Chapter 2

She could feel the faint sensation of someone playing with her toes as she opened her eyes.

"Hey sleepyhead, have I told you that you have the cutest little feet and toes I have ever seen?"

"What time is it?" She stretched her arms above her head, closing her eyes again. "And why are you fiddling with my toes?"

"Like I said they are cute." He kissed her little toe as he began to whisper "This little piggy."

She wriggled her foot out of his hand. "Charles stop it really tickles, what time is it? I'm starving"

"New York or London time?"

"Have I told you how bloody annoying you can be when asked a simple question?"

She pulled herself up into a sitting position now and he couldn't help but laugh at how tiny she looked against the giant headboard.

"Well here in the magnificent city of New York it is almost twenty one hundred hours. You have been out like a light for a few hours, I thought I better wake you so we can go out for a late dinner and then sleep as late as we can manage as it will help with adjusting to US time a bit quicker."

He jumped on the bed beside her and leant in for a kiss. She dodged her head to one side

"No you don't I am bloody starving" As she got up off the bed.

"Come on get dressed, I want you to take me out for a proper American burger"

She walked through to the dressing room where she was not surprised to see he had dutifully unpacked and hung all of their clothes, she rolled her eyes he was as ever the organised Army Captain.

He was grinning as he shouted after her "There's a McDonalds in Times Square?"

"I am not going to bleeding McDonalds I meant a proper American burger joint like the ones you see in films and that."

"How about a large Hot dog Dawes?" She turned to see him propped against the door frame completely in the buff having discarded his robe. He was grinning broadly with one eyebrow raised trying to look seductive.

Molly burst out laughing "More like a chipolata mate if you ask me."

"Dawes, that's no way to address a commanding officer in Her Majesty's British Army, I could have you up on a charge" He was giving her his best petulant stare as she laughed away to herself continuing to put her clothes on.

He persisted "I didn't hear you complaining earlier, far from it in fact." She felt herself flush again at the thought of their earlier encounter and promptly picked one of his shirts off the rail and threw it at him "Get dressed….Cock Womble!"

They had found Bill's Bar & Burger a short walk from the hotel. It wasn't quite the classic American fifties style diner that Molly had imagined but she had stopped worrying about that she was so hungry. She had ordered their "Fat Cat" burger which was in an "English Muffin" much to Charles' amusement.

It was a tower of a thing and he had been amazed shaking his head as to how one so small could polish off what looked like half a cow in a bun in double quick time. He had opted for the "Mushroom and Swiss Burger" more sedate than Molly's but utterly delicious.

It was also Charles' first time in New York. He had visited Boston with his mother and father in his teens and they had driven up to New England to visit an Aunt and Uncle that had moved to the States in the seventies. He had also been on a stag weekend in Vegas with one of his old university friends quite a few years back, much to Rebecca's complete disapproval of course. It had been yet another nail in the coffin of their rapidly deteriorating relationship. Thinking back now he had probably gone ahead with it with the express intention of pissing her off.

They had a couple of beers and combined with the lack of sleep both felt a bit tipsy. As they let themselves back into the hotel room they were quickly undressed, teeth brushed and snuggled in bed just before midnight. He kissed the top of her head and as he drifted off Charles thought they should both be fully rested and ship shape by the morning to take full advantage of what he had planned for tomorrow.

He woke up early and really needed a good coffee, not the stuff they have hotel rooms. Even though this was one of the best hotels in New York the coffee was not up to his standards. He decided he would leave her a note and go and take a stroll for a few blocks to see if he could find a decent coffee shop.

He closed the door to as quietly as he could and as he left the hotel entrance was surprised by how busy the streets were even this early in the morning, it really was "the city that never sleeps."After about fifteen minutes he stumbled on what he thought would be the perfect place, a little Italian coffee shop tucked away from the main street.

A few espressos later he started to walk back and was immediately drawn to a figure sat in a doorway. Charles recognised the US Special Forces combat jacket the man was wearing with the Airborne Insignia. He was clearly a fella down on his luck and despite Charles' reservation at attracting trouble he felt compelled to stop and check the man was ok.

Charles crouched down beside him. "Can I get you a coffee or anything to eat?"

The man looked up at him and didn't speak "Excuse me for asking but I served with the British Army in Afghanistan and recognise your uniform, Special Forces?"

It was like someone had turned the light on in the man's eyes "Sergeant First Class Bradley Stevens" He saluted Charles who reached forward to shake the man's hand "Captain Charles James."

Charles took a seat against the wall and there began a conversation about how Brad had ended up on the streets, he was a veteran who had returned from active combat three years ago with undiagnosed PTSD. Over the following year he had become estranged from his wife and two children and found himself with nowhere to live. He had been in and out of hostels and sleeping in parks and doorways around the city ever since. Charles was both saddened and captivated by the path this man's life had taken but as he glanced at his watch realised he had already been out for almost two hours and he needed to get back to the hotel and check on Molly.

"Listen Brad I need to go but I want you to take this." Charles placed a hundred dollar bill in the man's hand.

"It was good to meet you Brad, take care of yourself." Charles started to walk away and looked back as Brad shouted after him "Thanks man" and saluted again. Charles saluted back this time but the thought of a man who had bravely served his country and lost everything as a result haunted him deeply.

He let himself back into the room and could hear Molly was already in the shower, he went out onto the terrace and stood silently lost in his own thoughts. She appeared at the door hair wrapped in a towel.

"Morning handsome did you find your beloved coffee?"

He turned and smiled at her, she was so beautiful and made him so happy he was the luckiest man alive and he couldn't help but feel extra grateful right now to have found her and be building a new life with her. It struck him how so easily his life could have turned to shit just like Brad and drifted back in his mind to the conversation he had with Molly and Smurf all those months ago at the checkpoint about fate.

He held her tightly against him like he never wanted to let go.

"Are you ok Charles?" She eventually asked wondering why he was so quiet.

"Yes never better now come on get dressed Dawesy grab that guide book and let's get to work"