Flying Backwards Read online

  “Ah, King Richard, King Edward’s younger brother, the last of the York kings,” Nora said to impress Ben. “I have never seen Shakespeare’s King Richard III.” Nora confessed; she made a mental note to see the play. The waiter returned to take their orders. Nora chose a dish Ben recommended. They continued talking to each other for some time.

  “What are you two talking about?” Bree asked as the waiter approached with their dinners. “It sounds like a soap opera.”

  “It is like one. We are talking about the English court. The war between the Yorks and Lancasters.” Nora received admiring looks from her British friends until they were distracted by the meals set before them.

  “Nora and I are going to Westminster Abbey tomorrow. Would anyone like to join us?” Ben sliced into his roast beef.

  “God, no!” Corrine looked at her brother. “Dad used to take us all the time when we were kids. We’d come to the city to visit our aunt, and she would always mention the Abbey. I never understood why you liked it so much.”

  “It never gets old.” Ben grinned at his sister and then took another mouthful.

  “Ben, I’m so glad you’re here, for her sake.” Bree pointed her salad fork at Nora. “She is a big history buff, like you.” She swung her fork between herself and Corrine. “We’re going shopping. So Nora is all yours. You can be Tour Guide Ben.”

  Nora knew that Bree understood she had a threshold for shopping, plus now her friend wouldn’t have to feel guilty about dragging Nora into overpriced shops she was unable to resist.

  Everyone laughed, and Ben shrugged. “Fine by me.”

  After they’d finished eating, they continued drinking and socializing. Nora looked around the table and realized that just a few weeks ago these people had been strangers to her. Now they were becoming her dear friends. Nora discovered that Corrine was a Madonna fan; they both loved the same 1980’s hits. They sang song lines together across the table, the rest of the group were practically in tears from laughing. Evan apparently had a pool table at his house; he beamed at Nora. “You play!”

  They split the bill six ways and headed out into the balmy summer night. Ben slowed to walk alongside Nora. “I’ll pick you up after breakfast, around nine. The Abbey doesn’t open until ten, but I thought I’d drive you around and show you some points of interest if you’d like.” Nora nodded, delighted. Corrine told Bree she would catch a ride over with Ben in the morning.

  Ashley offered her car to the girls. “It’s no bother to take the tube to the office.” Then the group dispersed.

  The next morning Nora was ready and waiting for Ben on the sidewalk. The sky was cloudy and ominous. She wore a sweater to keep warm and hoped it would help if it ended up raining. England’s weather was unpredictable at best. She had not packed an umbrella.

  Not many businesses were open at that hour, and the street was quiet for a Friday morning. Ben pulled to the curb in a compact car, not the same vehicle he drove in the country. She was already feeling nervous about being in a tiny car, driving on the wrong side of the road, in London traffic. That was probably why she could feel butterflies in her stomach.

  Corrine got out the passenger side and waved hello as she hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “Have a good time, you two.” Ben waited for Corrine to disappear behind the entry door that led to Ashley’s apartment.

  Ben turned to her, his hands buried in his pockets as he squinted at the sky, “Looks like we’ll get rain today. Not to worry. I always have an umbrella in my car.”

  The bright, cloud-covered sky reflected in his green eyes, casting them in a cool, minty shade. His eyes are so beautiful… Nora thought she could stare into them all day.

  Nora made herself comfortable in the small vehicle. Ben, a tall man, looked cramped. “So what happened to your Land Rover?”

  He said with a grin, “This is my city car.” He came to an intersection and edged into and around traffic. They motored around the city for half an hour or so before they found parking near Westminster Abbey.

  She pulled out her wallet. “How much are the tickets?”

  He waved her money away. “I got it.”

  “No, Ben, I don’t expect you to pay. I should be paying for you.” She didn’t want this to be like a date. He was just a friend.

  He laughed. “Our tour is starting.” He tipped his head in the direction of the Abbey.

  Nora was delighted with the short, round, eccentric tour guide. The matching plaid pants and jacket he wore did not say much for his fashion sense but fit his personality perfectly. As he began the tour, his pronounced British accent flowed from beneath his drooping mustache, and his blue eyes widened with every point he made.

  Nora swiveled her head, feasting her eyes on the stunning architecture. She could sense the history within the abbey walls. She flashed Ben a brilliant smile and mouthed “Thank you.”

  Throughout the tour, Ben added a few points that the tour guide failed to mention. When the tour was over he showed Nora where he liked to sit inside the ancient church. He said it was the best view. They sat together, quietly taking in the grandeur and noticing the tourists passing by with cameras around their necks.

  They exited Westminster Abbey and crossed the road so Nora could take some snapshots. “Ben, let me get a picture with the both of us.” She held the camera at arm’s length, faced it toward her, with Westminster Abbey behind her, and motioned him in closer. They pressed their cheeks together, and she snapped the picture. Their heads remained close while they viewed the shot. “What’s next?” She peeked up at him and blinked as a fat rain drop landed on her cheek. Ben’s thumb traced the wet trail down her cheek. Then splat …‌splat… splat… Nora held her breath. Is he going to kiss me? Ben pulled an umbrella out of his back pocket, and they huddled together under it. No, he wasn’t going to kiss me, she chided herself.

  “Not far from here is the Cavalry Museum, if you don’t mind walking in the rain.”

  Horses–of course. Nora found his interest in animals boyishly sweet. “Or we can walk over and see the House of Parliament and Big Ben.”

  “How could I say no to the Cavalry Museum?” Her heart skipped a beat at his smile.

  “Good. If we hurry we can catch the Changing of the Queen’s Life Guard parade. The horses are remarkably fine. That was always fun for me as a child. I think you’ll like it,” he said enthusiastically while he propelled her in the right direction. The rain was bothersome, but not torrential. Nora liked that they huddled together. Ben put his arm around her when he saw her shiver in the cooler air the rain had brought. The parade was just starting as they walked up. When it had finished, they went into the Household Cavalry Museum and watched the troopers working with their horses. Then they strolled around, looking at exhibits. She found it surprisingly interesting and was glad Ben had suggested it.

  The rain stopped, but the clouds still looked ominous. They made their way to the House of Parliament, where Nora snapped more photographs. By then it was well past noon. Ben asked, “Have you gone to a chippy or a chip shop?”

  “I don’t think so. What is that?” British slang always made her laugh.

  “It’s where you get a plate of greasy batter-fried fish and golden potatoes. You should try it at least once,” he urged.

  “Oh, fish and chips, of course. Okay, I’m up for that. Do you know a good place?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Indeed I do.”

  “Lead the way.” Nora was surprised when they stopped at a roadside meal truck. The line was pretty long. She hoped that was a good sign. “A food truck?” She sounded skeptical.

  “Trust me. These trucks park all over London, and they have the freshest fish. Their batter is delicious too.” They waited for about ten minutes to get their bags of steaming food and cold drinks. “Follow me.” Ben led Nora down an alleyway and up a flight of stairs to a gate that opened to a park. Circling the park was a thick stone wall, which happened to be a perfect place to si
t and have a picnic. They followed the wall until it ran under a large old tree. The rest of the wall was wet from the rain, but there, under the canopy of leaves, the wall was dry. They sat down and dug in.

  Nora’s stomach grumbled when she opened her paper bag and smelled the fried food, sending the pleasure center in her brain into overdrive. “Oh man, this is good!” she said after the first bite. Ben nodded, his mouth full. After lunch they wandered through the park in the direction of Ben’s car. As they reached the car, Nora got a call from Bree, who wanted to know if they were done touring and ready to meet up. She said Ashley had gotten off work and was on her way to meet them for coffee. Ben nodded when Nora relayed the address.

  It started to pour down rain as Ben turned over the motor. Nora thought they were pretty lucky to have stayed dry during the half hour it took to walk back to the car from the park. The rain had lightened up some by the time they reached the coffee shop. They gathered indoors, ignoring the drenched tables outside. Nora was grateful to cradle a hot cup of coffee in her cold hands. So much for a warm summer day, she thought.

  Ben ordered tea to go and hung around for a few minutes. “I need to pick up a couple things while I’m here in the city. Are you sure you don’t mind if I run off?” He hesitated before leaving.

  Nora replied, “Of course not. Ben, thank you. I had a wonderful day.”

  Bree, Ashley, and Corrine watched Ben and Nora closely.

  “Me too.” He smiled at her and then looked at the girls. “I’ll see you ladies later.”

  “Wow, I haven’t seen Ben like that in a long time,” Corrine said as she watched him dash away in the rain.

  “Like what?” Nora asked.

  “Well…‌like interested in someone besides his horses,” Corrine stated matter-of-factly.

  “We are just friends. I don’t know that he’s interested… He hasn’t… And anyway, I live in America.” Nora stammered through her statement, darting her gaze to each of their doubtful faces.

  “Nora, my brother takes his time deciding what he wants. He’s very cautious–especially with relationships. He’s had a few girlfriends, and a couple that broke his heart. He claims he’s waiting to find Mrs. Right. Don’t discount him yet.” Corrine sipped her tea.

  “Yeah, you might have to make the first move,” Ashley inserted as she fiddled with the tag on her teabag. Bree only offered her a sympathetic smile, because she knew Nora had just broken off a relationship with Antonio.

  Nora shrugged and changed the subject.

  Their weekend was rounded out with a ride on the London Eye, a late night of pool shooting at Evan’s apartment, and another great dinner at a Thai restaurant. On Sunday, Bree and Evan announced to everyone they were seeing each other exclusively.

  Ben said good-bye to Nora and told her he enjoyed his weekend. He suggested she come back soon and reminded her she was welcome at Westborough Meadows. Ben mentioned that he’d be happy to teach her to ride. Nora promised she would call him when she finished up her work commitment for the next month.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nora worked a trip to Denmark. It was her first time visiting Copenhagen, and she loved it. Her fellow flight attendants regularly picked up the trip and guided Nora to their favorite eateries and sites. The colorful buildings along the Nyhavn Canal offered a delightful lunch spot for watching the boats’ flags waving in the breeze. The city was small enough to walk around, and they navigated the on/off tour bus with ease. Nora definitely planned to mark this city as a favorite to return to.

  Back in Philadelphia, the air conditioner ran constantly in their brownstone during the sweltering month of August. Nora had arrived home before Bree, sprinting to turn down the air first thing. With them both traveling for three or four days at a time, they tried to be conscientious about the heating and air bills. Before Bree headed off to Pittsburg for two weeks of international flight attendant training, Nora spent the day with her. Bree had some errands to run, so they went together and stopped for lunch.

  Sergei joined Nora and Bree for dinner that evening. They ordered take-out Chinese food because it was too hot to cook. Bree turned in early, grumbling that she had to get up at the crack of dawn to catch her flight to Pittsburg for training. Nora promised her it was worth it. Sergei congratulated Bree again on her new position as Bree left the room.

  When they were alone, Sergei surprised Nora. “Nora, I was wondering if you would like to go to Russia with me…‌to St. Petersburg?”

  “When are you going?” Russia wasn’t a destination for her airline.

  “I was thinking in perhaps a couple of weeks, or even sooner. I’m going to visit my family for a few days, and I thought you would like to come along. I’ll show you around.” He shrugged his shoulders, as if it was no bother.

  “Sergei, I’d love to see St. Petersburg, but don’t I need a visa?”

  “Yes. I will help you apply.”

  “Wow, that would be amazing. Okay. I can use a few personal days.” Nora trusted she’d be in good hands with Sergei. This visit would give her a chance to get to know him better and see if there might be more to their friendship. She wasn’t dating anyone, particularly not Ben, who she wished she was dating, but she couldn’t dwell on that.

  It turned out the visa was no problem to get. It was waiting for her when she arrived home after working a trip to Germany. It had rained heavily the entire three days she was there. She used that time, hunkered down in her hotel room, to read up on St. Petersburg, Russia.

  Nora got Sergei a buddy pass on her airline, so he could fly with her free of charge as far as Helsinki, Finland. From there they purchased tickets to St. Petersburg’s airport. Then they took a cab to an affordable hotel that Sergei selected. They got rooms across the hall from each other. Sergei explained to Nora that his family’s apartment, while nicer than most, was small and had only two bedrooms. He preferred staying in a hotel. He didn’t want Nora going anywhere without him. St. Petersburg was a large city and not very safe for a single American woman to walk around alone, he explained.

  The hotel was old, with outdated décor. She hung up four days’ worth of clothes in the tiny closet and was just finishing freshening up when there was a tap at her door. The layover in Helsinki had been a long one, and it was now well into the evening. They agreed to get some dinner and turn in relatively early.

  “Is your room okay?” Sergei inquired.

  “It’s fine.” She wasn’t going to complain. She’d stayed in many places overseas, and this one was the worst, but she didn’t care. She was just happy to be in St. Petersburg to experience something new. “Where are we going to eat?”

  “There is a place not far. We can walk from here. It has good Russian food. Not a tourist place–a place for local Russians.” He used his hands for emphasis. “I chose this hotel because we can walk to a lot of places. You will see the traffic in St. Petersburg is very bad.”

  The sounds of the city were loud, and the streets, as in any other thriving city, were littered with papers and trash. They stopped in front of a generic building with a front window advertising food on a sun-bleached poster. Sergei opened the door for her. Inside the dark paneled dining room they sat at a linen covered table for two, and Sergei described the food options to Nora before he ordered in Russian. Before the meal, a plate of pickled items was served. Sergei told her that was the custom. Nora also tried some berry-flavored water she found slightly tart but tasty. Their dinner was a sort of stew: meat and root vegetables in a thick gravy. Nora enjoyed every bite.

  Back in the hotel, Nora again thanked Sergei for inviting her along. They went to their separate rooms, and Nora fell right to sleep. The next morning she met Sergei downstairs in the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Sergei sat in a corner with a cup of coffee, reading a paper. Nora waved when he looked up; she gestured with her thumb to say that she was headed to the coffee station.

  She returned with coffee and a plate with a hard-boiled egg
, a slice of bread, and slices of cheese that had looked like they been out too long; the edges were dried and curling upward. “Good morning.” She settled in the chair next to his. Under the wafting aroma of coffee, she could smell Sergei’s fresh shower scent. She briefly wondered what was up with her new superhuman, hormone-infused power to sniff out the aromas of men she was attracted to. She had enjoyed Antonio’s musky smell. Ben had a distinct and attractive scent too. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

  “Good morning. Did you sleep well?” Sergei asked, looking at her over his newspaper.

  “Like the dead.” Nora felt fully recharged. “You mentioned meeting up with your sister today. Is she free?” She buttered the slice of bread and sank her teeth into it.

  “Yes, Lydia is free this morning. She wants to take you to the Hermitage Museum. It is one of the world’s most famous art museums.”

  “I was reading about the Hermitage in a book I picked up on St. Petersburg at that used bookstore in Philly. The museum is housed in that pretty blue palace…” She stopped, trying to recall the name.

  “The Winter Palace.” He grinned at her memory lapse, flashing his teeth. “Lydia has a car and will pick us up in about ten minutes.”

  “Okay!” Nora sliced her egg, laid it on of the hard cheese slices, and chewed.

  Sergei said, “Do you remember that Lydia is an English-speaking tour guide?”

  Nora nodded as she savored the egg and cheese flavors.

  “I’ve arranged for her to take us around for the next couple of days.”

  Nora choked down some bitter coffee and told herself to stick with tea for the rest of this trip.

  As they left the hotel Sergei’s sister called his name and walked toward them. They hugged, and he introduced the women to each other. Nora observed that Lydia’s blue eyes, like her brother’s, sparkled with tears; clearly she was happy to see Sergei after so long.