“We're resolving a passenger issue, sir. Thank you for your patience.”
Evelyn seemed to become aware of the audience again. Her shoulders stiffened, and the old defensive expression returned.
“This conversation is over.”
Danielle did not raise her voice.
“Not for me.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“I said I knew your husband years ago. That's all.”
“Then tell me why you have his photograph.”
“I don't remember.”
Maya stared at her.
“You just looked at it.”
Evelyn's face flushed.
“Children should not be questioning adults like this.”
Maya sat back, hurt and angry.
Danielle turned toward the woman.
“Please don't speak to my daughter that way.”
Rachel stepped in before Evelyn could respond.
“Let's keep the conversation respectful. Ms. Whitmore, your belongings are now in your space, and the family is seated. We can continue the flight, but if there are unresolved concerns about the wallet or the interaction, we can discuss them privately.”
Evelyn nodded stiffly.
“Fine.”
Rachel moved away to check the boarding progress.
Danielle looked down at Maya.
“Are you okay?”
Maya nodded, though her eyes were still wet.
“Why would she lie?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Dad said Colonel Whitmore was kind.”
“Maybe she isn't the colonel.”
Maya frowned.
“But she has the same name.”
“People can be related.”
“Then why is she scared?”
Danielle did not answer.
She could not.
The cabin door closed a few minutes later, and the aircraft began its pushback. The flight attendants completed their safety checks, and the engines grew louder as the plane taxied toward the runway.
Danielle tried to settle into the seat, but her thoughts kept returning to the wallet.
She had not expected to spend the morning arguing with a stranger over a seat. She certainly had not expected the stranger to possess a photograph of her husband.
Terrence had been unusually quiet over the past few weeks. He had been reviewing a report connected to a transportation safety investigation, and whenever Danielle asked about it, he said only that he was dealing with an old matter.
She had assumed it was routine.
Now she wondered whether the matter had something to do with Evelyn Whitmore.
The aircraft accelerated down the runway, and Maya reached for her mother's hand.
“Mom?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Should we call Dad?”
Danielle looked at her phone, which had been switched to airplane mode.
“We'll message him as soon as we're allowed.”
Maya nodded.
The baby stirred, then settled again.
Across the aisle, Evelyn stared straight ahead.
Her handbag rested beneath her seat, and one hand remained pressed against it.
For the first time, Danielle noticed that the woman looked older than she had at the beginning of the argument. The confidence was still there, but something beneath it had begun to unravel.
When the seat-belt sign turned off, Rachel returned to the row.
“Mrs. Brooks, would you like some water?”