Flying Backwards Read Free Page A

Is this what I want ? She just didn’t care about that old house! Once again, she shook off the familiar melancholy feeling.
    Victoria pointed to a coffee shop at the other end of the L-shaped plaza. “I need some caffeine.” As they moved in that direction Victoria’s cell phone rang. She dug through her huge designer purse and held up her index finger to Eleanor as she answered, “Clark’s Catering, Victoria speaking.”
    Eleanor slowed to a stop in front of a travel agency office, lured by the various exotic posters advertising a tropical destination, a Mediterranean cruise, and a tour of London, Paris, and Rome. Eleanor had always wanted to go to Rome and Paris. In fact, in high school she came very close to going on a senior class trip to Paris. However, that was the year her dad’s union went on strike, and with the expense of Victoria’s college tuition and twelve-year-old Lizzy’s braces, the costs were too much for the Clark family budget.
    Rome : classical architecture built by the ancient Romans, the bountiful fountains…‌and the food… She could almost taste the cheesy eggplant parmesan she imagined. She’d always dreamed of traveling.
    Her daydream drew her in deeper… She glimpsed his dark sexy eyes meeting hers across the Piazza di Trevi. His teeth flashed white against his sun-kissed skin. This stranger with hunky good looks was coming straight for her… His sensual smile made her heart pound.
    Victoria’s voice jolted Eleanor back to reality. “Sorry, that was the Cooper bride with a question about the beef medallions. Of course, we can get grass-fed beef. Everyone wants it these days. Oh, you’ll love her colors, dark orange and purple. Different, huh?”
    “Yeah.” Eleanor looked longingly back at the poster of Rome, her hunky Italian’s smiling face fading away. “Yeah, can’t wait to see that combo.”
    They each ordered a latte and sat outside at one of the café’s two bistro tables. “So, Eleanor, what’s up with you lately? You seem so glum. Is it because you turned twenty-nine? Getting older sucks! Sorry I was on your case about your eggs a while ago.”
    Eleanor’s replied nonchalantly, “No, I don’t care about that.” This restlessness she was feeling was worrying her, but how could she talk about it with Victoria when she didn’t even know herself why it was happening? Worse yet, what could she do about it.
    Her birthday had been another confirmation that something was amiss. She’d looked forward to a fun night out at Champ’s Billiards with her sisters and the guys. They’d gotten a table, ordered food, and then shot pool while listening to a live local band. Eleanor sat off to the side where she could watch the band and still see Perry boast good-naturedly after every shot. The band dialed it back to a classic Journey song that got the whole bar singing and swaying to the melancholy lyrics. It was her night, her birthday celebration–why didn’t she feel the joy they did? The thought had sobered her.
    Promptly at midnight her sisters called out birthday wishes, which prompted others around the bar to respond in kind. Phillip walked up to her, smiling, “Happy Birthday, pet.” He leaned in to kiss her, and she practically held her breath. Let this kiss be magical , she prayed. Time seemed suspended. She felt a smoochie kiss. When she opened her eyes to see Phillip’s retreating face her heart sank.
    She had to force a smile. The epiphany, the revelation that there was no magic, was buzzing through her. Eleanor vowed to herself, then and there, I’m going to make my life better… I can’t live like this and feel like this anymore.
    Victoria peered over her coffee cup at her sister. “Seriously,” she asked with concern in her voice, “what is going on with you, Eleanor?”
    Eleanor sat facing the travel agency, feeling wistful. “I think I need a vacation.”
    “Don’t we all,” Victoria muttered into her cup.
    “I just wish I could go somewhere