I checked Lily’s diaper and offered her bottle again.
She started drinking.
For a moment, I thought we’d be fine.
She started drinking.
Then the woman took out her phone.
“Guys, you won’t believe this! Look what I have to deal with!”
She turned the camera toward me.
“Excuse me, please don’t film me,” I said carefully.
She laughed.
She turned the camera toward me.
“I’m actually an influencer. I have thousands of followers. I’ll show everyone who ruined my flight!”
She angled the phone toward Lily.
“Never fly with this airline! Apparently, they let just anyone on board!”
Lily had almost settled, but the woman’s raised voice startled her.
She began crying again.
“I’ll show everyone who ruined my flight!”
“Please stop filming,” I said. “You’re scaring her.”
“Oh, look, now it’s my fault that she can’t calm the baby down! Can you believe how entitled she is?”
I looked straight at her camera.
“I’ve asked you to stop recording my granddaughter.”
“You’re scaring her.”
Liza lowered the phone slightly.
“Grandma, you’re making yourself look worse.”
“Then you’ll have plenty of footage already.”
I pressed the call button.
Amy arrived a moment later.
“Grandma, you’re making yourself look worse.”
“Is everything all right?”
Liza answered before I could speak.
“No. This baby has been crying for ages, and her grandmother won’t do anything.”
Amy turned toward me.
“Ma’am?”
“Is everything all right?”
“I’ve been feeding and comforting Lily. But this woman keeps recording us after I’ve asked her to stop.”
Amy faced Liza.
“Please put the phone away.”
“I’m documenting my experience.”
“I’ve asked her to stop.”
“You’ve made your complaint, ma’am. Let me help the passenger.”
Liza folded her arms.
“Unbelievable.”
Amy asked whether I needed some water.
“Unbelievable.”
“Yes, please. And could you help me get another bottle from my bag?”
“Of course.”
She handed me the bottle, then moved down the aisle to fetch water.
I offered Lily a little more milk.
“Yes, please.”
This time, she drank and settled against my shoulder.
I finally relaxed.
Then Liza started speaking into her phone again.
“Quick update, everyone. Apparently, I’m the bad guy for wanting a quiet flight.”
Lily stirred.
I finally relaxed.
I turned toward her.
“She was sleeping.”
“Then why are you talking?”
“Because you’re waking her up with all your moving.”
Liza smirked.
“She was sleeping.”
“You can’t blame me for everything.”
Amy returned.
She looked from Lily to Liza’s phone.
“Miss, I’m sorry. If you’re uncomfortable sitting here, there’s an available seat in another part of the plane.”
“You can’t blame me for everything.”
Liza stood immediately.
“Finally! Someone understands customer service.”
She grabbed her handbag and gave me a smug look.
“Enjoy the rest of your flight.”
Liza stood immediately.
I didn’t answer.
I was too relieved to see her leave.
Amy led Liza several rows forward.
I watched them stop beside the woman I’d noticed during boarding.
I didn’t answer.
She was moving her folders off the empty seat.
The little gift box still rested on the cushion.
Amy pointed to the seat.
“Here you go, ma’am.”
The woman reached for the box.
Amy pointed to the seat.
Then Liza stepped closer.
She stopped so suddenly that Amy nearly walked into her.
Her face went pale.
“Are you kidding me? No, this can’t be happening!”
Her scream carried through the cabin.
Liza stepped closer.
I tightened my hold on Lily.
The woman beside the box looked up at Liza.
I couldn’t hear her response.
But I heard Liza say, “You’re supposed to be at the event tomorrow!”
I tightened my hold on Lily.
The woman stood.
Liza looked back toward me.
Her expression had changed completely.
Amy returned a few minutes later.
“Is everything settled back here?”
The woman stood.
“Much better, thank you so much.”
I glanced forward.
“What happened to that woman?”
“She recognized someone she knows.”
“Judging by that scream, it wasn’t a happy reunion.”
I glanced forward.
Amy smiled briefly.
“I’ll check on you again soon.”
I looked down at Lily.
At least one of us was finally sleeping.
About half an hour later, the woman from the other row approached me.
Amy smiled briefly.
