Silence.
Then his fiancée began talking quickly.
Alexander’s face changed.
“You thought she needed to sleep?”
Estelle looked toward Sophie.
The pieces aligned with awful simplicity.
A long flight.
A sick, unhappy toddler.
A woman who, according to the signature in the folder, had given her something that had not come from Sophie’s pediatrician.
Alexander’s voice lowered.
“You gave my daughter medication because you didn’t want her difficult on the plane?”
The answer came fast.
Excuses, from the sound of it.
Alexander closed his eyes for a moment.
“No.
Don’t tell me it was harmless.
Her bloodwork was flagged.”
His fiancée apparently tried another explanation.
This time Alexander stared directly at the medical slip.
“You signed your name.”
The call ended less than a minute later.
He did not throw the phone.
He did not shout.
His control made the anger more frightening.
He returned to the rear cabin and sat across from Estelle.
“She said Sophie had been crying all morning,” he said.
“She said the medicine was something she’d seen used before and thought it would help her sleep.”
Estelle looked at him.
“And you didn’t know?”
“No.”
“Who normally handles Sophie’s medical care?”
“I do.
Her pediatrician.
Her regular caregiver when I’m working.”
“And today?”
Alexander looked away.
“I had meetings before the flight.
My fiancée offered to help.”
The shame in his face surprised Estelle.
He had the money to own the aircraft beneath them.
He could apparently arrange international travel with the ease most people ordered a car.
Yet none of that had protected his daughter from one reckless decision made in his absence.
Sophie stirred.
Both adults leaned forward immediately.
The toddler opened her eyes, saw Estelle and tightened her grip on the stuffed rabbit.
“Hi,” Estelle whispered.
Sophie blinked.
Then she reached for Estelle’s hand again.
Alexander watched the gesture.
Something about it seemed to land harder than the confrontation he’d just had.
“You’ve known her less than an hour,” he said.
“Children don’t care about résumés.”
“What do they care about?”
“Whether you make them feel safe.”
He absorbed that quietly.
During the remaining flight, the luxury of the jet almost disappeared from Estelle’s awareness.
