Another short chapter. Hope you can understand it, I'm no good at airport lingo! Enjoy and please R&R.
El x
After some time we pull into the airport car park. Though I've been through this part of the plan loads of times, I'm still a little worried. Agent Reed opens my door, and, after hastily stuffing the iPod touch into Sofia's – my handbag, I climb out of the car. I shiver, though the weather is fine, I'd hardly call my outfit appropriate. I pull on a cardigan – more designer labels – and walk round to collect Sofia's luggage. I can't believe that one girl can need three suitcases for a three week holiday, but that's what I'm faced with. Reed has stacked them on a trolley for me, but just in case anyone sees me, I have to push it. Pulling my large sunglasses over my eyes, which seems ridiculous to me, but Frank doesn't want anyone I know to recognise me, I follow Reed into the airport. He walks quickly, and I have to half run to keep up, but the constant distraction of dodging grumpy businessmen and harassed mothers actually helps to settle my nerves. Finally we get to terminal 8, where the Tuscany flight has just come in. I begin to worry again, fretting that the airport security are never going to let me through just because a man waves a little card at them, but they do. Before I leave agent Reed shakes my hand, and ruffles my hair. The second, not, as it would appear in an affectionate manner, but instead an attempt to recreate the look of a three hour flight victim. Slipping through the barrier, I'm aware of the eyes of the airport staff on me, they obviously haven't been filled in on what I'm doing. I join a crowded room of people as they search desperately for their bags. Composing myself I check through all the details, and am just about to leave when, "Good luck" is whispered in my ear, by, I think, Carrie. I almost jump out of my skin, I'd forgotten all about the bug in my ear. "Thanks" I mutter in return, and leave the luggage collection to meet Frederico.
As I emerge I begin searching for the face, trying to find a match with the photograph I had seen a few hours earlier, in the sea of faces. As I search so do Carrie, Rose and Frank, and they spot him first, "There, by that column on your right" I've seen him, and, taking a final steadying breath I begin to walk over. I push my glasses to the top of my head, making eye contact but make no effort to run towards him. All around me couples and families embrace, enjoying their moment of reunion. I on the other hand take my time, swinging my hips; I even reach into my bag to check a non-existent text. As I finally arrive next to him I don't even bother to look up at him, drawling in a bored voice, "Ciao Freddy".
"Miss De Luca, I trust you had a pleasant flight" he finishes with a weird sort of head bob and takes my luggage from me.
I sigh "As good as possible on these cheap airlines the school insist on using, I still don't see why babbo wouldn't let me fly private, do you know an imbecile hostess almost split my drink on me, I'm considering suing." Hoping I haven't laid on the brattiness too thick and remembered to pronounce my 'H' in just the right way, I follow the De Luca's butler through the airport.
In the airport car park once again, just five minutes after I'd left one car I climb into the backseat of another; this one, however, slightly more expensive than the first. A stately Rolls Royce, it commands the attention of everyone passing, and had this been any other situation I might have enjoyed the envious looks I'm getting. Today I clamber into the depths of the car as quickly as possible, pour myself a drink of water from the fridge, and relax into the plush leather of the seats. Before Federico starts the car I snap, "Do not bother me with pathetic attempts to make mundane conversation, I need my rest". Finally I put the headphones back in my, ears, this time not bothering to turn on the iPod, and do a few yoga breaths that Sofia is very fond of. "Good job, - I liked the crack about suing the hostess, very in character" I smile inwardly as Carrie interrupts Frank, careful to keep the emotion away from my face. Frank asks if I'd like him to go through the plan once more, and looking down in my lap as I signal yes, I assume he's seen it on the camera as he begins to reel off a list of steps. I stare out of the tinted window as we speed through the English countryside, ever aware that I'm being carried further and further way from the ones I love and closer to De Luca's lair.