Flying Backwards (30 page)

Nora smiled at her friend. “Let’s do it!”

“Yippee!” Bree tossed her folded laundry aside and hugged Nora. They settled back in their seats, grinning. Bree asked, “Have you mentioned it to your family?”

Nora shook her head. “No, I was going to call and see if they are around tomorrow. I’m planning on driving over for the day. I should have been visiting them more often. My mom is going to be upset.”

“I told both my parents I was considering moving to London. My dad thought it was a great idea, London being his old stomping grounds. And he mentioned the Andrews family. I told him I’d been visiting Ashley and Evan.” Bree got up and headed for the kitchen. After a dramatic pause in front of the refrigerator, she continued. “My mother wasn’t receptive at first, but then I told her I’ve been dating Evan. Then she warmed up to the idea pretty quickly.”

“What about this place? Your dad leased it, and your mom decorated it.” Nora looked around at their posh quarters.

Bree retrieved a cup of yogurt from the refrigerator and waved her hand before she opened the drawer to root around for a spoon. “He’ll just sublet it furnished. And Mom will ship over anything we want to keep.” Bree dropped back on the sofa, squealing with glee. “I can’t believe you decided to move to London with me! I really wasn’t sure what you were going to decide.”

“I know, it’s crazy, but I think it will all work out.” Philly was never going to be Nora’s final destination.

Nora had a funny smirk on her face. Bree had to ask, “Does this decision have anything to do with your weekend with Ben?” Bree got her answer when Nora’s smile broadened. “Well, is there more to the story? You said you guys had fun but kept things friendly. Just kissed, huh?”

“Just kissed,” Nora confirmed. She didn’t want to jinx their relationship somehow by making it more than it was.

“Nora, that’s great! He must really like you if he’s willing to take your friendship to the next level. Like I’ve said, he had his heart broken a couple times. When he falls, he falls hard. Do you really like him?” Bree sounded protective of Ben, her longtime friend. “I mean, what about Sergei?”

Nora nodded. “Sergei and I had a talk. I broke it off. He was kind and understanding. He really is a great guy, just not for me.” Nora let out a long sigh. “Ben is remarkable. I want to take things slow. His heart isn’t the only one needing protecting.”

Bree seemed satisfied with that answer. The girls decided to call Ashley and share the good news about them moving to London. Ashley was elated and told them the couple in the flat upstairs was moving out next month; it wasn’t yet rented. She gave them the landlord’s number, and they started to make plans.

After they hung up with Ashley, Nora decided to drive to her parent’s house that afternoon. She wanted to talk to them first before she filled out the final transfer paperwork. She had to tell them that she would be moving to London, thirty-five hundred miles away.

Chapter Twenty-Two

When Nora walked into kitchen of her childhood home, the welcoming smell of beef stew assaulted her nose. Nora knew only her parents would be home for the night. Lizzy was out with her friend Tyler at a local sporting event.

“Hi, Eleanor, how was the ride?” Heidi hugged Nora and then untied her apron and hung it on a peg in the kitchen pantry.

“Fine, no traffic. Dinner smells great. Is there anything I can do to help?” Nora swept her gaze across the kitchen counter. Bowls were stacked up next to the crock of stew. A pitcher was filled with iced tea. The bread rolls were already snuggled in the bread basket, wrapped in a towel to keep them warm.

“No, you go ahead and put your bag up in your room. Dinner is already.” Heidi moved around the kitchen. “I just finished working on some pastries for a baby shower. I’ll just get them in the fridge, and then we can eat. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

Nora nodded emphatically and rolled her suitcase into the family room, where her dad sat watching the news. “Hi, Dad. Mom says dinner is ready.”

Nora lugged her suitcase up the stairs with some effort. The long drive and the weight of what she wanted to say to her parents left her feeling exhausted. She rolled her suitcase into the center of the room and abandoned it. She plopped down on her bed, riding out the bounce of the old springs. She melted back onto the quilt and looked blankly at the white ceiling.
Home. Home?
This was her
old
home, where she grew up. It would always be a comforting place. Philly was where she lived, but not her
home
. Would she find what she was searching for in England?

“Mom, Dad, I’m moving to England,” she murmured to the ceiling. She took in a long, steady breath and drew herself off the bed. It was time to make this change a reality. Another life-changing choice–the wind would take her to England. She was in forward motion, and that was what was coming next.

When Nora entered the kitchen, she saw that Heidi had the table set; her dad was grabbing a can of Coke from the refrigerator. “What can I get you?” Russ asked his daughter, holding up his can.

“I’ll take some milk.” Nora headed for the cupboard to retrieve a glass while her dad placed the gallon of milk on the counter.

They ate and chatted for a while before Nora steered toward the subject of her move. “So–Bree and I have had a great time in England. I’ve made so many new friends through Bree. She spent a lot of time there growing up. In fact, now that she’s flying international, she wants to transfer over there, to England. Meade Airlines has a hub there.” Nora pinched off a piece of her roll and stuffed it into her mouth. She watched for any reaction.

Her parents exchanged looks. Heidi took a sip of iced tea. “That’s nice. Bree seems like a charming girl. Are her parents concerned that she’ll be so far away? And what about you? You’ll need a new roommate.”

“It’s not that far, just across the pond, as they say.” Nora was dismissive. “Bree’s parents are really supportive, and they know the families of the friends I was telling you about. And this may sound crazy, but…‌I’ve decided to go with her.”

Nora’s dad spoke up. “Eleanor, you want to move to England?”

Nora nodded. It was all she could manage with the lump in her throat. The last bite of bread seemed to be lodged in her throat. She reached for her glass of milk.

“But you just moved to Philadelphia,” her mother protested, “and we hardly ever see you now.”

“When would you be leaving?” Russ’s voice was low and calm.

“In a month, maybe six weeks. We actually might get a place in London in the building where our friend lives.” Nora rested her gaze on her mother’s face. Heidi’s brown eyes were wide with shock; they shifted to her husband and back again. “I’m an international flight attendant, and I want to get out there and see the world. This move puts me at a better advantage and makes travel to other countries more accessible. And now with Bree flying international, too, I can have a companion. It’s what I want. I want to give this a try.”

“Sounds like you’ve thought this through. We support you, kiddo.” Russ nodded across the table at his wife, who followed suit.

Heidi added, “We love you, Eleanor. We only want what is best for you.”

Nora was relieved at how well the conversation had gone. When had she learned to assert herself, especially with her parents?

That next day, when Nora got back to Philadelphia, the girls applied for a transfer to London. Soon they were off on their first overseas adventure together in Paris.

Nora had stepped out of her life “in a nut shell” and found freedom with her new career in a new state and soon a new country. She was seeing the world. This was what she’d set out to do. She felt more confident and comfortable with her jetsetter life. She was excited to continue her pursuit of happiness by moving to England.

She talked to Ben frequently. He was cheerful when she told him she had decided to move to London. Everything was falling into place.

* * *

Nora and Bree’s trip to Paris was everything Nora imagined for a girls’ getaway. They were shopped out, exhausted from sightseeing, and aching from laughter–and they couldn’t wait to do it all over again in another city.

They’d both received permission to transfer and were lining up a place to stay, thanks to Ashley. Nora’s thirtieth birthday was fast approaching, and Bree suggested their friends come across the pond for a celebration. It was especially nice that Ben was coming over, since she hadn’t been able to see him for several weeks.

It was an amazing couple of days. Ben and Corrine came to the States with Evan and his sister Ashley for a long weekend in October. They got hotel rooms a few blocks from Bree and Nora’s townhouse. This was the gang’s last-ditch effort to visit Philadelphia before the girls made their overseas move. The nights were getting cooler. Because the visitors were flying home on Nora’s actual birthday, they were going to celebrate at her favorite Mexican restaurant the night before.

Bree and Nora had only two weeks left to pack up their personal belongings. Bree’s parents were seeing to everything else, including having all their furniture, dishes, and whatever else they wanted to take to the new apartment boxed and shipped. They couldn’t have made Nora’s life easier. By the end of October, Nora would be a British resident.

The first night, during their slow pub crawl, the gang had run into Alexei at one of the bars. Nora asked him privately where Sergei was. Alexei replied that Sergei was working and wouldn’t be back until tomorrow. Nora felt some relief that her former love interest wasn’t going to be around to make things awkward for her when Ben was visiting. Nora wanted to talk to Sergei after the gang left in two days and say good-bye before she moved. A part of her was sad she might not see him again after she moved. Despite their short-lived romance, she did care for him.

The next morning, after sleeping in, they met at eleven for an Historic Philadelphia city bus tour. After the tour they walked over to sample the famous warring cheesesteak stands of Philadelphia. Half the group ordered from one stand, and the other half went directly across the street to the competition. They shared the Philly cheesesteaks and voted. Laughing and joking, they attempted to figure out what type the gelatinous yellow cheese actually was. They agreed it would remain a mystery. They headed back to the townhouse to relax before they could even think about dinner. That was when everything went wrong.

The friends walked side by side on the sidewalk under the tree shade. Nora and Corrine were followed by Ashley and Bree. The guys lagged behind, immersed in conversation. As the girls approached the front steps, Nora heard Ashley’s breathy voice: “
Who is that
?” She referred to a man sitting on the stoop, watching them approach, a dozen long-stemmed red roses in his lap. He stood as they neared.

“Oh my God.” Bree exclaimed under her breath. She had seen his picture several times on Nora’s phone.

It was Antonio.

Nora stood in shock for a moment, staring at Antonio.
How can he be here, in America…‌in Philadelphia? Why is he here?

“Ahhh…” Nora nervously turned to her friends. “Will you excuse me for a minute?” She noticed that Ben and Evan had caught up to the three girls, who had stopped in their tracks. Their curious eyes observed that something was amiss.

Nora forced herself to move forward toward the man she thought she would never see again. She’d made things clear to him.
What is he doing here?
Nora heart hammered against her chest.

Antonio smiled as Nora approached. He flashed a smile and a wave to her group of friends, who lingered with wide-eyed stares. The girls couldn’t help eye him up and down; the guys stood a little taller and exchanged glances.

He met her at the bottom of the steps. “Nora.” Antonio, devastatingly handsome, caressed her face with his dark, dreamy eyes.

All Nora could think about was getting rid of him.
Ben is watching! What the hell is happening?

“Antonio, what are you doing here?” Nora could feel five sets of eyes burning into her skin.

“I have come for you, Nora.” He reached out to caress her cheek, but Nora snatched his hand away and pulled him down the street in the opposite direction from her friends. She didn’t want them to hear what Antonio was saying. She prayed they hadn’t heard that he’d
come for her
. Maybe they would go inside now that she’d moved him away from the door. He stopped only a few steps away, turning her to face him.

“I have come all this way to tell you in person how much you mean to me, Nora. I needed to see you. You have not left my thoughts for weeks.” He glanced sideways at her friends, who were talking quietly and sending glances their way.

Nora looked at Ben under her lashes and watched his fidgety posture.
What must he be thinking?

“Antonio, before you go any further…” She intended to tell him she was with someone else. And that he was standing right there! But she was interrupted.

“These are for you, a symbol of my love and passion for you.” He thrust the roses into her hands and got down on one knee.

Oh God
, she thought,
this can’t be happening
. Nora felt a wave of heat wash over her. Her stomach was twisting, her hands ice cold.

“I told you I am not going to marry an Italian girl to make my family happy.” He shook his head; his dark, glossy waves tussled over his forehead. “That doesn’t matter. What I realize is that I want to be with you. I love you, and I know my family will be happy with my decision. They will love you too.” His smile accentuated his sensuous lips. “Nora, will you marry me?”

Nora tried to swallow, but there was a huge dry lump in her throat; she couldn’t even speak. After an extended moment of silence, Antonio stood up and continued. “You don’t have to answer right now. I can see that I have chosen the wrong time.” He glanced at her friends, who were talking loudly to one of the men, who looked quite upset.

Nora sent a pleading look in Ben’s direction. But when their eyes met, Ben looked away, disgusted. That prompted her voice, raw with emotion. She tore her eyes away from Ben toward Antonio. “I think it would be best if you left
right now
. I’m sorry, but my answer is
no
. I just want you to go. I can’t talk to you right now.” She shoved the roses back at him and turned to leave.