Kayla was exhausted. Emotionally drained, physically spent, and six months pregnant, she longed for nothing more than the comfort of her own bed. The past few days had been a whirlwind of grief, saying a final goodbye to her grandmother—the woman who had been her anchor, her guiding light.
As she packed her suitcase, her mother hesitated at the door.
“Are you sure you want to leave today?” she asked gently. “You can stay a little longer, take time to process everything.”
Kayla gave her a small, wistful smile. “I wish I could, but I need to get back. Colin is hopeless without me, and work won’t wait forever.”
Her mother nodded. “I understand. Just know that your father and I will be here a few more days to sort through your grandmother’s things. I just wish she had been around to meet the baby.”
Kayla placed a hand on her belly, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Me too. More than anything.”
A Stranger’s Gaze
Navigating the long lines at the airport, Kayla reminded herself that a short flight was better than a grueling twelve-hour car ride. Her growing belly made any journey uncomfortable, but at least this way, she’d be home soon.
She settled into her seat with a sigh of relief, grateful when the flight attendant offered to stow her carry-on. Next to her, a woman groaned.
“Ugh, I hate flying. Hate driving, too. Should’ve just stayed home.”
Kayla chuckled. “I feel the same way.”
The engines roared to life, and as the plane began its ascent, Kayla closed her eyes, exhaling. But something felt off. A presence. She opened her eyes and turned her head slightly.
A man. Three rows back. Staring at her.
Her heart skipped a beat. His gaze wasn’t casual—there was an intensity to it, something unsettling. She quickly looked away, dismissing it as paranoia. But the feeling of being watched lingered.
Mistaken Identity
Ten minutes into the flight, a flight attendant approached her, her expression unreadable.
“Ma’am, could you come with me?” Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Confused, Kayla unbuckled her seatbelt and followed her toward the clearing near the restroom. The moment they were out of earshot, the woman’s demeanor shifted.
“Get on your knees. Now.”
Kayla blinked, frozen. “What? Why? What’s going on?”
“Now.” The woman’s tone was sharp, commanding.
A rush of fear coursed through Kayla’s veins. She wasn’t about to argue—especially not while pregnant. She slowly complied, her heart hammering.
Then, the man who had been watching her stepped forward. His voice was calm, but laced with authority. “Where is the golden necklace you stole?”
Kayla’s breath hitched. “What? I—I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just came from my grandmother’s funeral!”
The man pulled out photographs and documents, shoving them in front of her.
“This is you at the museum two days ago. And this—” he pointed at another photo “—is you at the hotel where the necklace disappeared. We tracked you here.”
Kayla stared at the images. They were blurry, but undeniably similar to her. Except…
“Wait! The woman in these photos has a tattoo on her wrist. Look!” She thrust her arms forward. “I don’t have any tattoos. And I’m six months pregnant! That woman isn’t!”
The man grabbed her wrist, his hands cold as ice. His brow furrowed.
“You could be wearing makeup to cover it. And pregnancy? That could be a disguise.”
A wave of fear washed over her—not just for herself, but for her baby. And then, as if sensing her distress, a firm kick pressed against her belly.
Acting on instinct, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. “You can’t fake this.”
A long pause. Then, the man sighed, his expression shifting from suspicion to realization. “I… I’m sorry. You look just like her. I was convinced.”
But just as Kayla exhaled in relief, the real nightmare began.
The Real Culprit
A sharp click cut through the tension.
The flight attendant had pulled out a gun.
“Enough! Hands behind your backs!”
Kayla’s blood ran cold.
“You were right about tracking me,” the flight attendant sneered, tossing zip ties at the man. “But you had the wrong person.”
The detective—because now, Kayla was certain that’s what he was—hesitated. But with the woman’s back turned, Kayla saw an opening. She acted on pure instinct.
With all the force she could muster, she kicked the woman’s leg out from under her. The gun clattered to the floor. The detective wasted no time, lunging at the woman and pinning her down.
That’s when they saw it.
A glint of gold around the flight attendant’s neck.
The stolen necklace.
A Safe Return
By the time the plane landed, authorities were waiting at the gate. The flight attendant was arrested on the spot, while the detective—who introduced himself as Connor—offered Kayla a sincere apology.
“We’ve been tracking her for months. She’s a master of disguises, constantly changing her identity. I received a tip she’d be on this flight. When I saw you, I just assumed…”
Kayla gave him a tired smile. “Well, now you know.”
He nodded. “I truly am sorry.”
But Kayla didn’t dwell on it. Relief flooded her as she stepped through the arrival doors and saw him.
Colin.
Waiting for her with a bouquet of yellow tulips, his face lighting up the moment he saw her.
“Welcome home,” he murmured, wrapping her in a warm embrace.
Kayla melted into him, finally at peace. Whatever nightmare she had just endured, it was over. She was safe. Home.
And that was all that mattered.