“It will be.”
After ending the call, I sat quietly.
I expected to feel guilty.
I expected my mother’s voice to rise inside my head.
Family is family.
Be the bigger person.
Don’t hold a grudge.
But what I actually felt was exhaustion.
The kind that comes after carrying something heavy for so long that you forget you’re allowed to put it down.
I was still looking at my phone when the airport employee from earlier approached.
“Ma’am?”
I looked up.
She stood a respectful distance away.
“I’m Rachel. I wanted to make sure you’re all right.”
“Thank you. I’m okay.”
Her gaze moved briefly to my cheek.
“Would you like medical assistance?”
“No, thank you.”
“Are you traveling with the people involved?”
“I was.”
Something in my voice made her pause.
“Do you feel safe returning to them?”
I thought about it.
My father had grabbed my shoulder.
My sister had hit me.
My mother had excused it.
The truthful answer was more complicated than I wanted to admit.
“I don’t intend to argue with them again,” I said.
Rachel nodded.
“If you need assistance, our staff can help.”
“Thank you.”
She started to turn away, then stopped.
“There’s something else.”
I looked up.
“A passenger who witnessed the incident spoke to one of our staff members. She said she recorded part of what happened.”
My throat tightened.
“She recorded it?”
Rachel nodded.
“She was concerned because your father told us you had provoked your sister.”
I looked at the floor.
Of course he had.
Even to a stranger, the official family story was that Allison caused trouble.
“Do I need to speak with her?”
“Only if you want to. We haven’t asked anyone to share footage with us.”
I considered that.
Then I shook my head.
“Not right now.”
Rachel gave me a small, understanding smile.
“All right.”
After she walked away, I spent another minute staring at the cancellation confirmations.
Then I stood.
I wasn’t going back to negotiate.
I wasn’t going back to beg for an apology.
I was going back to tell three adults that their free vacation was over.
I found my family near the check-in counters.
Brooke was looking at herself in her phone camera.
Mom was adjusting the strap of her handbag.
Dad was speaking to someone through his wireless earbuds.
When he saw me, he removed one earbud.
“Finally.”
I stopped in front of them.
“Allison, where have you been?” Mom asked.
“Making arrangements.”
Brooke rolled her eyes.
“Did you finally book Tyler’s ticket?”
“No.”
She gave an incredulous laugh.
“Seriously?”
I looked directly at my father.
“I have something to tell you.”
He sighed.
“If this is another speech about how much money you’ve spent—”
“I’ve canceled your flights.”
Silence.
Dad blinked.
“What?”
“Your ticket. Mom’s ticket. Brooke’s ticket. They’re canceled.”
Brooke laughed.
It was a loud, disbelieving laugh.
“Oh, you’re hilarious.”
I opened my phone.
Three confirmation emails.
Three canceled itineraries.
I held the screen toward her.
“Read them.”
She snatched my phone from my hand before I could react.
Her smile faded.
“What is this?”
“Exactly what it says.”
Dad moved closer.
“Give me that.”
Brooke handed him the phone.
He examined the confirmations.
His face changed.
“Allison, what did you do?”
“I canceled the tickets I arranged.”
“You can’t do that!”
“I already did.”
Mom pressed a hand against her chest.
“Allison, honey, please tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“But we’re supposed to fly today!”
“Not on those tickets.”
Dad jabbed a finger toward me.
“You’ll fix this immediately.”
“No.”
His mouth fell open.
“Excuse me?”
“No, Dad. I’m not fixing it.”
Brooke stepped toward me.
“You think you’re punishing us?”
“I’m removing myself from this situation.”
She gave a bitter laugh.
“You always have to control everything!”
I looked at her.
“You were willing to impersonate me to get Tyler added to the reservation.”
Her expression flickered.
Just for a moment.
Dad frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
I kept my eyes on Brooke.
“Someone called my travel agency this morning pretending to be me.”
“You’re crazy.”
“And someone contacted the villa manager about getting an extra bedroom.”
Brooke’s cheeks reddened.
“I was just trying to make things easier!”
I felt something settle inside me.
So it was true.
She hadn’t even bothered to deny the second call.
Dad waved a hand.
“Enough of this nonsense. We’re going to the airline desk and getting it sorted out.”
“You’re welcome to purchase new tickets.”
Mom looked horrified.
“With what money?”
The question nearly knocked the air from my lungs.
Not because I didn’t know the answer.
Because nobody else seemed to hear what she’d just admitted.
They had arrived at the airport expecting a luxury vacation.
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