Page 5 of Too Far To Sea
“How did you know?”
“Simone told me to treat you like royalty.” He winked.
“What is her area?” Dana transferred the ice from the plastic bag into the leak proof silicone ice bag she’d brought.
“Main cabin.” A commotion on the other side of the dividing curtain caught the attendant’s attention as someone tried to pull the curtain aside.
“Where is she? Is she on this flight? I’ve been back to the main cabin. She isn’t there.” Sheila’s voice rang through the plane. “She’s on crutches! How can you lose a woman on crutches?”
Someone answered her mother in a firm voice. “Ma’am, I’m sure she’s on the plane. Please take your seat and?—-”
The attendant standing next to Dana looked at her.
“My mother, sorry.” Dana moved to stand.
He motioned for her to stay sitting. “Simone warned me. I’ll take care of this.”
Dana sank back into her seat, a familiar mix of embarrassment and anger churning in her stomach. Even on a transatlantic flight, her mother made a scene.
He walked to the curtain separating business and first class. Dana turned to watch the drama unfold, grateful that at least this time she had witnesses to her mother’s behavior.
“Do you know where my daughter is? She is supposed to be in the main cabin and there is a strange man in her seat.”
“Did you see her get on the plane?” asked the attendant. “Yes, she was in a wheelchair. She’s tall and—” Sheila squeaked as she looked past the flight attendant and her eyes connected with Dana’s. “What are you doing here? Why is she in first class?”
Sheila tried to elbow her way past the flight attendant. If there was any karma in the world, someone would record this to post on social media. But that would hurt Chey, so hopefully not.
“Ma’am, please sit down.” He blocked the way and pulled the curtain closed.
Dana covered her mouth. The flight attendant had intended to have her mother see her.
“But my daughter?—”
“Has a ticket for that seat. You, however, don’t have a ticket that allows you in this section of the plane.”
“She should trade seats with me. I am her mother!”
“Ma’am, if you don’t sit down, I’ll ask the air marshal to restrain you and we can land at the nearest airport and deplane you.”
“Mom, will you sit down?” Cheyanne’s voice was firm. “This is my wedding. Don’t you dare ruin it.”
A moment later, the flight attendant returned. “Would you like a drink?”
“Actually, yes,” Dana answered wryly. “A large glass of patience, with a dash of ginger ale, please.”
The rest of the flight passed peacefully. Thanks to the lay flat bed and the television, Dana even slept. However, she couldn’t fully relax, knowing her next confrontation with her mother was unavoidable.
The moment Dana hobbled off the plane and onto the gangway on her crutches, her body sagged.
Sheila stood behind the wheelchair attendant with a tightlipped smile and paper cruise luggage tags in hand. “I told your sister weeks ago we should have excluded you. But she wouldn’t have it. However, she agreed to let Chandler’s cousin stay in the suite with the rest of the bridal party. You now have an interior cabin all to yourself. Don’t miss the bus to the ship.”
“Thank you so much for your concern, Sheila.”Motherzilla. Dana forced a polite smile as she took the luggage tags. She knew better than to let her anger show. She’d play her mother’s game for now, but she wasn’t about to let this ruin her time on the cruise or her friendship with Chey, which had blossomed while her younger sister attended Northwestern.
Shelia rushed away.
“Do you need anything else, Miss?” asked the attendant, gesturing to Dana’s crutches and backpack.
“No, thank you.”
