https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fkitchensecrets.delicedcook.com%2F%3Fp%3D1577%26fbclid%3DIwcGRvZgFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3am9sSWI5S29mQkxjeFQ4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlnBrQWxuGPKz6kEm1cCUs0Lb5QxeMra-rOh7eFIEUGsWD9W0u1dyRun37Fd_aem_8tkiKKVC1bVFKmPWbywobQ&h=AUC1R_ehz09Z6FSiL9saC_TJWxW_UBitay7qXxG4fNe14vLrKMBGD7BrFGVIwInjcYT3PQFQI5MW_msGYDhKrnFffhdcmCn0htPMwoGXCrsdDfAfRZKGa2Hftula8JNWynmshrf0JoVkUm8o&__tn__=R*F&c[0]=AUAojhzX_i4X41nQLbwH9Sx52JKXmYbqjwOKvrl6WBjJ7PqUNAIJNVnVlqnVI1OsRU0nmoqUXXQdMmCHb_Y2dExLYYuCdLQLYXybAXNpAs_X9ArEIHPomSxikS9zrETQI7XYeX8PRDcXKMGcmf-tec1jXZLSsXFjezPpGEfz5MBqcRqVeMo

“I barely know you.”

“True.”

“And you’re apparently being followed by people with camera phones.”

“Also true.”

Despite everything, I almost smiled.

He leaned slightly closer.

“But someone is trying to locate you, and you’re carrying a sleeping child, two bags, and a stroller. At minimum, let me get you safely out of the airport.”

I hesitated.

My old instincts told me to decline.

For years, I had become very good at declining things.

Help.

Concern.

Questions.

Invitations.

Anything that might eventually require an explanation of my marriage.

But there was a difference between independence and isolation.

I was beginning to understand that.

“All right,” I said. “Just out of the airport.”

“Just out of the airport.”