She was carrying the little gift box.
“Excuse me. Were you sitting beside Liza earlier?”
“Yes.”
“I’m helping organize an event she’s attending tomorrow. It’s about supporting families and the people who care for them.”
“Yes.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“That’s an interesting choice of guest.”
She gave a small smile.
“Liza showed me part of her video. She says you agreed to be filmed, but the recording begins after Lily started crying. I wanted to hear your side.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“I asked her to stop several times.”
The woman glanced at Lily.
“I heard some of the exchange, but I wanted to speak to you myself.”
“She was upset about the crying. I understood that. But she kept raising her voice after Lily had settled.”
“I asked her to stop.”
“Did she tell you she was recording?”
“She announced it to everyone watching her channel.”
The woman frowned.
“She says the recording shows how difficult traveling with babies can be.”
“Well, she didn’t ask me for any tips.”
The woman frowned.
The woman glanced at her box.
“We’ve prepared small gifts for tomorrow’s speakers. Liza recognized mine from our planning calls. She knew some organizers were flying today, but not that I was one of them.”
“So that’s why she screamed.”
“She wasn’t expecting me to have witnessed anything.”
“We’ve prepared small gifts.”
“She could’ve avoided all this by putting away her phone,” I said.
“Thank you for explaining what happened.”
“You’re welcome. I just want her to leave us alone.”
The woman nodded and returned to her seat.
“You’re welcome.”
I thought the matter was finished.
Ten minutes later, Liza appeared beside me.
She wasn’t smiling.
“Can we talk?”
“My granddaughter’s asleep.”
She wasn’t smiling.
“I’ll be quiet.”
She lowered her voice.
“Look, things got out of hand earlier.”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
“I was stressed. You were stressed. It happens.”
“I’ll be quiet.”
I waited.
“That woman organizing tomorrow’s event has completely misunderstood me.”
“She asked what happened. I answered.”
“Well, your answer has caused a problem.”
I looked at her.
“I answered.”
“What exactly do you want?”
Liza glanced toward the front.
“I can delete the video. But I need you to tell her you didn’t mind being filmed.”
“Why would I say that? Why would I lie?”
“What exactly do you want?”
“Because it was a misunderstanding.”
“It wasn’t.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Tomorrow’s event is important. I’ve worked hard to build my channel.”
“Then why did you keep filming after I asked you to stop?”
“It wasn’t.”
“You don’t understand how videos work,” Liza said.
“Then explain something. Why did you start shouting again after Lily settled?”
“I was finishing my recording.”
“She was quiet. You could’ve stopped.”
Liza looked away.
“Then explain something.”
“People expect a proper ending.”
“What kind of ending?”
“Something worth watching!”
I studied her.
“So a sleeping baby wasn’t interesting enough?”
I studied her.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you want?”
She hesitated.
“I needed a reaction.”
I looked at Lily.
“You got one. You frightened her.”
“I needed a reaction.”
Liza opened her mouth, then closed it.
She hadn’t wanted a quiet flight. She’d wanted a better video.
I looked down at Lily.
She was sleeping with one hand curled around my sweater.
Duncan used to laugh whenever she grabbed his shirt.
I looked down at Lily.
“She’s got Gwen’s grip,” he’d say.
I hadn’t heard his voice in three months. I couldn’t imagine how life was going to be without him and Gwen.
Liza leaned closer.
“Look, I’m sorry if you were upset. But can we please fix this? The baby won’t even remember this.”
“That doesn’t make it acceptable.”
“The baby won’t even remember this.”
Liza looked toward the front again.
“Please. Just tell the organizer we settled things. I need this brand deal, lady.”
“I won’t lie for you.”
Her expression hardened.
“You’re seriously going to ruin my opportunity over one little video?”
“I need this brand deal, lady.”
“No, Liza. I’m not responsible for your behavior.”
She reached into her bag and took out her phone.
“Fine. I’ll delete it right now.”
She tapped the screen and showed me.
