I’ll have to wait until we land to sort this out.”
‘Listen, I understand,’ I said.
“But it’s not me.
I’m just trying to get home,” I said, feeling calmer as I tried to get up.
Then the nightmare took a turn for the worse.
The flight attendant pulled out a gun.
‘Enough! Both of you, hands behind your backs!’
She took zip ties out of her bag and first tied the man’s hands, tying him to my back.
‘You’re not as stupid as you look,’ she said to him.
“You were right to follow me to the plane.
But you got the wrong person.”
Another wave of fear for my child made me act.
With her back to me, I saw my chance and hit her with all my strength.
She staggered and fell, dropping her weapon.
Distracted, she did not manage to finish tying the man’s hands, and he attacked her.
While he was doing so, we noticed a gold necklace hanging around her neck.
‘She’s a real thief,’ he said, after subduing her.
“She pretended to be different people to avoid arrest.
I don’t understand how she managed to pass herself off as a flight attendant on this flight.”
“You were so brave to do what you did.
Thank you for stopping her before she tied me up,” he said.
‘I was just afraid for my child,’ I said with a heavy sigh.
‘I acted on instinct.’
The rest of the flight was spent with the man offering vague apologies and explanations to the crew and authorities.
‘I’m Detective Connor,’ he introduced himself, shaking my hand afterwards.
The woman was arrested upon arrival, with about fifteen police officers waiting at the exit.
‘I’m really sorry you had to go through this,’ Connor said.
‘Just explain what happened,’ I replied, needing closure before going to my husband.
“We’ve been tracking this woman for several months.
She was stealing valuables and using disguises to avoid arrest.
I got a tip that she would be on this flight.
When I saw you and your hair, I thought…,” he trailed off, clearly regretting it.
‘You thought it was me,’ I finished for him.
“Well, it wasn’t.
And now you know that.”
“Yes, and I’m very sorry for my mistake, Kayla.
I hope you can forgive me.”
Despite all the horror, I felt a strange sense of relief.
When I walked through the door and saw my husband with yellow tulips and a big smile, I immediately felt at peace.
‘Welcome home,’ he said, hugging me.
‘I’m so glad you’re back.’
We drove home in silence, enjoying each other’s company.
When we got home, I sat down next to Colin and told him everything that had happened on the flight.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked, his eyes wide.
“Are you shaken up?
Maybe we should see a doctor to make sure everything is okay?”
‘No,’ I replied.
“I’m fine.
I just wanted to come home to you.”
My husband put his hands on my stomach and smiled at me.
‘I’m glad you’re home,’ he said again and kissed my stomach.
What would you have done in my place?