The eggs don't 'move back' prior to laying: usually when I palpate my gravid turtles, I feel the eggs toward the bridge, not the hind legs.
So far as nesting goes, last year I happened upon one of ours digging at about 3pm one afternoon, and she was done (digging, laying and re-covering) by about 8pm.
Mine can be 'picky' about laying eggs if they're being watched too closely or otherwise interfered with. Maybe you just need to observe your girl from a discreet distance.

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