Page 25 of Not Just for Christmas

Dylan’s heart went out to her. The baby looked tiny. Hard work, and even harder on a flight.

‘Excuse me, ma’am?’ Rayner hurried towards the woman.

Dylan breathed a sigh of relief, it looked like the flight attendant was going to her assistance. He would definitely make sure to get a picture with him before disembarking for his kindness.

But to Dylan’s surprise, Rayner just guided the woman to the rear of the cabin. ‘Can you stay back here please, you’re disturbing our other passengers.’

The woman began to jiggle the baby and pat its back. ‘I’m so sorry, I think my daughter’s ears must be hurting her. She never normally makes a fuss.’

‘Have you tried giving it candy to suck on?’ Rayner suggested, his hand pressing into the woman’s back.

‘She’s four months old,’ said the young woman. ‘She doesn’t eat solid food yet, let alone candy.’

More irritated faces appeared from further up the aisle. Instead of offers of help, all Dylan could hear was tutting and exaggerated sighing. He couldn’t bear it any longer. He got out of his seat and joined the woman and baby at the back of the plane.

The child was red in the face, its mouth a wide oval of discontent.

‘I’m so sorry, Mr Wilde,’ said Rayner, pulling a face behind the woman’s back. ‘I have some ear plugs if the noise is bothering you.’

Dylan looked at the young woman; she had dark circles under her eyes, and her skin was pale. She was on the verge of tears. ‘I feel for your daughter, flying sucks when you get earache. Can I do anything to help?’

The woman’s lip trembled, and she gestured to her seat. ‘I have a bottle of formula for her in the changing bag, could you reach for it?’

‘Oh, so she’s just hungry.’ Rayner rolled his eyes. ‘That’s an easy fix. Mr Wilde, I’m sure we can sort this between us. Sorry to have disturbed you.’

‘I think someone is pressing their call bell?’ Dylan said, waving a hand dismissively at Rayner, who thankfully took the hint and melted away.

‘How about you get the formula while I hold … what’s your daughter’s name?’ Dylan asked.

‘Keiko,’ said the mother.

‘I could hold Keiko while you fetch the bottle, save me going through your bag?’

The woman had handed over the baby before Dylan had even got to the end of his sentence and dashed to her seat to get the formula.

Dylan lifted the baby onto his chest and bounced on his tiptoes as he’d seen the mother do.

‘Hey, Keiko, it’s OK. Lunch is on its way, kiddo.’

Within seconds the baby’s screams had lessened, and the little girl turned her face into Dylan’s neck.

‘Thank you so much,’ said the mother, returning with a baby’s bottle which she was shaking vigorously to mix the powder with water. ‘She likes you.’

Dylan shrugged, secretly pleased to have stopped the baby’s tears. ‘It’s probably the shock of being passed to someone new.’

The woman shook her head. ‘She recognises a kind soul, thank you. I’m guessing you’re a parent.’

Dylan handed Keiko back to her mother and watched as she took the lid off the bottle and offered the baby the teat. ‘Only an uncle, and a godfather, I’m on my way to stay with my godson for Christmas.’

‘Lucky boy to have such a kind godfather.’ She smiled although her eyes were still brimming with tears. ‘I’m meeting my husband in London then we’re flying back to Japan for the holidays, but if I’d known how stressful it would be to travel alone, I would have stayed in New York. I feel like I haven’t slept for days.’

‘I felt the same when I got on the flight,’ he admitted. ‘Having just woken up from a two-hour nap, I can vouch for the wonders of sleep.’

The woman groaned. ‘That’s cruel, I’d give anything for a nap right now.’

‘Anything? Like letting me have another cuddle with your beautiful baby?’ Dylan grinned, holding his hands out.

‘Are you serious?’ The mother gasped. ‘I’m Emi, by the way.’