Chapter 2
“Mom,” Michael said, “just approve the flight.”
He spoke as though he were asking me to sign a birthday card.
Lauren descended two stairs.
“The children are already seated. Please don’t drag them into this.”
I almost laughed. They had brought Emma and Noah to the stairs themselves.
Captain Hayes stood a few feet away, giving us room. Near the terminal doors, a ground attendant waited beside my suitcase. She had seen enough to avoid looking directly at any of us.
“What was submitted to my office?” I asked Robert.
“A request for this itinerary,” he said. “Our dispatcher was told final approval would be confirmed here.”
Michael stared at him.
“Then confirm it.”
Robert did not move.
I appreciated him for that.
Lauren reached the bottom step.
“Eleanor, we can talk about feelings later. Emma gets anxious when plans change.”
“Emma was told I was coming.”
“We explained that you weren’t.”
“When?”
Lauren looked away.
Michael answered. “We were going to explain once you went home.”
The honesty of it left me cold.
They had intended to take the children away, then tell them whatever version suited them. I imagined Emma looking through the airplane window for me while the aircraft taxied out.
“No,” I said.
Michael exhaled.
“Are you canceling a family trip because we asked for one weekend alone?”
“I’m asking why you invited me.”
He glanced toward the open cabin door.
“Because the kids wanted you there. Then Lauren and I talked.”
“You had time to call me.”
“We knew how you’d react.”
“You’re seeing how I react to being pushed.”
His face flushed.
“I said I was sorry.”
He had not.
Before I could answer, Emma appeared in the doorway again. Noah crowded behind her.
“Are you coming?” she called.
I walked closer, stopping well clear of the stairs.
“I’m here, sweetheart.”
“Dad said there wasn’t room.”
“There’s room,” Robert said before anyone else could speak.
Michael shot him a look.
Emma’s gaze moved between us. I watched her work through what she had heard and what she could see.
“Did somebody tell Grandma not to come?”
Lauren climbed back up and put an arm around her.
“Inside, Emma.”
Emma pulled away.
“Did you?”
I had spent eleven years telling that child the truth in ways she could bear. I would not start lying to protect her parents.
“Your dad and Lauren decided they wanted to travel without me,” I said. “I only learned when I got here.”
Noah’s lip trembled.
“But you brought my candy.”
“I did.”
“Can we still go with you?”
His question broke the silence.
Michael held out a hand to the children.
“We’re all going to Hilton Head. Grandma will see you soon.”
He looked to me for help.
I could have approved the trip to spare Emma and Noah an unhappy morning. I wanted badly to do it. They had been promised a beach and time with their parents, and none of this was their fault.
Then I looked at Michael’s hand on the railing. Minutes earlier, those same fingers had gripped my shoulders.
“I won’t authorize this flight,” I said.
Lauren’s mouth fell open.
“You can’t punish the children to make a point.”
“I’ll take them somewhere myself another day if you both agree. Today, you’ll have to make other travel plans.”
Michael stepped down.
“This is my father’s company.”
The words struck a place in me that had been sore since Thomas died.
“It was ours,” I said. “We built it together.”
“You know what I mean.”
Again, that phrase.
I knew what he meant. He thought I had kept the office running until he was ready to take it over. He had never asked me whether that was my plan.
Robert spoke quietly. “Mrs. Harrison, would you like me to return to the terminal with you?”
“Please.”
Michael caught my arm.
It was brief, but Emma saw it.
“Dad, stop,” she said.
He released me at once.
Noah came down two stairs before Lauren pulled him back.
I opened my handbag and took out the candy. I placed both bags on the bottom step.
“One for each of you,” I said. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Noah whispered.
Emma looked at the candy, then at me.
“I don’t want to go.”
“Emma,” Michael warned.
“I don’t want to go if Grandma got pushed.”
A hush fell over the stairs.
I wanted to take her hand and walk away with both children. They were Michael’s children, though, and I would not turn them into the prize in a fight between adults.
“You can tell your dad how you feel,” I said.
Then I stepped back.
Inside the terminal, Robert waited while I called a car. He had the ground attendant bring in my suitcase.
“Thank you for coming down,” I told him.
“The dispatcher called when he saw the authorization had not come through,” he said. “I’m glad he did.”
I sat in a quiet corner and watched the aircraft through the glass. Michael and Lauren remained at the stairs for a long time. The children went back inside the cabin, then came out carrying their backpacks.
When the family finally crossed the pavement toward the terminal, Emma held Noah’s hand. She did not look at her parents.
My phone rang.
It was Miriam Vale, who had managed the Harrison Family Office since Thomas was alive.
“Eleanor,” she said, “I’m sorry to interrupt your trip. I’ve been reviewing the request Lauren’s assistant sent. There’s something else you need to see.”
I watched Michael enter the terminal through the far doors.
“What is it?”
Miriam lowered her voice.
“The flight request lists Lauren’s parents as passengers on a second aircraft next weekend. Michael’s name is on the approval.”
I gripped the phone.
May you like
“Michael cannot approve that.”
“I know,” Miriam said. “That’s why I called.”
