“You couldn’t even arrange for a straight flight home?”

Her husband continued the same lament he’d been repeating since they boarded the plane. Even though they were on final descent, Mary was sure he’d badger her about it through the final leg of their trip.

“It’s only a one-hour layover. We don’t even have to collect the luggage.” She glanced sideways to see if he even heard her. No response, just his normal sulk. She sighed and stared out the window, anywhere but in his direction.

“Quit chewing your fingernails. It’s bad enough being married to a nutcase, at least try to keep up outward appearances.”

Mary dropped the hand that had made its way to her mouth. Silent tears formed under closed eyelids. Thirty-five years of marriage—a lifetime wasted. Why had she thought this trip would be any different? Dear God, she was tired. To be free of the constant criticism…

He leaned in closer, his hot breath smelling of alcohol and bad memories.

“It’s your fault Kevin didn’t spend more time with us, you know. If you’d just shut up and quit harassing him he might even move back home

The flight attendant came around to collect drinks, standing next to George while he chugged the last of his bourbon. His leer as he watched the young woman walk away said it all. Mary wondered, not for the first time, if he was sleeping with other women. He never touched her anymore. She wasn’t going to ask. He’d probably tell her the truth and she didn’t think she could bear it.

They landed with only a slight bump on the tarmac and began the taxi toward the gate. Disappointment washed over Mary. A crash would have been an end to her troubles. Her face burned with the thought of wishing harm to the rest of the people on the plane.

The flight attendant thanked them for flying with a plastic smile on her face as they shuffled out. Mary noticed another attendant off to the side speaking urgently into a phone. She looked upset about something.

Bedlam greeted the passengers as they disembarked from the plane.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

George shoved his way through the restless, milling crowd. The noise level hurt Mary’s ears as she tried to take it all in. The buzz sounded angry as people overwhelmed the gates of various airlines.

She slid between people, whispering apologies as she went. Making her way over to the airport map where George stood to locate their next gate, Mary glanced up at the departures board overhead. Bold red letters saying ‘cancelled’ flashed beside several flights. With a sinking feeling, she realised they all belonged to the airline she booked their flights on. George saw it at the same time.

“That’s just great. A lousy finish to a lousy vacation. If you’d just booked a direct flight in the first place we wouldn’t be having this problem.”

“Maybe we can go collect our luggage and take another flight.” She despised the timid sound of her voice but didn’t have the energy to speak louder.

“Someone’s going to pay for this,” he said, as if he hadn’t heard her. Mary wondered if that someone would be her.

She watched him storm off towards the luggage belts, not bothering to see if she would follow or not. Struggling to keep up, Mary trotted after her husband as if he held a leash around her neck. In many ways he did, she realised. It’d been a long time since she’d had the ability to stand on her own.

The luggage carousels didn’t have their flight number listed. Mary watched George try to browbeat a security guard for information, finally storming back to her with a disgusted look on his face.

“He says I have to go to the airline desk and talk to them. Something about the company folding and the luggage still being on the plane. If that doesn’t beat all. I’m going to sue the shit out of them when we get home.”

Mary tagged along behind him as they made their way back to the desk. A mob stood in front of it without a single employee in sight.

“Can’t we just go home? I’m sure they’ll send our luggage to us in a day or two.” Mary tried to diffuse the explosion she saw building on George’s face. He already had a few drinks in him. She couldn’t take any more trouble.

“I’m staying right here until I get some answers.” He turned his back on her, not caring about her opinion.