For a moment, Noelle's throat tightened.
Lorraine smiled sadly.
“Don't misunderstand me. I loved my work.”
“I know.”
“I loved the passengers who were kind. I loved traveling. I loved the people I worked with.”
She paused.
“But some days, I wondered whether anybody noticed we were people too.”
Noelle felt tears rise.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she looked toward Claire.
The attendant understood.
She stepped back respectfully, leaving mother and daughter a little privacy.
Lorraine looked toward the seat again.
Then shook her head.
“Your father would've laughed at all this.”
Noelle smiled through tears.
“He would've asked how much it cost.”
Her mother laughed.
“And whether the maintenance was current.”
Noelle laughed harder.
“Exactly.”
For a moment, they shared the memory.
Then Noelle gently guided her mother toward the chair.
“Sit down, Mama.”
Lorraine hesitated.
“Are you sure this is where I belong?”
The question broke something inside Noelle.
She looked directly at her mother.
Then answered.
“Yes.”
Lorraine studied her.
Noelle continued.
“You spent years making sure other people were comfortable. Today, somebody gets to take care of you.”
Her mother's eyes filled.
For several seconds, she seemed unable to move.
Then she slowly lowered herself into Seat 1A.
The leather cushion supported her comfortably.
She looked toward the window.
Then the table.
Then her daughter.
For a moment, she began laughing through tears.
“Oh, Noelle.”
Her daughter smiled.
“What?”
Lorraine shook her head.
“I feel like I should be asking somebody whether they'd like a drink.”
Noelle laughed.
“Nope.”
Her mother smiled.
“Coffee?”
“Nope.”
“Tea?”
“Mama.”
Lorraine burst out laughing.
Then Claire returned.
She stood beside the aisle holding a small silver tray.
“Mrs. Ashford, would you care for some water before departure?”
Lorraine looked toward her.
For a moment, she seemed uncertain.
Then she smiled.
“Yes, please.”
Claire nodded.
“Of course.”
She placed a glass of water on the table.
Lorraine looked up.
“Thank you, Claire.”
The attendant's expression softened.
“You're very welcome.”
Noelle watched.
For a moment, she thought about the first Flight 907.
Gavin's shoes on the table.
The bubblegum.
The threats.
And Claire standing beside the aisle with her hands clasped tightly, frightened that a wealthy passenger could destroy her career.
Now the same woman stood confidently beside Seat 1A.
Her posture was relaxed.
Her voice was steady.
And she wasn't waiting for a billionaire to decide whether she was allowed to enforce a reasonable rule.