The interview with 'Good Morning America' had gone well. Thankfully mom had done most of the talking while all Kendal had to do was sit there a nod every once in a while. Griffin had sat in the audience patiently, giving her an encouraging smile whenever she caught his eye. She was grateful for his moral support.
The first ordeal over they were now waiting for the car to take them to the 'Today' studios.
"This is silly." said Kendal turning to Griffin, "You don't have to come with us. Go and enjoy the rest of the day."
"I'm happy right here with you." said Griffin with a wide smile "I really don't mind."
"I feel like I'm taking advantage of our friendship." said Kendal, "Dragging you around like this."
"You are not taking advantage."
"You have been a really great friend through all of this. This was supposed to be a treat."
"Look both of you." said Erica, clearly seeing the unspoken tension between the two of them "You don't need to come with me, either of you."
"But mom?"
"Enjoy yourself. Enjoy the city. Take the chance while you can. You have done more than enough for me these last two days."
"But I can't just leave you!" cried Kendal.
"Of course you can. I'm a big girl… and anyway I think… yes, the car is here!"
A black Mercedes pulled in beside them.
Before Kendal could argue, Erica had got into the car and closed the door on her daughter.
"Mom!" she exclaimed.
Erica wound down the tinted window and gave her daughter a wide smile.
"You two have fun. We will meet up in the hotel later." she said, before signalling to the chauffer to drive off.
Kendal and Griffin were left standing in the street.
"What now?" asked Kendal.
"We could always just take her advice." said Griffin, pulling Kendal's guide book from his pocket. "I don't know about you but I've always wanted to see the Statue of Liberty up close. Did you know that Tablet she holds is inscribed with the date of the War of Independence?"
"No I did not." said Kendal, in mock seriousness.
Griffin held out his arm to her.
"Well then, let me be your guide." He said with a grin. "Just yesterday I learnt a whole plethora of fascinatingly useless facts about this city. Such as, did you know that in the past New York was once called New Orange?"
"I did not." said Kendal playing along, enjoying the chance to see Griffin's less serious side.
"Well stick with me, I've got a million of them."
"I can't wait." said Kendal with a laugh.
…
As they headed across town in a taxi cab, Kendal suddenly got very quiet.
"God! How could I have forgotten?" she gasped, her face a mask of sorrow.
"What's wrong? Please tell me what's wrong?" asked Griffin unable to bear seeing her looking so inexplicably upset.
"Zach and I… The day he was killed…" gasped Kendal, "We were supposed to come here. Ryan and Greenlee had got us a weekend away in New York and Bianca and Marissa were going to watch the boys…"
"I'm so sorry." said Griffin quietly.
Kendal shook her head.
"No you don't understand. I forgot. I forgot Zach. I forgot him and I forgot Greenlee."
Griffin put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
"When you've lost someone you love; as much as you want to remember them every second you can't, you don't. I know."
Kendal sniffed back a sob.
"But I didn't think I could ever forget."
Griffin pulled her closer and Kendal closed her eyes as she rested her head against his shoulder.
"It's alright." He sighed "I've got you."
After a while Griffin tapped on the glass to attract the cabby's attention
"Change of plan. Can you take us to the Pierpoint Hotel."
"No!" said Kendal sitting up suddenly. "No we are going to see the city. I promised you this trip. We are getting on that boat and you are going to see your statue."
"I hate to break it to you folks but you won't get near Lady Liberty without a pre-booked pass these days." said the cab driver. "If you want a boat ride, you should get the Staten Island Ferry. It's a cheaper way to see the city and you get great views of not just the Statue of Liberty, but Ellis Island, and the lot."
Griffin looked at Kendal who gave him a shrug.
"The ferry it is then." said Griffin.
…
The ferry trip on the way across was amazing, the whole of the New York Skyline stretched out in front of them.
Kendal's smile slowly returned as she admired the view.
"It's beautiful" she sighed.
"Are you feeling better now?" Griffin asked,
"I'm good." said Kendal with a nod. "And I'm glad you are here with me. You are a good friend."
"I'm here for you whenever you need me." he said putting his arm around her waist."
Kendal leaned into his shoulder.
"Thank you."
…
As time passed the mood got lighter. Griffin began regaling her with his eclectic array of New York facts lifted from Tammy the tour guide on the bus trip the day before.
Kendal found herself laughing once more, thanks to the warmth and kindness Griffin was showing her. Kendal though she would feel more guilty about their closeness, memories of Zach so fresh in her mind. But she found herself comparing the two; found that she could see a match in both men's thoughtfulness and generous spirits. She mourned Zach and she missed him, but having Griffin close seemed to have taken the worse of the hurt away.
As their good spirits returned, the weather had other ideas. A mist was coming in from the sea and by the time the boat reached the shore it has become a thick fog.
…
There was a chill in the air as they boarded the return ferry. The boat was a little more crowded but Griffin found them a corner on deck where they could look out over the water, out of the wind.
"Well so much for the view." laughed Griffin.
"Do you know what this reminds me of?" said Kendal, as they huddled together the world outside the boat hidden in the blanket of fog.
"What?" asked Griffin.
Kendal turned to him.
"Have you ever seen that old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film, 'Shall we Dance'? There's that part near the end on the ferry where he sings to her and they are saying goodbye. It kind of feels like that."
"The way you wear your hat." sang Griffin.
Kendal turned to him surprised.
"The way you sip your tea.
The memory of all that!
No, no they can't take that away from me."
His voice was gravelly and a little flat. Kendal felt sure everyone was looking at them now.
"What are you doing?" asked Kendal, embarrassed. "Are you crazy. People are starting!"
Griffin smiled at her.
"Well, being with you makes me crazy."
Kendal could only stare at him as he took her hand.
"If it is too soon, then tell me." said Griffin. "But I really care about you. And I have to say it. I want to know if we could ever go back to being more than just friends."
Kendal had to swallow before she spoke as her throat had gone suddenly dry.
"You have always been there for me, after Zack." She said slowly. "And I really care about you too..."
The hope dimmed from Griffin's eyes as she spoke.
"Then it's too soon." he said sadly.
Kendal grabbed his arm to stop him from turning away. She couldn't bare the hurt in his eyes. This man who had stood by her, this man who had saved her life, this man who made her laugh, this man who she could so easily love… had loved. Kendal realised why this moment had reminded her of a goodbye. It was because a part of her was saying goodbye; to Zach; goodbye and thank you…
"No it's not too soon." said Kendal as she smiled back at him. "If we take it slow… It's not too soon."
Griffin reached out to touch Kendal's cheek and they both stepped closer to share a tender kiss.
…