The flight attendant stopped beside seat 4A and smiled, her hands resting on the cart’s top handle.

“Can I get you something to drink, Colonel?”

“Black coffee, please,” I said.

My voice came out calm, short and clear.

She took a clean paper cup and poured the hot coffee from a stainless steel carafe.

Steam rose in a thin white ribbon against the dark fabric of her uniform jacket.

She handed me the cup with a cardboard sleeve around the middle so the heat wouldn’t burn my fingers.

“Thank you for your service, ma’am.”