George Miller tapped his heavy gold watch against the steel boarding gate desk. The sound was a steady, metallic click that competed with the hum of the Boston terminal.
“You need to be on this flight, Henry,” George said, his voice booming over the boarding announcements. “The Zurich accounts won’t wait for the December board meeting.”
Henry adjusted his grip on the leather diaper bag, which still carried the price tag from the Boston boutique. It was a ridiculous, soft-sided object for a forty-six-year-old investment executive to carry through an international terminal, and he still did not know how to open the side latch.
“I can handle this, George, I do not need a babysitter,” Henry said, gesturing toward three-month-old Nora asleep in her carrier.
George clapped a hand onto Henry’s shoulder, his fingers pressing tight through the heavy wool of Henry’s grey coat.
“Nobody is babysitting,” George said. “But the board expects the senior partner to sign the Swiss papers in person, or they will start asking questions about your focus.”
Henry rubbed his gold wedding ring, sliding it up and down his knuckle. It was a habit he had developed over the last six weeks, ever since Clara’s bedside went quiet.
“The board knows Clara passed away,” Henry said, his voice dropping to a flat, clipped tone.
George looked down at the infant, then back up at Henry.
“Exactly,” George said, his expression settling into a look of heavy concern. “Which is why you need to show them you are still running the ship before Monday morning.”
The gate agent held out her hand for the physical ticket, which showed the price of eighty-four hundred dollars printed in red ink across the top.
Henry handed it over without another word, grabbed the carrier, and walked down the narrow jet bridge.
Two hours later, the Boeing 777 reached cruising altitude, and Nora began to shriek.
Henry rocked his daughter in his arms, his custom trousers wrinkling under her small, flailing legs.
The first class cabin was quiet except for her sharp, rhythmic wails, and three passengers in the front row turned their heads to watch.
