I noticed their matching luggage.
I saw the fear in Ryan’s eyes.
Then I smiled even wider.
“Mr. Carter,” I said professionally. “Your seats are 2A and 2B.”
Ryan walked past me without speaking.
Ashley followed behind him, swallowing her pride.
A few minutes later, after they sat down, Ryan discovered a folded cocktail napkin waiting on his tray table.
His fingers trembled as he opened it.
Only one sentence was written in blue ink.
Funny. I didn’t realize Austin had beaches.
Ryan stared at the note as though it might explode.
His chest visibly tightened.
Ashley snatched it from his hand and read it.
The confidence she’d been wearing all morning vanished instantly.
“I told you she’d find out someday,” she hissed.
Ryan lowered his voice.
“Relax. She’s working. She’s not going to make a scene.”
Ashley laughed bitterly.
“You really don’t know what happens when a woman gets tired of being lied to.”
The cabin doors closed.
The captain made his announcements.
Passengers settled into their seats.
I performed the safety demonstration with the same flawless professionalism I’d shown on every flight before.
No tears.
No yelling.
No accusations.
