A male attendant shoved me back, hard and rough. I hit the floor again.
Eve screamed at a pitch that could shatter crystal.
"You all saw that! This trash tried to attack me! I'm calling the police!"
The male attendant dropped all pretense of courtesy.
"Did you hear that, Ms. Simmons? If you lay a hand on Miss Sullivan again, we'll have airport security waiting at the gate."
"I'd suggest you behave."
They ushered Eve out with the care and deference reserved for royalty.
I pulled the glass shards from my knees one by one, my whole body trembling with pain.
Then I got up and limped back to my seat.
The flight attendants swarmed around Eve and her son, treating her with the reverence of courtiers before a queen.
"Miss Sullivan, we're so sorry for the disturbance. Please, this is a freshly opened bottle of champagne to help calm your nerves."
"And for the little gentleman, this is a limited-edition collector's model, brand new. We hope he likes it."
"Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything else you need. Again, our sincerest apologies for this unpleasant experience."