Carol Lynne

Kelly struggled with the two carry-on bags, while gently lifting a sleeping four year old into her arms. She was glad she’d waited until everyone else was off the plane before trying to get her baggage and children readied to disembark. She looked down at her independent six year old daughter Jenna. “Could you carry this bag for Mommy?”

Jenna took the small carry-on filled with coloring books and stuffed animals. “Sure, Mom.”

Kelly ushered her daughter up the aisle of the plane as she struggled with the other bag and her still sleeping daughter Addy. She thanked the flight crew for their patience and walked down the ramp. Heading for the baggage claim area, Kelly remembered a very similar walk only three months prior.

Everyone thought they were a normal family going on a dream vacation. As Kelly sat next to her husband Jack, she knew better. Jack was a time bomb just waiting to go off again. The stress of being cooped up in a plane for three hours with their two small children was beginning to get on his nerves. Kelly closed her eyes and prayed that they could have a pleasant visit with Jack’s cousin Lina.

Although Lina had been raised in San Diego, growing up she spent most of her summer vacations in Kansas with Jack’s family. The two of them had always been close, which was why it seemed strange to Kelly that this was their family’s first time visiting San Diego. She opened her eyes a crack and looked at her husband. He hadn’t always been so highly strung.

In the beginning of their relationship, Jack had often acted more like a teenage boy than a thirty-year-old man. They dated for almost five years before finally getting married. A year after their marriage, she’d given birth to Jenna. Jenna was born with blonde hair and blue eyes. Given that both Kelly and Jack had brown hair and brown eyes, their relationship began to go downhill. Jack constantly accused her of having an affair. He couldn’t believe that he was Jenna’s natural father.

What had begun as doubts in Jack’s mind soon manifested themselves as verbal abuse and, on several occasions, physical abuse as well. Kelly had even suggested a DNA test at one point, just to eliminate Jack’s doubts. He had gotten so angry, Kelly had ended up with a black eye. She’d never suggested it again. Kelly had become so afraid of Jack’s moods, she’d begun practically tiptoeing around him whenever he hinted at a bad mood. She knew he didn’t want to be on this vacation with his family, but his parents had given them the trip as a Christmas present.

Kelly could see Jack’s fists clenching and unclenching on his thighs. She could tell he was at the end of his rope. When she leaned across the aisle of the plane to quiet the girls, he grabbed hold of her wrist and squeezed.

“Do something about them now,” Jack said, squeezing her wrist so tightly that she would no doubt have bruises.

Kelly swallowed and nodded. “I’m trying. Their ears are hurting and they don’t understand why. Could I please go and sit with them?”

Gripping her wrist even tighter, he narrowed his eyes. “Why, so you can flirt with that male flight attendant? I don’t think so. Just shut the brats up before they drive everyone on the plane crazy.”

It was one thing to call her names, but as a mother she wouldn’t allow his anger to spill over onto her children. “They aren’t bothering anyone but you,” she hissed at her husband. She tried to pull her arm away, but he twisted the already bruised wrist. Biting the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out, Kelly pleaded to Jack with her eyes. “Not here. Please.”

The announcement from the captain that they were to prepare for landing saved her. Jack released her wrist as the flight attendants made their final inspection of the cabin. Kelly cradled her throbbing wrist in her other hand. She was afraid Jack had broken something. The pain was so intense she couldn’t keep the tears out of her eyes.

Jack looked over at her and sighed. “Wipe your face. I don’t need Lina to see you blubbering like the idiot you are.”

Kelly tried to wipe her face, but the tears still flowed. “I think you really hurt my wrist.”

Jack leaned toward her and smiled. “I didn’t feel anything break. Just put an elastic bandage on it and it’ll be fine. If you know what’s good for you, there won’t be a word of this to Lina or anyone else.”

Kelly nodded and looked toward the girls. Addy, their four-year-old daughter, had, of course, finally fallen asleep. Kelly knew there wasn’t any way she’d be able to carry Addy with her sore wrist, so she tried to wake the sleeping girl. As the plane came to a stop, Kelly ran her fingers through the four-year-old’s dark brown curls. “Wake up, Addy-cat, we’re in San Diego.”

The little girl rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. “Wow, it’s pwetty here, Momma.”

Her six-year-old sister pulled off her headphones and rolled her eyes. “Stop talking like a baby. You know Dad hates it.”

Soon it was their turn to disembark from the plane. Kelly stood up and retrieved the carry-on out of the overhead bin. She ushered the girls out of their seats and walked down the aisle carrying the bag in her good hand. Her wrist still throbbed, but she didn’t dare say anything.