"Mm!" The sound scraped out of me.
Perhaps Heaven was finally watching over us. On New Year's Eve, seats opened up on flights from both North City and River City to Hainan.
We booked immediately. My husband's voice came through the phone, relaxed and warm. "Wife, I'll meet you at the Hainan airport tomorrow! I heard it's warm there. I'll buy you a whole new wardrobe when we arrive!"
"Okay."
A few more words of comfort, then the line went dead.
I stood, hailed a taxi to the airport, and printed my boarding pass. Departure: 1 a.m.
I was scanning the waiting hall for a quiet corner to rest when a familiar, grating voice sliced through the noise.
"Dad, Mom! Over here!"
My daughter, Jade, stood on her tiptoes, waving frantically toward the arrivals exit. Beside her stood my son-in-law, Patrick James, holding little Savannah Stafford in his arms.
The three of them wore radiant smiles.
Smiles I had never seen directed at me.
I turned to leave, but my granddaughter had sharp eyes. Her finger shot out, pointing directly at my chest.
"Bad Grandma!"
Heads swiveled. The crowd's gaze locked onto me like a spotlight.
Jade froze. She whispered something to her husband and in-laws, then stormed toward me, heels clicking against the floor like gunshots.
"Mom, what are you doing here?"
Before I could answer, her expression shifted—smug realization spreading across her face.
"You knew I was coming to pick up my in-laws, so you came here on purpose to make a scene and embarrass me, didn't you?" She scoffed. "You quit the family group chat, blocked me, and now you show up here? What exactly do you want? It's New Year's Eve—do you have to humiliate me?"
I pulled my hand from her grasp.
"You're overthinking it. I came to pick up my ticket. I'm leaving tonight."
A harsh laugh escaped her. "Stop trying to scare me, Mom. I already checked—there are no flights to North City today."
Patrick approached with his parents.
"Mother-in-law? Where are you going?"
His mother, Zoey Lambert, let out an exaggerated gasp of surprise. Jade quickly looped her arm through mine—her grip a vice—and forced a smile.
"My mom heard you and Dad were coming, and she insisted on making a fuss and coming to the airport to welcome you. She even brought a box of local specialties as a gift!"