary rushing about the room picking up clothes and pulling others out of the suitcase. "What, my darling, are you doing?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"I'm trying to clean up before anyone sees what a mess we left the room in." She huffed as she, to his everlasting amusement, threw clothes in the suitcase.
"Well I wouldn't miss this for anything." Matthew said quirking a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Thank you for waking me." He gestured to her with an outstretched arm, "Please continue." Mary was still half naked wearing the bottom section of a pair of pyjamas she had taken out of his overnight bag.
Mary threw his clothes at him. He grinned again and got up to shower.
By the time they had finished eating (where they had to endure a somewhat awkward entrance into the dining room while the rest of the family lunched), packed the car back up, hugged and received well wishes from everyone, and returned to Oxford, they fell into bed again. This time to sleep. Soundly.
The day after they left in mid-morning for Heathrow, going through all the checks and impersonal poking of the security officers. The plane mercifully took off on time and while Mary spent most of the trip idly watching movies or listening to an audio book on headset, Matthew worked and read.
They arrived at Kennedy eight hours later around noontime and found their way to the apartment of the auction won financier where they were to stay for the next four or five days. It was located off Central Park in one of the tall, majestic towers along the renowned green space in the middle of the sprawling city.
The doorman, looking at them at first suspiciously until Matthew produced some identification, took them to the door of the apartment, gave them the keys and said if they had any questions or directions he could tell them the best places to eat and sites to see.
Because of the time lag and tiredness from the flight they did nothing that first day except sleep and laze about the luxuriously appointed bedroom. Matthew found the size of the apartment to be on an enormous scale. At one point early the following morning (or was it late the night before?) while Mary slept he walked through the place thinking that their entire three floor Oxford flat would fit inside just the living area. The kitchen had all the gadgets and appliances one saw in a catalog. The owner had his housekeeper fill the refrigerator and cabinets for them.
Matthew walked across the hand scraped hardwood floors to the sculpted marble island upon which stood the coffee maker. He scrunched his face into a puzzled expression. He stared at the gleaming metallic surface and all the knobs, screens and spouts of the cappuccino machine.
After a couple of false starts, he gingerly pressed a couple of buttons. He jumped as the whooshing and gushing sounds gurgled from the device.
"Hmm…." He said to himself. "That sounds right." He rummaged around some more and found some large handled mugs.
He brought the coffees back to the bedroom where he found Mary, half under the covers, still murmuring oaths against his desire to wake her up.
Matthew put the coffees on the night stand and rather than fight her, he joined her back in the bed. She murmured a more pleasurable sound as he shed his t shirt and sweat pants and wrapped his arms around her and they snuggled once more under the sheets.
They made love again, pressing his need against her backside as she moved up and down. He grasped her breasts and massaged them as his arms came from around her back. He gripped her nipples making her moans louder and more insistent. After entering and taking her to climax their bodies collapsed into the bed. Matthew continued to idly run his fingers across her soft, tender skin as Mary continued to doze, giggling and moving closer into him as goose bumps ran up and down her body.
XX
When they finally emerged from the apartment a couple hours into the early morning of their second day in the city, both were showered, dressed and ready to take on the city's sites. The friendly doorman gestured to Matthew to talk subway stops and give specifics on the purchase of metro cards.
As Mary looked at some brochures, Matthew and he were in deep conversation about the NYcitymap app he had downloaded to his global ready phone. Mary found it delightfully amusing just how attached her former Luddite boyfriend had become to his mobile. He was practically giddy when another app told them which subway car door to enter in order to get out directly at the exit ramp to 50th Street.
They walked the rest of the way wandering down some of the various streets surrounding the Broadway district pointing out the Cort Theater (considering whether to attend the Ian McKellan/Patrick Stewart double play currently on stage) and the historically majestic old Walter Kerr Theater across the street.
Passing the M&M Hershey's candy story and all the other commercial enticements, they were encouraged by a friendly but determined store owner to get them into his establishment where they purchased various trinkets and magnets as gifts. Matthew bought some sunglasses as he had forgotten his own back in Oxford.
Putting them on as he glanced up at the morning sun, Matthew said looking at his map app, "Where to now?"
"I don't care." Mary said trying not to be irritated and taking his hand. "Put that damn phone down and let's just walk." She gave him a side eye look with eye brow raised.
Matthew sheepishly grinned back and stuck it back into his front jeans pocket. He put his arm around Mary's shoulder. "Alright, my Lady. Lead on." He kissed her cheek and squeezed her shoulder.
A couple blocks on and they found themselves in the center of Times Square. The iconic neon and LED images glowed even in the bright sunshine.
"I should have rented a moving billboard for my proposal!" Matthew said, smacking his head in a mock gesture.
He cocked his head and pushed his sunglasses slightly down his nose where he cast his cobalt blue eyes directly over at Mary.
"Your family would have liked that, right?" He grinned as he gestured at the commercial sign above their head.
"Over my Dad's cold, dead body they would." She said returning the sardonic tone.
She fussed with hair, in the wind, as it had blown over her face. Matthew pushed it back behind her ears as he gave her a quick kiss.
They got caught up pointing out the oversized screens that screamed out advertisements of brand named drinking products, upscale clothing establishments, theater shows, and venues for concerts.
The pedestrian traffic had picked up and their slow pace as they pointed out various brightly lit signs or stopped to take a picture irritated the city dwelling natives who shoved them out of their way and hurried on across the busy streets.
"Hey!" Matthew finally shouted, as he was shoved yet again. "Why don't you look where you're going?" The passing individual gave him a New York welcome with his finger. Matthew laughed.
Finally arriving at the cross streets surrounding 5th and 7th Avenue, Mary did some window shopping while Matthew went into the Metropolitan Museum of Art store. Mary came out of certain high end clothing establishments with bags on her arms. Matthew gave her a questioning look but she ignored him.
They decided to follow the brightly colored flags to Rockefeller Plaza.
Matthew tried to take a picture of them both on his mobile.
"Damn it." Matthew grimaced when once again half his face was cut off in the picture.
He hailed down a couple walking past.
"Hello." Matthew said using the modulated smooth tones of an Oxbridge graduate.
He gave the dark eyed woman his best, dazzling smile. "We're on our honeymoon and we promised her kid sister we'd take lots of pictures near all the famous landmarks."
He pushed his blonde hair back across his face while his blue eyes dancing as he looked over at her, he blinked and said…. "Would you be so kind…" and while she was still gazing at him he quickly handed the mobile over and they posed in front of the bronze gilded statue of Prometheus.
"You are awful." Mary said, after she waved and said thank you as they walked away. She poked him in the side. "She might not recover from that encounter."
Matthew just grinned. "We got a great picture, though." He said, showing it to her before sending it to the Instagram account they had set up.
Too late in the season for ice skating, they wandered around the walkway and meandered around some of the book stores and other shops. Eventually they walked inside the building and across to the ticket center for Top of the Rock. Taking the sky shuttle hurtling the 67 floors to the top of Rockefeller Center they exited into the wind and sunshine.
"Let's go right to the top." Matthew said excitedly taking the steps two at a time up to the next level where there were no shields against falling over the side of the art deco inspired building. It was a clear view all around across Central Park where they tried to locate their 35th floor apartment.
They walked around the other side and found themselves staring at all the skyscrapers that was the New York skyline. Matthew pointed out 1 World Trade Center which had replaced the twin towers and the Statue of Liberty beyond in the harbor.
"Stand next to the Empire State building." Matthew gestured to Mary to stand near the iron barrier across to the iconic tower.
"More to the right. Yeah. Right there." And he clicked the button. Matthew loved the picture of Mary grinning madly trying to curb her windblown hair with her fingers. They took a selfie as well and, having it come out better, sent it to Sybil, "MMCrawleys at the Top!"
After some more wandering around the museums including a rushed visit to the Museum of Modern Art to see van Gogh's Starry Night and some of the Picassos and Chagalls on permanent display, Matthew pointed to his watch.
"We've got to get going." He said as Mary was purchasing some decorative items at the gift shop.
"Alright, alright." Mary responded. "I thought we had plenty of time. The game is not until tonight."
"Yes but it's already going on for four." He said, point to the dial. "And we've got to dump this stuff back at the flat… I mean... apartment. Ha!"
"We can always take a taxi back." Mary reasoned. Matthew rolled his eyes. But after he got confused as to which street to take back to the subway station, and was about to pull out his mobile…er cell phone... Mary put out her arm and with great flair that earned her honorary native New Yorker status, hailed a cab.
"Get in, mister!" She gestured to the open door. And smiled as Matthew sheepishly agreed. He threw the bags into the trunk and got in beside her.
Once they returned to the Central Park area apartment, Mary opened the packages she had bought while along 5th Avenue. She gave the one labeled with a famous men's fashion designer HB to her husband.
"Here." She said, "Call it a belated wedding present." And he opened the bag to find a close fitted, lined black leather jacket with turned down collar, straight zipper, and metal hardware snap pockets.
"Fantastic." he said excitedly. He put it on and put his hands in the pockets. "Thank you my darling." Matthew walked over to Mary and she put her arms around his waist and he bent down and kissed her.
"What?" she joked? "No lecture on wasting money?"
"Well," He reasoned. "It is going to be cold tonight." And he turned to Mary in a more serious tone.
"Speaking of gifts…" he started. "I've been holding back until the right moment to give this to you. I know… I know I didn't get you a proper wedding present yet…"
She interrupted and showed him the beautiful engagement ring he admitted he was still paying for.
"I mean a proper wedding present." He said, walking over to her again and putting out his hand to join him on the sofa. He handed her a small wrapped package. "Not that this is a proper gift…" He stopped.
"Anyway," he said, speaking again after handing it to her. "Open it."
Mary, a bit confused but excited all the same, opened the package to discover a book on Greek mythology.
"Seems we have more in common with our previous namesakes than we thought." He grinned as he pointed out the story of Andromeda had been marked for perusal and a document inserted into the pages.
She opened the old, somewhat brittle document to see that it was a letter from the long dead heir to his wife telling her that he was to prepare a more formal document, but that according to his wishes she and all her descendants were to be his sole heirs.
"I don't think she ever got it." He said. "I found the book among some items in the archive room."
Mary looked at him. "It's …it's his will." She gulped.
"More or less." He agreed. "I will have to do some research into the legalities of it all. But I think this letter can be used to open up the estate trust and give you access to the principal money of his inheritance." He looked at her. "It's not as much money, of course, as it used to be. But it might just be enough to help out a bit." And Matthew took her hand.
"I hope this helps. I want to help your family… our family in any way I can." Matthew took her hand. It was shaking.
"Matthew." She said quietly. "This means everything. Thank you." And they stayed snuggled on the sofa for a short while as he touched his fingers against her open hand.
When it was time to get going once more, Mary put on a warm wrapped cardigan over her camisole and shirt. They both wore jeans and winter shoes.
"Ready?" she asked grabbing her bag. "Tickets?" She asked as he put his hands into his back pocket.
"Yes. I found them on the desk just as he said." Matthew answered referring to the tickets to Madison Square Garden and the New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins post season hockey game. Their benefactor provided various tickets to venues across the city for clients and Matthew, to Mary's bemusement, chose the one game neither knew much about.
"What's to know…?" Matthew shrugged. "You've got sticks and skates and you shove the other guys out of your way to get the puck thingy into the other team's goal." He puckered his mouth. "They fight. They get bloody lips. It's rugby on ice."
They took another taxi to the Garden to get there in time. Upon walking in the din of the crowd, the cold of the arena, the raw scraping sounds of the players practicing on the ice were overwhelming sensations.
They squeezed around some folks to get to their seats. Matthew hunched over to get a better look at the ice and the players.
"The guys in blue are the Rangers." He told Mary. "The ones in white are the Penguins." He nodded in excitement.
Mary found herself caught up in the action. She liked the fast paced nature of the game, following the puck around the arena, the banging up against the barriers, and the dancing and skirting around to push the players out of the way to score. She jumped whenever the players hit the barrier closest to them.
When a disagreement about a referee's call of a body check foul started a brawl they both looked on as the gloves came off and the sticks went flying.
"Much more interesting than cricket." She reasoned and gave him a smirking side eye.
He grunted in disagreement. "I'll be back. I'm hungry." And he got up to peruse the selections of hot dogs, burgers, and other snacks. And wait, he discovered to his frustration, in a very long line. He heard the shouts and screams of the attendees in the arena and wondered what was going on. He craned his neck to look at the viewing screen just as he made it up to the counter.
He paid the money and brought the chili hot dogs, cokes, and chips back to their seats.
He arrived to find Mary up on her feet, arms extended and grabbing the hand of the woman next to her and screaming "Get that miserable bastard before he scores!" And she shouted in ecstatic excitement again as the Ranger checked the other player before he had a chance to get his stick on the puck for the goal. The two women clapped and hugged.
Matthew looked on, agape. Mary finally turned to him. Her smile was broad. Her cheeks red and full. Her eyes dancing and full of life.
"Who are you?" He said, his voice full of astonished bemusement.
Mary pulled her hair back across her ears. "Well you told me to have a good time." And she took the hot dog from his hand and ate it in a couple of bites.
After the game they returned to the apartment where Mary, after two hot dogs with chili, felt just a bit out of sorts. And exhausted from the unused for sensations of the hockey game.
"God, I'm tired." She said, flopping down on the bed. Matthew threw himself down next to her. He started to mimic Mary's oaths she learned at the game, "Hey Crosby get your ass in gear over there. We want to see some real hockey."
"Shut up." She giggled. "I had a fantastic time. Except for this American food... oh…" and pulling her shirt up to expose her stomach, "I hope I'm not going to be sick." She moaned in discomfort.
"Awww my poor sweetie." Matthew said, rubbing her smooth skinned abdomen. He put his ear next to her stomach. "Wow! That's like a volcano down there." She just gave him a withering look and moaned again.
He continued to rub and massage her stomach in a rhythmical motion. "Let me see what is in the medicine cabinet."
When he came back with some bismuth liquid she was asleep. He wrapped her up in a blanket and giving her a kiss on the forehead, Matthew messaged Sybil a picture of his sleeping wife with the comment, "the end to a perfect day, Love M."
XX
I know lots of love…but it represents a lot of my own trip to NYC last February…and I hope you liked it. More loving to come. And perhaps an unexpected sadness…