A sudden tremor jolted the cabin. The plane dipped slightly before correcting, sending a whisper of tension through the passengers. Mara stiffened, startled by the shift, and Elise instinctively reached for her hand. The turbulence wasn’t severe, but it rattled the atmosphere instantly.
Before Elise could reassure her daughter, the veteran moved with surprising quickness. His arm braced gently in front of Mara, steady and protective, like muscle memory responding before thought. Elise noticed the reflex, swift and precise. She felt something in her chest tighten.