Chapter 6 - THE REPLACEMENT FLIGHT
Two hours later, the remaining seventy-nine passengers from Flight 412 were escorted to Gate D4, where a brand-new aircraft and a fresh flight crew were waiting to take us to Orlando.
As Maya, Leo, and I walked down the terminal corridor, something remarkable happened.
The corporate auditor who had sat beside me in Row 14 spotted us first. He stood up from his gate seat and began to clap. Then the man from Row 10 joined in. Within ten seconds, the entire boarding area erupted into applause. Passengers came up to us, offering to carry our bags, buying Maya snacks from the newsstand, and bringing me hot chamomile tea while I sat with Leo.
When boarding was called, the gate agent didn't just scan our tickets. She announced over the public address system that Maya Mercer and her family were being boarded first as special guests of the airline.
We were escorted down the jetway by the station manager himself.
When we stepped onto the new aircraft, the chief purser smiled warmly and guided us past Row 11, all the way to the very front of the plane.
"First Class, seats 1A and 1B," the purser said, gesturing to two massive, plush leather seats with unlimited legroom, personal video screens, and warm blankets already laid out. "Compliments of the airline's executive board."
I settled Maya into seat 1A by the window. She sank into the soft leather, her purple backpack tucked safely near her feet, the silver pilot’s wings pinned proudly to her denim jacket next to her stuffed bear.
I sat beside her in 1B, laying Leo across my lap as the purser brought over a silver tray with fresh juice and warm cookies.
Maya looked out the window at the airfield lights shimmering against the dark pavement.
"Mom?" she asked softly.
"Yes, Maya?"
"Are you still tired?"
May you like
I looked down at my six-week-old son, sleeping peacefully against my chest, then reached over and took my daughter’s hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Not anymore, sweetheart," I said, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the seat or the First Class service. "Not anymore."
