A/N - New York City!! I was born there and grew up thirty minutes outside of the city. Greatest city in the world!! And I get to be there for Christmas again this year with the wife and 17 year old son. Everyone needs to experience Christmas time in New York at least once.
Railman - Not sure if anyone could keep that pace up. Walter might as well try and give it his best shot.
LouBe - I do remember your comment about NYC. Already had it planned to be in the story, but I hoped you would like it. Hope you had a great time. May have gone in to a little more detail for you than I first had down after I proofed it. You can always find something to do there. Yes the writing bug hasn't left me yet. Have a few other ideas rattling around in my head, so hopefully I can get them written as well. Usually I will write something in a story and an idea for a full story comes from it. Thanks for reading! And reviewing!
Pearliegirl - glad to hear you enjoy the writing. It has been more fun than I thought it would be. I hope you enjoy the rest of this story.
Margaret - Walter had knocked it out of the park for sure. He knew he wanted to make it all perfect for her. He's not done quite yet.
Part 27 Saturday July 11, 2018
The seven hour flight, offset by the six hour time difference meant leaving Paris at 9:00 in the morning would have them in New York City at 10:00AM. They both slept the entire flight. They had learned over the years to take advantage of napping on flights. It was the only way to make it through some of the crazy missions they always found themselves on.
And they were going to need all the time they could get. Walter had put together quite the list of places to go and things to see. And if he had it all figured out, and of course he did, they wouldn't miss anything on the list. Every extra precaution was taken. Any skip the line that was offered; accepted. Museums. Check. He knew how much Paige would love the museums. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern History, Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim. Passes for all of them. Landmarks. Check. Carnegie Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Radio City Music Hall, Grand Central Terminal, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and Rockefeller Center; with a reservation for Top of the Rock included. All of them, on the list. And of course, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as well as the Empire State Building. Skip the line, head of the class, check and double check. Throw in a dinner cruise around the tip of Manhattan and a helicopter tour as well. Shopping on Fifth Avenue; included. And of course, he got them tickets to a Broadway show to see a musical called Waitress (backstage passes included, but she didn't need to know about that yet). Because why not. He told her he had a thing for waitresses. Well for a pretty darn cute one in particular at least.
Just reading the list of places he was taking her to was exhausting. Seeing it planned out on an itinerary; incredible and very impressive. Making it happen; that's what Walter O'Brien lived for. Anything for Paige O'Brien.
"Walter there is no way you have this entire trip planned out like this. I mean it looks like it could work, but how did you coordinate all of this?"
"Paige, I take my roll as President of the Official Paige O'Brien Honeymoon Committee very seriously." He told her while kissing her hand. "When I checked the satellite imaging that Ralph and I created for this trip…"
"Hold on, all this time he knew where we were going? That little genius."
"Yes."
"I can't believe he didn't tell me anything, he didn't even give me a tiny little hint that he knew about this. I'm going to have to have a little talk with him about playing favorites." Paige said getting the prettiest smile she had ever seen Walter give realizing again that Ralph was now his son just like he was her son.
"He even helped me find the best restaurants and hotels to stay at. Neither one of us knew much about everything there. I did promise him we would bring him back here with us in a few months to see some of the sights again with us, I hope that was okay. He has a pretty extensive list of places he would like to see. I thought it would be fun to come around Christmas. I read a lot of people say it is even better around Christmas."
"More than okay. Spending some time as a family here around Christmas would be wonderful. I want pictures at the big tree and I want to go ice skating there too. And I know all the stores put amazing displays in their windows. Ohh, I can't wait to come back already, and we haven't even gotten there yet." Paige told him.
"Good, it's settled then. So, like I was saying, the satellite imaging showed tonight and tomorrow are going to be the clearest nights, so we have a reservation to the Empire State Building tonight at dusk. The 86th Floor observation deck allows indoor and outdoor access, and the 102nd Floor is only inside. We have access to both floors. But first we have the Guggenheim Museum and then Times Square. Tomorrow is Museum of Modern Art after the Brooklyn Bridge in the morning. St. Patrick's Cathedral and Radio City Music Hall in the afternoon and Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock in the evening. And we will be staying at the Langham Hotel on Fifth Avenue the first couple of nights."
"I've heard the views are incredible from up there Walter. And thank you for all the museums you have us going to, I know that you did all of that for me. So, thank you very much."
"Seeing you happy is all I ever need to see. I am more than happy to walk through all of them with you on my arm. We will need a taxi from the Guggenheim to Times Square, because it's about two and a half miles away, and we may need one from Times Square to the Empire State Building if we are running short on time, but if we can manage, I think it would be more enjoyable to walk. It isn't too far of a walk, a little over a mile, with a couple of stops along the way, I think we would need an hour of time to get there."
"I love that you have everything planned out for us and know all the different distances to everything too. I would be looking at my phone every five seconds trying to figure out where everything was."
"Hopefully that will be enough to keep me around for a while." Walter playfully told her as they were getting ready to leave the plane.
"More than a while, mister. You are stuck with me forever." Paige told him before giving him a big hug. "Thank you so much for doing this for me."
Through the security at the airport and on their way to the Guggenheim they marveled at the height of the buildings and the crowds of people walking the sidewalks. After they finished in the museum, a quick bite to eat at one of the nearby deli's and then they were on their way to Times Square. Walter had maneuvered the sightseeing destinations not purely by location, but more by timeframe and also trying to have shopping, dining, sights and museums every day. Knowing how much time they would probably spend at each attraction played heavily into his decision making. Looking around Times Square and going in some of the stores there was fun for both of them. Walter marveled at all the technology around and Paige loved the lights and atmosphere, and all the hustle and bustle. After eating a light dinner at one of the restaurants overlooking Times Square, they headed out for the one mile walk to the Empire state Building. And of course, it was timed perfectly to where they arrived ten minutes before their scheduled time to skip the line and head straight to the top.
Paige made Walter take several selfies with her and they also had other people there take pictures of them as well. They also decided to do a video call with Ralph from the observation deck and whoever was with him for the day.
"Whoa, cool. That is really high." Ralph told them. "Those buildings look so tall."
"We are 86 stories up and they have another deck even higher." Paige added.
"Yeah, 102 stories, right? But you can't go outside on that one." Ralph remembered.
"Don't think I didn't find out you knew all about this and didn't tell me Ralph." Paige told him putting a little scare in to her son.
"Dad swore me to secrecy. How was the Guggenheim?" Ralph asked trying to change the topic.
"Amazing. And don't worry, I'm not upset at all. I was just kidding. Hey, do I see a dump truck in the back yard? What's going on?" Paige started to say and then ask inquisitively.
"Move the phone, move the phone." Toby quickly shouted.
"Was that Toby? Hey, what is going on? Ralph?" Paige asked again.
"Sorry mom bad connection. I had to move inside. You guys have fun okay, call me tomorrow. I love you guys." Ralph hurriedly ended the call. "Don't forget to eat some pizza."
"That was odd. I could have sworn I saw a dump truck in the backyard. Do you know anything about that?"
"I don't, I promise. Happy should almost have the security system cameras set up and when they are she will let me know and we can look for ourselves." Walter reminded her.
As they moved around the deck and took in the 360-degree views, Walter was able to point out all the different buildings to her. I guess if the whole Scorpion thing doesn't pan out, he could always be a tour guide, or a party planner extraordinaire it seems.
Next, they took the elevator up to the 102nd floor for another look at everything. Then they headed downstairs for a couple of souvenirs in the gift shop and then a short walk to their hotel. Nothing quite compares to a huge ice cream sundae from room service. Followed by a long, relaxing hour or two in a bathtub built for two.
A full night's sleep behind them and some authentic New York City bagels for breakfast and they were on their way to see the Brooklyn Bridge. Walter wanted to see the engineering and architecture of the bridge while Paige looked at the aesthetics and all the surroundings. They took a stroll across the bridge and looked down the East River and marveled again at the tall buildings as they stretched towards the sky. A six mile ride from the bridge and they were dropped off in front of the Museum of Modern Art. A quick bite to eat at the Terrace Café and then into MOMA they went. From there they walked the short distance to St. Patrick's Cathedral. Being Sunday, they had services all throughout the day. Paige wanted to stay for a service and all she had to do was look at her husband and ask, and he smiled politely at her and sat down next to her. She placed her head on his shoulder and they stayed that way all through the mass. Walter admired all the stained-glass windows and the enormity of the church. People spilling in and out all through the time they were there. Paige could have stayed holding on to him forever.
The quick quarter mile walk to Radio City Music Hall brought them to their stopping place for the rest of the day. Sitting on the edge of Rockefeller Center, they got to tour through the old performing arts center and Paige loved seeing all the history of the hall. They got to see where the big Christmas tree always sits right next to the skating rink in the heart of Rockefeller Center. The shops that lined the sidewalks were full and they had time to shop through them all. Picking up some gadgets for all of her nerds along the way. As day turned to night they headed to Top of the Rock for their evening. A stop at the Rainbow Room for dinner reservations 65 stories above the city and then another 20 stories up to their second night of views of the city at night from a little different perspective. The views were all just as stunning as the night before. And being right in the middle of Times Square made it all the cooler.
Back for the second night in the spoils of the amazing hotel Walter had booked for them and a second bath for two. Laying down in bed together they had time to reflect on their stay so far.
"I'm glad you have liked everything so far. Tomorrow morning after we check out, we can walk up and down Fifth Avenue and shop any of the stores you want. Then after lunch we can go to the Museum of Natural History since it is near our next hotel across from Central Park. We have a penthouse suite reserved for three nights at the Ritz Carlton."
"You have outdone yourself once again. Walter this has been so amazing. The views we have seen, they are so much different than boring LA. We should make it a point to come here once or twice a year to just get away and unwind for a little and admire all of this."
"I was going to say the same thing about coming here more often. There is so much history here. There really is something for everyone."
Walter then turned to his wife and wanted to let her know just how attractive he knew she was and how much he appreciated and loved her.
"And speaking of something for everyone, I've been admiring how your articles of clothing that are so tiny, I believe was the word you used, can be so breathtaking to look at. Although I would venture to say the clothes are not what is truly breathtaking."
"I'm glad you find them fun to look at. I hope you don't mind if I wear them when we get back home either." Paige told Walter as she turned just so, giving him another amazing view of what she was wearing.
"Mmmm, you are so beautiful. And I think you most definitely should wear as much or as little of these as you want at home." Walter told her with a wanting smile.
"You think you will be able to handle all of this all the time when we get back."
"I like the idea of finding out." Walter told her before taking her under him and passionately kissing her.
Some time later they were back in each other's arms talking about their plans for the next day.
"Was there anything after the museum tomorrow?" Paige asked.
"Yes, after dinner, we can stroll through Central Park before we get on our helicopter tour of the city at night. It will give us a whole new perspective of everything, and they fly out and around the Statue of Liberty too."
"Oh, I can't wait. Now get over here and keep me warm, a girl could freeze like this you know." Paige told him.
"With pleasure." Walter responded with a kiss before he pulled her next to him and snuggled up with her. "You know they say New York is the city that never sleeps."
"Mmmm, I uh like the sound of that." Paige told him as she found herself wrapped up in his arms.
Paige had a blast shopping on Fifth Avenue. She found several pairs of new shoes first. And then she told Walter she would need to find some nice outfits to match. Short skirts were always his favorite. He loved the way she looked when she wore her famous short skirts. And Paige loved the way Walter looked at her any time she approached him in one of them. She found a few blouses as well. The shops were all able to deliver her purchases to the hotel they were checking out of, who would then bring them with their other luggage to the Ritz Carlton over by Central Park for them. She picked up a few items of lingerie as well when Walter wasn't looking, just a little something something for the next couple of nights.
They found an authentic NY Pizza shop for lunch and marveled at the taste. They of course got their favorite double pepperoni and meatball and they had to send pics to Ralph. Paige asked about the truck in the backyard again, but Ralph never responded to anything about it, only that he wished he could have some of the pizza with them.
The Museum of Natural History was fun. They knew Ralph would love it; one of his favorite movies to watch was The Night at The Museum when he was younger. They would make sure to bring him there next time they came. Seeing historical figures and learning facts about them was very interesting for Paige and even Walter picked up a couple of new facts he hadn't known.
A leisurely stroll through Central Park before dinner was a perfect way to unwind. Walter had made sure that today was a little less hectic for them. They had been doing so much every day, he knew they would need a day to recover. Since they had pizza for lunch, they decided to keep it Italian for dinner and found a great restaurant that served a full menu of pasta dishes and a world renown selection of wine.
After dinner, they headed over to the helicopter tour and enjoyed a private tour around the tip of Manhattan. The views of the island were amazing and the sight of the Statue of Liberty at eye level took the cake.
