I slowly lowered my phone.

“Before we take off,” Luca went on, “I want to do something I’ve never done on one of my flights before.

There’s a very special person on this plane today.”

Leo turned to me, his eyes enormous.

“Mom!” “Someone,” Luca said, “who means absolutely everything to me.” And Leo’s mouth fell open in pure wonder.

“He knows!” And God help me, for one beautiful, terrible second, I thought Leo was right.

I thought Luca had spotted us in the terminal, or a flight attendant had recognized Leo from the photos on Luca’s phone, and that my husband was about to turn our surprise around on us, about to say my name over the loudspeaker to a plane full of strangers.