their checks. A few minutes later, Captain Hart received another message from operations and finally nodded. “We are cleared to continue boarding procedures.” Zara returned to Seat 2A and placed her red bag beneath the window.
As the aircraft prepared to leave, Richard sat silently in 2B. He no longer looked like the powerful executive who had commanded the cabin earlier. Zara looked out the window as the airport slowly moved beneath them. Her father called one final time, and she answered with a small smile.
“You handled yourself exactly