Full Circle (19 page)

Nick didn’t seem annoyed by the question. He took a moment to compose himself and started his story.

Rebecca was so excited; she was practically bouncing around her apartment. For the twentieth time she checked her travel documents, her carry-on bag and her wallet to make sure her traveler’s checks were there. It was a Friday afternoon in October and her father was due to pick her up any minute. He had volunteered to drive her to the airport since he had the day off.

Rebecca hadn’t heard anything from Sergei in the two weeks since they parted and she was very relieved. For the first couple of days after the break-up she was jumpy and nervous. She kept expecting him to show up at her house or her job and threaten her, but as the days passed by she slowly began to relax and hope that maybe she had seen the last of him.

Emma had offered to stay with her, but Becky refused. She was a big girl and she would not allow him to scare her. Her friends were shocked by what happened. They have had many fights with their boyfriends over the years, but no one had ever turned violent. To be a victim of a random crime was bad enough, but to be attacked by someone you knew and had liked was worse. Rebecca had trusted him. She let him into her house and her life. She had made love with him and there he was, ready to hurt her, ready to turn her into a victim. Well, she would not be his victim. She had stood up to him and she was proud, but at the same time, she was more than happy to get away for a little while and be far away from all this.

The girls decided to meet by the gate rather than travel to the airport together. Rachel was taking the shuttle from the city and Emma was being driven by her new boyfriend Jonathan. They had been dating for about six weeks and Emma was still in the “honeymoon stage”. She had met him at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Emma was a huge fan of the Impressionists and she frequently went to the Museum to brood. It was her favorite place to exorcize her demons. She was doing just that in front of the Water Lilies when she realized that she was being observed. She was about to make a smart-mouth comment when she noticed the guy’s embarrassment and took pity on him, giving him an inviting smile instead. She waited for him to make his move and he didn’t disappoint. They did the rest of the Impressionist wing together and then took a walk through Central park that ended in a lunch which extended into dinner.

Jonathan was nothing like the guys Emma usually dated. Despite her hippie ways, she was always attracted to Wall Street types who were smooth, confident and full of self-assured swagger. Their aggressiveness is what always drove her away in the end. Sooner, rather than later they would start making demands of her and Emma, being the free spirit that she was, would always bolt.

To their immense surprise, both Rebecca and Rachel really liked Jonathan. He was tall and thin with floppy, long, brown hair and smoldering dark eyes. He was soulful and artistic and treated Emma as if she walked on water. Jonathan was studying to be an architect and painted ethereal portraits of mystic looking maidens on the side. After a few weeks, the maidens started to resemble Emma and their fiery tresses fell tantalizingly over their creamy, bare breasts as they rose from the mists of time. Rebecca kind of wished he had a brother that Emma could introduce her too, but alas, he was an only child.

Becky babbled nonstop on the way to the airport, telling her father about all the places they planned to visit in England and some of the history behind them as he drove down the Belt Parkway and before she knew it they were at the International Departures Terminal at JFK. Her father unloaded her suitcase, kissed her goodbye and wished them a safe flight.

“Bye, Daddy. See you in a week. Give my love to Mom.”

Becky walked into the terminal. She found the line for British Airways flight leaving for London and took her place. The line moved quickly and soon she had checked in her bag and headed for the security check-point. Even though Rebecca was innocent of any wrong-doing she still felt nervous as she put her things in the plastic bin and took off her shoes. She watched the bag glide away as she walked through the metal-detector. Free at last, she took her stuff and headed for the gate. Rachel was already there and sat facing the window with a cup of coffee in her hand absorbed in watching planes landing and taking off.

“Hi, Rach. Have you heard from Emma?” inquired Rebecca as she sat down.

“Yeh, she is on her way. I am sure her and Jonny will be having the very long goodbye,” she answered with a chuckle.

Emma came rushing to the gate just as boarding for their flight was announced. She looked flushed and happy and they made their way on-board and stowed their bags in the overhead compartment. Rachel had asked to sit by the window and Emma was in the middle, so Rebecca had the aisle seat. She got comfortable and started looking around at the other passengers. There were a lot of Americans and several British families with children. The children were definitely better behaved than American children, she observed. Becky loved listening to their accent. She noticed a tall, blond guy walking towards her. He saw her looking at him and gave her a big smile. His seat was right across the aisle from Rebecca and she pretended to study one of the air-mall catalogues while he settled into his seat. He didn’t waste any time getting acquainted.

“Hi, almost missed the flight. There was a big accident on the Belt Parkway and I was stuck in traffic. My Mum would be so upset if I didn’t make it. Is this your first trip to London? I am James, by the way.” He held out his hand and Rebecca had no choice, but to shake it. His hand was large and warm and he had a nice, firm handshake.

“Yes, this is my first trip to London and I am Rebecca,” said Becky smiling. He seemed adorably unguarded. “I am going on vacation with my two friends.” She pointed to Emma and Rachel and they waved hello.

“Splendid. I am going to visit my parents for two weeks. They live just outside of London. Haven’t seen them since last Christmas.”

“Do you live in New York?” asked Becky.

“Yes. I live on the Upper West side. I share a flat with a chum. I am getting my PhD at Columbia and then I hope to get a teaching post in the States.”

“What’s your PhD in?”

“French Resistance. I am a history buff with a special interest in WWII. I suppose it comes from all the great stories I heard from my grandparents growing up. Stories of valor and sacrifice,” he said with an impish grin. “I would love nothing more than to become a boring, old history professor at some great institution of learning, like Harvard, perhaps,” he added with false modesty. “And you? What do you do when at home?”

“I work for an advertising agency. Not too glamorous, I am afraid.”

“You think it’s not glamorous to sell people things they can’t afford and have absolutely no need for? I think it takes great talent and dedication,” he said making a face.

Rebecca laughed. “Well, since you put it that way, I can definitely see that I am benefiting humanity with my work.”

Before they knew it, they were airborne and the flight attendants started the in-flight drink service.

“I suggest you get some sleep, otherwise the jet lag will really hit you tomorrow. Where are you staying?” asked James.

“Some place called Tavistock Square. Do you know it?”

“Yes, of course. Not the Ritz Carlton, but I am sure it will do. Anyway, I am going to have a little kip before we land.” With that he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

“Who is your new friend?” whispered Emma with a grin. “He is so cute. Can you believe those eyelashes? It almost looks like he is wearing mascara. Think we’ll be seeing more of him?”

“Be quiet. He’ll hear you,” hissed Rebecca. She was kind of hoping James would suggest meeting in London.

She pulled out her I-pod and put on some Enya. Enya always made her feel dreamy and relaxed. She made her think of tranquil seas, tropical foliage dripping with moisture from a passing shower or majestic snow-covered mountains. Soon, Rebecca was fast asleep.

The taxi pulled up in front of the Tavistock Square Hotel and the girls paid the driver and got out. They brought their luggage into the lobby and went to check in.

“This is no Buckingham Palace, that’s for sure,” whispered Emma to Rachel as Rebecca spoke to the clerk behind the desk. When the girls got to their room they burst out laughing. The whole room was decorated in orange and brown. It was absolutely hideous.

“Looks like they haven’t redecorated since the ‘70’s,” said Rachel in disgust.

Rebecca ignored her friends’ comments and dumped her suitcase on her bed. Nothing could spoil her mood. Not the ugly room and not the pouring rain outside. Before James dashed off to the Resident’s line at customs he gave her a kiss on the cheek and asked if she would consider having dinner with him. He promised to call her at the hotel to make definite plans since he had to see his parents first and see what was on their agenda for his visit. Becky hoped he’d call.

“So, now what?” asked Emma impatiently. They had decided that since they were arriving on Saturday morning they would sightsee for two days and then do some investigating on Monday once all the offices opened for business. The downpour outside put a damper on the sightseeing plans for the moment.

“I am exhausted,” said Rachel. “I vote for a nap.” They were all jet lagged and cranky and decided that this was probably the best idea.

Rebecca woke up two hours later and glanced towards the window. The rain seemed to have stopped and a weak sunshine was coming through the hideous orange curtains. She was refreshed, hungry and eager to go out and explore. She woke up Emma and Rachel and they headed out. The girls picked up a London city map at the front desk and walked out into the October afternoon. It was a little breezy, but very pleasant outside.

“Where to first?” asked Rachel.

“I want to see Westminster Abbey and the buildings of Parliament. We can start there and walk to Buckingham Palace from there,” chimed in Emma.

“Ok. Let’s go. We can do the Tower of London, the London Eye and St. Paul’s tomorrow,” agreed Becky. “Let’s get something to eat first. I am starving. How about some fish and chips? Let’s find a good pub and see how the locals live.”

The girls found a lovely, old pub and gorged themselves on fish and chips. They were a little surprised to be offered vinegar to dip their chips, but they were determined to try everything and found it to be pretty tasty.

“Wow. I am not a huge fan of fish, but that was yummy. I am having that again tomorrow,” declared Rachel. They had marked their route on the map while waiting for their food and now they set out towards Parliament.

“So, Beck. Feel anything? Been here before?” asked Emma with a smile. “Are you channeling Lily?”

“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell. It all seems so familiar, but then I’ve only seen it a hundred times in movies and on the news. Besides, I am sure things have changed a lot since the 1940’s.”

The girls spent a very satisfying afternoon walking around London. They walked along the Thames to the buildings of Parliament and then crossed over to the other side to visit the Abbey. They spent a long time walking around and looking at the names of all the great people buried there. Rebecca was anxious to see the tomb of Elizabeth I and her sister Mary, buried alongside her. She thought it was awfully strange that the sisters were buried side by side after a lifetime of animosity.

Emma wanted to see the Isaac Newton monument because she read about it in Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code.” She was also hoping to see the Templar Church. They had stopped by on the way to Westminster, but it had been closed. It would be open tomorrow morning for Sunday services. They had a very full Sunday planned. They only hoped that the weather would cooperate and allow them to see these monuments in their full glory.

Once it started to get dark, the girls hopped on a double-decker bus and just rode around on the top level watching nighttime London come to life. It was breathtaking. They came back to their orange room tired, but happy and were asleep before their heads hit the pillows.

Sunday dawned sunny and bright and after some tea and toast in the hotel dining room they set out. Their first stop was the Tower of London. Rebecca had always been fascinated by Elizabeth I and she was anxious to see Traitor’s Gate and the place where Anne Boleyn had lost her head. Rachel wanted to see the crown jewels and Emma seemed strangely interested in the instruments of torture that still filled some of the ancient rooms. They took a guided tour with one of the Beefeaters and spent a very pleasant two hours exploring the Tower of London. Rachel hated the Tower ravens and kept giving dirty looks. She viewed them as symbols of death, even though they did nothing more than sit on the walls and peck at their food.