That plane wasn’t meant to have me on it.
Not with them, anyway.
My ex-boyfriend Dariel had our daughter Lyla for the week and was taking her to visit his sister in Denver. Not only did I know that the trip was going to happen, but no one else did either. I had already reserved a seat on the same flight.
You could call it paranoia or just a mother’s sense. There was something not right. Dariel had been acting strangely since the custody case didn’t go his way. He was being too nice and agreeable. And Lyla? She said that Daddy was planning “a big surprise.”
I booked the last place I could find in the back row on the other side. As they got on, I wore a hat and kept my head down. I got a lump in my throat when Lyla smiled and gave those two thumbs up from the aisle seat. She didn’t know that I was watching from a few rows away and trying to hold it together.
Dariel looked stressed. His eyes kept going to his phone and watch as if he were waiting for something or someone.
As our flight level rose, I saw him take a manila package out of his carry-on. He took a while to open it. He did nothing but look at it. I recognized the handwriting on the folded piece of paper, but I hadn’t seen it in months. He then took something else out of his pocket.
It was mine.
Before the year was over, I had written the note during one of our many fights. We need to fix things right away for Lyla’s sake. I tore it up in anger when I realized how pointless it all was and threw it in the trash can next to the kitchen sink. But Dariel must have found it some way.
He carefully opened the paper and pressed it against his knee to make it smooth. As he read it again, his jaw got tight. Whatever was in that envelope seemed to have something to do with this moment. His “big surprise” was not just a family trip though.
Lyla didn’t know what was going on because she was drawing quietly in her sticker book. While she hummed softly to herself, she had no idea that her father was tensed up. My heart shook. She should have felt it, right? Or maybe she did, but she believed him enough to not question it.
I moved around in my seat uncomfortably because I didn’t know whether to approach him or stay hidden. What if I made things worse? How would I feel if my appearance made whatever was going on worse?
Then Dariel leaned over to Lyla and whispered something. She gave a happy nod and took off her seatbelt. She smiled and said, “I’ll be right back,” then she went to the bathroom.
At that moment, I saw the woman two rows in front of me look up quickly. She looked at Dariel for a split second before quickly moving away. Something about her face felt familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Without making eye contact with anyone, she nervously fixed her scarf.
Lynne walked by my row, and I gently grabbed her arm. She stopped, looked at me, and then turned around. Her big brown eyes lit up right away.
She whispered, “Mommy!” and wrapped her arms around me. Ask yourself, “Why are you here?”
Dariel’s words rang through the cabin before I could answer. “Lyla!” Come back right now.
His voice made me feel cold. It wasn’t mad; it was sharp and in charge. It was like he was scared someone would hear.
I slowly stood up and looked across the aisle at him. “Hi, Dariel.”
He stopped moving for a moment. Then his face turned serious. “This is stupid.” “Are you following me now?”
I told her, “No.” “I am keeping my daughter safe.” What’s going on, Dariel? Why do you have that letter? What’s with Lyla’s constant talk of a “big surprise”?
He wasn’t sure what to do and nervously looked toward the front of the plane. That’s when the woman in the scarf became clear. She wasn’t just anyone. She took part in this.
“You no longer trust me,” Dariel snarled angrily. “Okay. But you’re making things worse. “Do you really care about Lyla’s well-being?”
“Taking her somewhere without telling me is not what’s best for her,” I replied. “Well, it’s not dragging her into the mess you made either.”
The argument got a lot of coverage. Others in the train were beginning to stare. The flight attendant moved slowly toward her. “Is everything okay here?”
“Yes,” Dariel answered quickly. “It was just a misunderstanding.”
I said, “No” again, but this time better. “That’s not right. “Tell me what’s inside that envelope.”
Dariel let out a big sigh and ran his hand through his hair. He looked like he had lost for a moment. After that, he opened the package and took out a stack of papers.
Forms for adoption.
The papers had the name of a lawyer I didn’t know on them but weren’t signed yet. There was a line at the top that was filled in with neat block letters: Guardian-to-be: Ms. Elena Torres.
The woman with the scarf.
It all worked out. Lyla wasn’t just going to Denver to see Dariel. He was going to marry someone else and start over with someone who wouldn’t fight him every step of the way.
My legs almost gave out from under me.
“Why?” I choked. “How did you do that?”
He told her, “It’s not about you.” “Do you think I can’t see how upset she is?” Are you always stuck in the middle of your drama? Elena can help her feel safe. A real house.
I said, “She has a real home with me.” “You can’t choose this by yourself.” Not having me in her life doesn’t give you the right to erase me!”
The whole plane was quiet at this point. Everyone paid attention. Even Lyla, who was standing between us with doubt, seemed to understand how serious things were.
“Mama?” The question was soft. “What’s wrong?”
I got down on my knees and brushed a hair out of her face. “Heart, there’s no harm in this. Just a grown-up talk between me and my dad. “Everything will be all right.”
But would it?
When we got off the plane, Dariel and Lyla tried to run away. I stood in his way and wouldn’t let him go until we had answers. The airport staff stepped in and called security to help calm things down.
In the end, Dariel told the truth. He met Elena online months ago and believed her when she said that her life would be easier and he wouldn’t have to deal with the problems that come with co-parenting. He believed that giving Lyla to Elena would make everything better.
When Elena was told what was going on, she broke down in tears. She said she didn’t fully understand what Dariel meant because she thought I knew about the plan. She agreed to step down when she saw how much damage was being done, whether that was true or not.
Lynne stayed the night with me. I told her I would do something important as we lay in bed together, her little hand on mine.
“I will always fight for you, no matter what.” “Always.”
After a few months, the custody deal was changed. There were strict rules about when Dariel could visit, but she could still do so. He started going to therapy, not just for himself but also for Lyla’s sake.
Now that I look back, I see that love means holding on tighter than ever and letting go at the same time.
If you’re a parent who has ever questioned your gut, remember this: Trust yourself. You have no idea how much your child needs you.
Did you like this story? Tell other people about it if they need a lesson of how powerful love is. ❤️
