restriction.’
Lucinda checked again that her seatbelt was firmly fastened as the plane began its descent into London, Heathrow. For as long as she could remember she hated flying. Her brain just couldn’t comprehend the physics of how this great metal beast of a plane managed to stay in the air. “Lift, force and drag. It’s called fluid dynamics or the Bernoulli’s principle. The plane’s wing is shaped and tilted so that the air moving over it travels faster than the air moving underneath.” Richard loved flying and had tried to explain more than once how it all worked. It was odd how she’d suddenly remembered that. It was 10.30am, but her watch was still on New York time, 5.30am. She looked across at Reece who was sitting upright but still out cold, tucked up in his blanket, with his bright red headphones still on his head. The boy had an amazing ability to sleep anywhere, whereas Katelyn was wide-awake with her forehead pressed firmly against the window as she watched London beneath her. Lucinda tried to focus on the film but finally gave in and turned her own head. The mid morning sun was spreading across London like butter on a freshly toasted crumpet and the River Thames snaked through the centre of the city. It’d been so long since she’d seen the city and she could clearly see London split in two. The South East where it had all began for her, the o2 arena, Docklands, which had expanded since she’d last seen it, and the West where she was heading. Her stomach flipped. She blamed it on the plane making its descent but she knew it was really anxiety as the plane flew over the South Bank with the London Eye standing resolute like an archer’s target. She copied her daughter and pressed her face closer to the window as she spotted the iconic Wembley Stadium. When she’d left London the two ivory towers were still standing amongst the red and grey rooftops. Now an impressive arch stood in its place. Still iconic but not quite the same.
Beatrice stood with Sam in her arms watching the arrivals of Terminal 5. It was noisy and chaotic with families and friends screaming, laughing and crying as they reunited with each other. She could see the drivers standing, expressionless with their white placards waiting for their passengers. It brought back memories of a time when they’d returned home after a successful promotional tour of Japan. Beatrice had never seen so many people in one place and it took her a few moments to realise that the crowd of teenagers and photographers were screaming their names. ‘Lucinda, over here. Jessica, Jessica…Auntie Bea. Auntie Bea.’
Beatrice was snapped out of her daydream by the voice. She saw Katelyn run through the waiting crowds closely followed by a trolley filled with four large suitcases being pushed by Reece, and his mother behind him pushing a second trolley with another four suitcases. Beatrice groaned and kicked herself for believing that Lucinda would be travelling lightly. She found a gap in the crowd and watched as Katelyn excitedly made her way over and didn’t stop her as she threw her arms around her much to the bemusement of Sam who found himself squashed between them. Beatrice felt the overwhelming love radiate from Katelyn as she hugged her aunt.
‘So you missed me then,’ Beatrice said laughing.
‘Of course I did. I always do. Ooh let me look at the baby. Can I hold him?’ Katelyn said excitedly.
Beatrice removed Sam from his sling and handed him to his older cousin who immediately began to cover him in kisses, which caused him to gurgle happily.
‘Oh my God Reece. Look at you.’ Reece stood awkwardly by the luggage with his red headphones still on his head. ‘For God’s sake you’re not too big to give me a hug,’ Beatrice said as she hugged her nephew. She burst out laughing as he hugged her even tighter. When she let go of Reece she finally took a look at her sister. Lucinda had been determined to arrive in London in style
Lucinda checked again that her seatbelt was firmly fastened as the plane began its descent into London, Heathrow. For as long as she could remember she hated flying. Her brain just couldn’t comprehend the physics of how this great metal beast of a plane managed to stay in the air. “Lift, force and drag. It’s called fluid dynamics or the Bernoulli’s principle. The plane’s wing is shaped and tilted so that the air moving over it travels faster than the air moving underneath.” Richard loved flying and had tried to explain more than once how it all worked. It was odd how she’d suddenly remembered that. It was 10.30am, but her watch was still on New York time, 5.30am. She looked across at Reece who was sitting upright but still out cold, tucked up in his blanket, with his bright red headphones still on his head. The boy had an amazing ability to sleep anywhere, whereas Katelyn was wide-awake with her forehead pressed firmly against the window as she watched London beneath her. Lucinda tried to focus on the film but finally gave in and turned her own head. The mid morning sun was spreading across London like butter on a freshly toasted crumpet and the River Thames snaked through the centre of the city. It’d been so long since she’d seen the city and she could clearly see London split in two. The South East where it had all began for her, the o2 arena, Docklands, which had expanded since she’d last seen it, and the West where she was heading. Her stomach flipped. She blamed it on the plane making its descent but she knew it was really anxiety as the plane flew over the South Bank with the London Eye standing resolute like an archer’s target. She copied her daughter and pressed her face closer to the window as she spotted the iconic Wembley Stadium. When she’d left London the two ivory towers were still standing amongst the red and grey rooftops. Now an impressive arch stood in its place. Still iconic but not quite the same.
Beatrice stood with Sam in her arms watching the arrivals of Terminal 5. It was noisy and chaotic with families and friends screaming, laughing and crying as they reunited with each other. She could see the drivers standing, expressionless with their white placards waiting for their passengers. It brought back memories of a time when they’d returned home after a successful promotional tour of Japan. Beatrice had never seen so many people in one place and it took her a few moments to realise that the crowd of teenagers and photographers were screaming their names. ‘Lucinda, over here. Jessica, Jessica…Auntie Bea. Auntie Bea.’
Beatrice was snapped out of her daydream by the voice. She saw Katelyn run through the waiting crowds closely followed by a trolley filled with four large suitcases being pushed by Reece, and his mother behind him pushing a second trolley with another four suitcases. Beatrice groaned and kicked herself for believing that Lucinda would be travelling lightly. She found a gap in the crowd and watched as Katelyn excitedly made her way over and didn’t stop her as she threw her arms around her much to the bemusement of Sam who found himself squashed between them. Beatrice felt the overwhelming love radiate from Katelyn as she hugged her aunt.
‘So you missed me then,’ Beatrice said laughing.
‘Of course I did. I always do. Ooh let me look at the baby. Can I hold him?’ Katelyn said excitedly.
Beatrice removed Sam from his sling and handed him to his older cousin who immediately began to cover him in kisses, which caused him to gurgle happily.
‘Oh my God Reece. Look at you.’ Reece stood awkwardly by the luggage with his red headphones still on his head. ‘For God’s sake you’re not too big to give me a hug,’ Beatrice said as she hugged her nephew. She burst out laughing as he hugged her even tighter. When she let go of Reece she finally took a look at her sister. Lucinda had been determined to arrive in London in style
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