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."