Chapter 607: New York City
Tuesday, March 7th, Evening
He sat in the lounge of their hotel suite in the best clothes he had brought on tour. At one time, he thought about going out and buying something nicer but decided against it. Sitting on the couch, he looked at the bedroom door. He sighed in relief as the bedroom door opened.
Kat stepped out of the bedroom; Arne looked at his wife and sighed. Kat wore a simple red dress with thin shoulder straps. Kat smiled and adjusted her blonde hair; Arne noted that the dress would show off her two eagle tattoos, one the Czar Eagle and the other the Prussian Eagle. Kat didn't often show off her ink.
With a smile, Kat walked over to a table and picked up her shrug, which looked like it matched her dress. "So, where are we going?" Kat asked.
"Into Manhattan for dinner and some sightseeing," Arne said.
"Like where?" Kat asked.
"The usual," Arne said.
"Like Times Square," Kat said.
"Yes, could you imagine walking through the crossroad of the world and not being noticed," Arne said.
"Hmm, that sounds interesting, and not very much like Arne, I know," Kat said.
"It was Dallas's idea," Arne said.
Kat walked over to Arne and kissed him. "Remind me to thank him, they sound like great plans," she said.
"Well, let's go down; the UBER should be here soon," Arne said.
"Let's go then," Kat said.
The couple left their suite and headed to the elevator. They rode the elevator down to the lobby. Arne's smartphone dinged as they descended to indicate that the UBER had arrived. Arne smiled and looked at Kat.
Once the elevator reached the lobby, the doors opened. Arne led Kat through the lobby and out the front door. The UBER was waiting for them; as they got into the back seat, Arne leaned forward and talked to the driver.
They pulled out onto I278, only far enough to merge onto I495 heading towards Manhattan. Kat looked out the window and watched Queens drive by. Arne felt Kat's knee pressed against his leg. Taking the hint, Arne rested his hand on Kat's leg.
Arne and Kat were, by nature, introverted in public. So, there weren't many words exchanged in public, and they looked out the windows opposite of each other. The driver would later state they were the coldest appearing couple he ever drove.
As they drove down the Long Island Expressway, they started to head down to Queens Midtown Tunnel. In the darker light of the tunnel, Arne and Kat looked at each other, leaned toward each other, and kissed each other tenderly.
They surfaced from the tunnel in Manhattan and drove through the streets. At the corner of Seventh and Forty-Second, they were dropped off. Arne took care of the ride and looked around Time Square.
Kat stood off to the side and looked around. The buildings did change, and the signs changed what was on them, but the energy of Time Square hadn't changed. Her first time here was on tour with High-Performance Heart Attack when they opened and back-upped Brian's mom Haley James-Scott on that tour. It was a late summer night; she stood on this very corner; as a fifteen-year-old girl, she stood and took in all the bright lights and the vibe. Every time she came to New York City, she would come to this corner and take in the energy.
One memorable time was her first time in New York City with Mental Lapse. Brian disappeared and probably went to see Trin in the village. Kat took her time and took advantage of the downtime to come here. It was a spring night and a little crisp but not overly cold. The lights were beautiful, and the people milling about told a million and one stories with no words spoken. There's something about New York City and Times Square. Brian told her forty-second and Broadway were the crossroads of the world. One couple warmed her heart as she saw two African-American men, older, walking down the street holding hands as a couple.
"Are you ready?" Arne asked.
Kat looked at Arne, confused. Arne leaned his head towards her. "Kat, are you ready?" he asked.
Kat shook out of it. "Yeah," she said.
Arne took her hand gently, and they walked into Times Square. The people, Kat reflected, changed but what they are doing hasn't. Pictures were being taken, people hustling, and even some protests. The police were out, and the business was open. It gave life a particular meter, which meant things, while not always good, at least functioned and went on.
"What is going on in that brain of yours?" Arne asked.
"I was thinking of all the times I've been here," Kat said.
"What about it?" Arne asked.
"How every time I come here, I'm different, but Times Square is generally the same," Kat said.
"Okay?" Arne asked quizzically.
"I know, I know, it's not, and I'm weird," Kat said.
"I wasn't even thinking that," Arne said.
"What were you thinking?" Kat asked.
"How you tend to go down emotional rabbit holes," Arne said.
"I think I look back on my life and can't believe it," Kat said.
"We've been riding a roller coaster," Arne said.
"That we have," Kat said and looked at a building, "I was thinking about this show my Opa liked."
"Oh, what show is that?" Arne asked.
"New Amsterdam," Kat said.
"Love that show, love medical dramas," Arne said.
"No, not that one; the one Opa liked was a sci-fi cop show starring Jamie Lannister," Kat said.
"Okay, what does that have to do with Times Square?" Arne asked.
"In the show, Jamie Lannister was an immortal, who lived in New York City, since the Dutch Times, who would take pictures of Times Square showing its changing over time," Kat said.
"I see; why have I never heard of this show?" Arne asked.
"It's only like eight episodes long," Kat said.
"It sounds like an interesting premise," Arne said.
"It was," Kat said.
Arne nodded and checked his watch.
"What's up?" Kat asked.
"We need to start heading to the restaurant," Arne said.
"Okay, lead the way," Kat said.
Arne smiled and led them through the crowd of Times Square.
