Daniel laughed, and it was a sound dangerously close to crying. "I ran almost the whole way. I wasn't going to miss you if there was anything I could do about it. Happy birthday, my girls."
He pulled back enough to see both their faces. Ruby's eyes were damp, though she looked offended by the suggestion that she might have cried. Pearl's collar was crooked, and one little pearl earring had turned slightly to the side. Daniel straightened it carefully, then touched Ruby's birthday badge and smiled.
"Are you both okay?" he asked. "Did anybody hurt you?"
"Nobody touched us," Ruby answered. "The lady was mean, though. She said we were just kids, and the man told us somebody should have been here on time."
"We were polite," Pearl added. "Mostly."
"Mostly," Ruby repeated with a solemn nod.
Daniel looked at them and felt the last ten minutes settle into a smaller, manageable shape. They were frightened and embarrassed, but safe. There would be time to address what had happened; right now he needed to make sure they understood that he had heard them and believed them. He told them that they had done the right thing by sending the message and staying together.
A gentle tapping sound came from beside him. Walter Finch had leaned forward and was offering his hand. "Walter Finch," he said. "I believe you're the man these two have been trying to summon. I used to deliver mail, and I can tell you that they have been extremely patient under rather poor service conditions."
Daniel shook his hand. "Thank you for looking out for them."
"They've looked out for each other," Walter replied. "I mostly supplied a few jokes and some strong opinions."
Jenna approached from the rear galley holding the white envelope. She looked as if she had been arguing with herself for several minutes and had finally reached a decision.
"Mr. Bell, I'm Jenna Ortiz. I was asked to supervise the girls after they were moved. I should have checked the paperwork more carefully. I asked questions, but I didn't make sure anyone answered them. I'm sorry."
Daniel looked at the envelope, then back at her face. "Thank you for telling me. Please don't change anything in that envelope. The captain needs to see it as it is."
"I understand," she said. "And for the record, your daughters never agreed to the move. I heard them asking why."
He nodded once. "That matters."
Ruby tugged his sleeve. "Daddy, did you see the man with your watch?"
Daniel paused. He could feel the matching watch on his own wrist, suddenly heavier than the rest of his bag and everything he had carried through the airport. "I saw him," he said.
Pearl's eyes grew very wide. "Is it really the same?"
"We'll talk about that when things are calmer," he replied. "I promise. Right now we're getting your seats sorted."
"I told them the person in two C would make them remember," Ruby said. The pride in her voice was mixed with the relief of no longer having to be brave for both of them. Daniel touched her cheek, marveling at how naturally she had inherited Grace's ability to find a clear sentence under pressure.