Flying Backwards (33 page)

There was a knock at the door. “Yes?” Ben called, stepping away from Nora with an apologetic smile.

“Dr. Westborough, everything is finished. Do you need me to process anything for the lab before five o’clock?” the receptionist asked.

“No, there is nothing to process tonight. And this last patient is on the house, for a friend, so you can go. I’ll see you on Friday.”

The receptionist’s face lit up. “Okay then. In that case I’ll be on my way. Enjoy your holiday,” she said. Nora watched her collect her coat and leave the building.

Nora was composed by the time she stepped into the reception area. She set Martin’s carrier on the floor while she collected her coat from a hook and turned to Ben.

“Ben, thank you, but I can pay. It’s not even my cat.”

He waved her comment away and changed the subject. “So you’re not traveling to America for Thanksgiving?”

Nora pouted. The moment had passed, and they were back to small talk. “I have to fly out on Friday afternoon. There wasn’t time to squeeze a visit in. I was thinking about making my own turkey, but Bree’s working, and I can never find a small turkey.”

“You should come have Thanksgiving with us. The clinic is closed tomorrow. Judy, our American, insisted we celebrate with turkey and all the fixings, as you would say. You should come.”

Nora was both touched and hopeful. “Ben, you’re sure you want me there?”

He leaned nonchalantly on the doorframe, his arms folded over his chest. “Everyone would love to see you. Corrine will be there. Do you remember Will and Liza?” He continued after her nod. “They are coming to dinner also.” He paused and seemed to wrestling with himself. “And yes, I would really like it if you came.”

“I’d love to come.” They stood grinning at each other until it became awkward. Nora broke the silence. “Thank you again for checking Martin over.” She lifted the carrier and headed for the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow. What time is good?”

“Ah, I think around two o’clock would be fine.” He smiled, looking more invigorated than when she’d entered his exam room.

“Okay. Bye, Ben.” She slipped out the door, walked to her car, and drove away. Speeding back to the city she cranked the radio and sang all the way home. At first, the wide-eyed cat folded his ears back at the loud sound, but quickly he settled in and slept for the rest of the ride. Nora couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The cool, dry November day made it a nice drive into the picturesque countryside of England. Nora wore a woven wool skirt, completed with stockings and boots. Her fitted burgundy sweater hugged her curves. She wore long pendent earrings, her hair pinned up. A bracelet hung around her slim wrist.

Judy greeted Nora with an enthusiastic long hug. She held Nora at arm’s length admiring her. “It is so wonderful to see you again.”

“It’s wonderful to see you too. I’m lucky you are celebrating Thanksgiving.” Nora inhaled the delicious holiday aromas. “I made some butterscotch cookies.” She handed the platter to Judy.

“Thank you! Now come say hello. Corrine’s in the family room. You are the first guest,” Judy said as they made their way down the hall to the cozy gathering room.

Corrine jumped up and ran over to Nora. She was still wearing pajamas, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. After they hugged, Corrine said quietly, “I’m so happy he invited you. It has been weeks since he’s been agreeable, if you know what I mean.”

“Ben should be down in just a minute,” Judy said. “I’ll take these to the kitchen. It was so thoughtful of you to bring them.” Judy looked at the homemade cookies. She then pinned Corrine with a look and spoke with quiet authority. “Please go up and get dressed.”

Corrine’s dad, Derek, stood to shake Nora’s hand and asked how the drive was. After a few minutes of pleasantries, Ben entered the room. He went right to Nora and clasped her in a brief hug. Nora was overwhelmed by his nearness. He was nicely dressed for the occasion. His gray sweater darkened his green eyes.

Corrine, who hadn’t yet obeyed Judy, prodded, “How is it you happened to see each other yesterday?”

Nora told her the story about volunteering to bring Martin, her neighbor’s cat, to Ben because Martin’s owner didn’t drive. Nora went on to say how Martin was always escaping into the hallway. When they were moving in, he’d ended up asleep in a box in their apartment. After listening to a couple more stories about Martin’s antics, Corrine left to get dressed before the rest of the guests arrived. Derek returned to his chair to continue reading. Nora heard Judy working in the kitchen.

“Am I too early? You said two, right?” Nora asked Ben quietly.

A guilty smile played on his lips. “Yeah, well… I thought if you came early you might want to visit Grand Duke and Duchess in the stables.”

“
Yes,
of course! I’d love to,” she replied, excitement in her voice. She would never forget witnessing Grand Duke’s birth. That horse would always be special to her.

“Let’s go.” They ducked out the back door, shrugging on their coats.

When they entered the stable, it took their eyes a minute to adjust. Ben gave a low whistle, and a dark nose protruded out of the stall.

“This is Grand Duke? He’s so big!” Nora exclaimed. Ben talked quietly about the horses, and Nora listened, relaxed, as she leaned against the side of the stall, stroking Grand Duke’s neck. They visited Duchess, a couple stalls down, chatting easily, like there had never been any tension between them.

“There is something peaceful about these animals.” Nora looked in at Duchess, studying her strong, fine lines. The horse’s large dark eyes looked curiously back at Nora. The soft blowing sounds of her breath were calming.

Ben became quiet. Nora was aware he was studying her. She felt his eyes caress her sable-colored hair, piled up on her head, exposing her long, slender neck before it disappeared into the collar of her jacket. Through the corner of her eye she saw his eyes admiring the curve of her cheek to the bow of her mouth. She turned to glance at him over her shoulder, unable to take his scrutiny any longer.

“What is it?” she asked, sensing his sudden discomfort at being apprehended.

He glanced around to be sure they were alone before he pulled a box out of his pocket. “It’s nothing. It’s just I never got a chance to give you your birthday gift. I thought I could give it to you now.”

“Oh.” Nora was speechless. She stared at the small box he held out to her. She took it and opened the top.

“Oh, Ben!” She looked closer at the necklace with a horseshoe charm, reading the engraving: the name Grand Duke. Her hand flew to her mouth to stifle her emotions. “Ben, I love it!” She rushed into his arms. Closing her eyes, she thanked him.

He squeezed her close to his chest, nuzzling his nose along her neck. She felt his hot breath on her skin. He inhaled her scent and pressed their bodies closer together. He murmured into her hair, “Nora, I wanted to pick up the phone so many times and call you. I wanted to tell you about every detail as my business came to life. I couldn’t stop thinking about when I took you there and how I imagined you’d be a part of it. Nora, you are an amazing person, and I’m such an ass for running away. I will never make that mistake again.”

She tilted her head back, and they looked into each other’s eyes. Their lips brushed. A moment later they were locked together in a kiss.

Ben cradled Nora’s head in his hands and whispered, “You are the girl of my dreams, Nora. I was going crazy without you. You are all I can think about.”

They kissed again and again.

Finally Ben rested his forehead against hers and whispered with regret. “I am so sorry I didn’t call you. I’m sorry I did that to you…‌to us. When I thought there was someone else…” His eyes roved her face. “It killed me, because I knew…‌I know I’m in love with you.”

Nora felt taut with emotion. Ben, the man she had wanted all along, loved her. “Ben, you snared me the moment I met you.
You
are all
I
think about. I told you that I had to see you again. I just had to, because I feel the same way. I love you too.”

They didn’t know how long they stood in front of the stall, entranced, locked together in a passionate embrace, before they heard cars doors slam in the distant yard and the loud shouts of jovial greeters.

“We should go back inside.” His voice was hoarse.

Nora was touched because he was choked with emotion. “It sounds like some guests have arrived,” she agreed, reluctantly stepping out of his embrace.

Before they left the stables, Ben slipped the necklace around Nora’s neck and fastened it; the horseshoe rested just below the hollow of her throat. Nora caressed it between her fingers.
Ben is a thoughtful and romantic man, and I love him
.

It was evident to Nora that Corrine noticed their handholding and intimate exchanges when they returned. In a shallow whisper that only the two of them could hear, she said, “It’s good to see you back together again.”

“I couldn’t be happier,” Ben murmured, and he caressed Nora’s face with loving eyes.

“Good,” Corrine emphasized, “because we all love Nora, and we want her sticking around.”

Nora felt her throat swell with emotion when she heard Corrine’s response.

“What’s going on over here?” Liza asked, her husband Will in tow. Nora hugged her warmly, remembering that she had really enjoyed meeting Liza and Will at the Atlas.

Nora fit right in, talking to everyone with ease, just like when she’d visited the Westborough household before. She felt comfortable there. Judy had bonded with her instantly. Derek had given his son a wink of approval. Corrine thought very highly of Bree’s friend. Will, a quiet kind of guy, went out of his way to comment that Nora was great as she stood next to Ben, causing her to blush. Liza was already making plans for them to hang out again. Nora glanced around at her new family in this home away from home and was proud that she’d sought Ben out and they wanted to make their relationship work.

After dinner Nora caught Ben glancing her way and their eyes locked. The way he made her feel with one look told her she had made the right choice long ago when she took action to change her dull life. This is what true love felt like.

Epilogue

It was a rather warm August day. Tents were set up in the backyard of Nora’s parents’ home. Beneath them, several tables were covered in pale pink linens. Each floral centerpiece was carefully and individually constructed from an array of flowers, pink ribbons, and baby rattles. Heidi oversaw every detail of her granddaughter’s christening celebration. Victoria and Perry were the proud parents of a daughter, Lana Lillian Reynolds. When Victoria had stopped the fertility treatments after the loss of her son, she had soon became pregnant naturally.

Since Nora and Ben planned to come for the christening, Ben had suggested they extend their stay and spend some quality time visiting Nora’s parents, who had met Ben on a few occasions before, but he thought this would give them the opportunity to get to know one another better. Nora didn’t know that Ben had an important question to ask her father.

Nora had lived in London for over a year and a half by then. She’d explored a vast number of cities with both Bree and Ben. Bree and Evan had become engaged in February, on Valentine’s Day, and they were planning a spring wedding in Italy the following year. From time to time Bree’s parents visited, separately of course; they both promised Bree that her wedding day was her special day, and they wouldn’t cause any drama.

Nora thought it was remarkable how people came and went in life. She had lost touch with her flight attendant friends in the states: Jackie, Miguel, and Rebecca. She regretted not speaking to Sergei but knew it was right to let that relationship go silent. When she wasn’t flying, she was with Ben. He’d had the cottage modernized, and his clinic was doing well. They took time to ride the horses and spent time with friends like Liza and Will and others Ben had introduced Nora to.

Nora didn’t regret any of the things she’d done that brought her to this very day, this very moment. Even though at times she had felt like she was stumbling through indecisions or bad decisions, they had made her grow. Each memory was like a compass, keeping her true to herself.

Nora sat at the edge of a tent, feeling the warm sun on her bare legs. They’d just finished eating a delicious luncheon. She watched her mom gather her granddaughter in her arms. Her dad was looking over Heidi’s shoulder, offering baby Lana a finger to grab. Heidi was ready to parade Lana past the gaggle of her friends waiting nearby.

Nora’s eyes drifted and followed Lizzy. She watched her sister corralling the younger kids at the party to play soccer. Lizzy was in a dress, barefoot. Tyler, now Lizzy’s official boyfriend, jogged over with another soccer ball to join her. Nora was relieved her little sister had straightened out and found her niche, a coaching job she’d had more than a year now. Also, she was focused on finishing up her degree. Nora leaned back, relaxed, observing her family, until she was distracted.

She shielded her eyes from the sun as she watched the man she loved stroll toward her with two ice-filled glasses of lemonade.
Yum,
she thought‌—‌not about the sweating glasses of golden liquid but the smoldering look she was getting. He paused in front of her, his eyes flashing over her with approval, before he bent to give her a lingering kiss. He backed away slowly, and she sighed with happiness.

After passing the cold glass to Nora, Ben sat across from her and stretched out his legs before he drew in a long, thirsty swallow. Nora took a small sip, savoring the pungent flavor of lemon. The ice chips rolled over her tongue as she peeked at him under her lashes.
Life is good,
she thought. She finally felt the feeling she had been missing all her life‌—‌
contentment
.

Questions for Book Club

1. As the beginning of the story unfolds, Eleanor is unsatisfied with her current life. Could you step away from your comfort zone to fulfill a greater need for happiness? What do you think you would do to create separation?
   
2. What was the significance when Eleanor gave herself the nickname Nora? Did you notice the author then referred to the character from that point on as Nora?
   
3. Do you think after Eleanor experiences six-weeks away from home at flight attendant training that it helped her to break away and move to another city? Did this help build her confidence?
   
4. Has Eleanor let her family down? Was she selfish to pursue her own interests?
   
5. Would you have the courage to travel abroad alone? Has this proven Eleanor’s determination for true independence?
   
6. How would you feel living a semi-nomadic life, out of a suitcase?
   
7. Eleanor has three men who interest her. Who do you like best? Why?
   
8. How do you, the reader, feel about dating someone you consider out-of-your-league?
   
9. Do you think Eleanor moves across an ocean for a guy? Or has she remained true to her independence?