“What is it?”
Maya did not answer immediately.
She stared at the identification in the wallet, trying to make sense of the name and photograph. Then she looked at the woman seated in 14A.
“Are you Evelyn Whitmore?”
Evelyn's face went pale.
“Give me my wallet.”
Maya's voice trembled, but she did not step back.
“Are you?”
“Give it to me right now.”
Lauren moved closer.
“Let's all take a breath.”
Maya looked at her mother.
“Mom, this says she's—”
Evelyn snatched the wallet from the girl's hands.
“That's private.”
Danielle looked between them.
“Maya, what did you see?”
Maya's eyes widened.
“It's the same name.”
“What name?”
“Evelyn Whitmore.”
Danielle frowned.
“Okay…”
Maya swallowed.
“The woman in the photograph is with Dad's old commander.”
At the mention of her father, Danielle's expression shifted.
“Sweetheart, what are you talking about?”
Maya looked at Evelyn.
“That's him.”
Evelyn's lips parted.
“Who?”
Maya's voice grew stronger.
“My dad.”
The cabin seemed to grow quieter.
Danielle stared at her daughter.
“Your father?”
Maya nodded, eyes fixed on the woman in the burgundy suit.
“That's my dad in the picture.”
Evelyn gripped the wallet.
For the first time, her carefully composed expression fractured completely.
“That is impossible.”
Danielle looked at the photograph still partly visible inside the wallet.
“May I see that?”
“No,” Evelyn said sharply.
But Lauren had already noticed the photograph.
“Ma'am, please don't grab things from the child. We can sort this out.”
Evelyn shoved the wallet into her handbag.
“This is a private matter.”
Maya's voice was almost a whisper.
“Why do you have a picture of my dad?”
Evelyn stared at her.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Maya,” Danielle said softly, “come stand beside me.”