West Coast East Heart Chapter 06
I turned on my phone.
The moment the signal came back, messages flooded in like a tidal wave.
Adrian’s voice sounded frantic.
“Eve, it’s only an eight-hour flight from Boston to Geneva. Why aren’t you here yet?”
“Eve, did you get lost? Call me back right now.”
“Eve, Clara and I bought groceries and are waiting for you at home. Reply as soon as you see this.”
Later, Adrian’s voice became increasingly angry.
“Evelyn Reed, what is wrong with you? Just because I didn’t pick you up, you refuse to come home?”
“Turn on your phone right now. Don’t make Clara and me wait too long. Her stomach is already delicate. Can you just be a little more considerate!”
I shook my head.
I was so damn tired of that bossy, commanding tone.
I got off the plane, picked up my luggage, and headed for the exit.
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Adrian.
The moment I answered, his roar blasted through.
“Evelyn, you finally turned your phone on!”
“You’re being so childish. If you want to throw a tantrum, pick the right time. You made Clara and me so worried! She cried her eyes out!”
When I didn’t make a sound, he hesitated. His tone softened.
“Are you in Geneva or not?”
The destination in his mind was Switzerland.
Mine wasn’t.
I looked at the California sunshine before me, the familiar shadows of palm trees. My heart surged with emotion.
“I got here a while ago.”
“Then hurry up and get back to the apartment!”
Adrian’s voice was both frantic and irritable.
“Send me your location. I’ll come get you!”
I smiled faintly.
“No need. I’ll get home on my own.”
Over the airport intercom, familiar English announcements echoed in the background, along with the engine roar of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 taxiing in the distance.
Adrian heard it. He froze for a moment.
“Are you at an airport? What airport is that?”
Suddenly, realization hit him. His voice trembled.
“You went back to California?”
I let out a soft laugh.
“Yes. Los Angeles.”
“Why?”
He grew frantic.
“You knew I accepted the CERN position. Why would you go back to California?”
“Adrian, listen carefully.”
My voice was calm.
“I never planned to go to Switzerland.”
“You want to go take care of your Clara. I won’t stop you.”
“But I’m going back to my real home.”