PART 8

About two hours into the flight, Lorraine got up.

She walked toward the lavatory.

On her way back, she stopped beside Row 11.

Marcus immediately looked up from the galley.

Lorraine ignored him.

She looked at Maya.

“You embarrassed me.”

I stood.

“Keep walking.”

Lorraine looked at me.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

“You’re not talking to her either.”

Maya remained seated.

Lorraine lowered her voice.

“Children should learn not to interfere in adult matters.”

Maya looked up.

Then she surprised me.

“You made it my matter when you took my mom’s seat.”

Lorraine blinked.

I almost smiled.

Marcus approached.

“Ma’am, return to your seat.”

Lorraine raised both hands.

“Fine.”

Then she walked away.

Maya looked at me.

“Was that rude?”

“No.”

“Dad says I’m not supposed to talk back to adults.”

“You weren’t talking back.”

“What was I doing?”

“Telling the truth.”

She nodded.

Then she returned to her game.

PART 9

When we began descending toward Orlando, Marcus made another announcement.

He did not mention names.

He reminded passengers to remain in their assigned seats.

He also reminded everyone not to move, conceal, or interfere with another passenger’s travel documents.

The wording was unusually specific.

Several people looked toward Lorraine.

She stared out the window.

I almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.

Then I remembered Maya shrinking beside me during boarding.

I remembered Lorraine laughing.

I remembered Kelly saying there was a double assignment.

I remembered being treated like I was difficult because I asked for what I paid for.

My sympathy disappeared.

PART 10

The plane landed twenty minutes later.

As we taxied to the gate, Marcus came to me.

“Please remain seated after the other passengers deplane.”

My stomach tightened.

“Why?”

“Airport operations would like statements.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“No.”

He immediately shook his head.

“Absolutely not.”

Maya heard him.

“Am I?”

“No, sweetheart.”

He smiled.

“You helped clarify what happened.”

Maya looked proud.

Then nervous.

Passengers began standing.

Several stopped beside our row.

A man said, “Good job, kid.”

A woman gave Maya a thumbs-up.

Another passenger leaned toward me.

“You were way calmer than I would have been.”

I laughed weakly.

“I had a newborn strapped to me.”

“That probably saved somebody.”

We both smiled.

Lorraine waited near the aisle.

When she reached Row 11, she avoided looking at us.

Two airline representatives were waiting at the gate.

So were two airport police officers.

Lorraine stopped.

Her face changed.

“What is this?”

One officer stepped forward.

“Ms. Whitmore?”

She looked around.

“This is absurd.”

The airline representative asked her to step aside.

She began arguing immediately.

I stayed seated with Maya.

“Is she getting arrested?” Maya whispered.

“I don’t know.”

“Because of the seat?”

“No.”

I looked at her.

“Probably because she kept making bad choices after the seat.”