A distraught mom loses her cool when barred from boarding the flight. “You don’t understand! I need to see my baby!” she screams, but it’s all for naught. In the end, she receives help from the most unexpected place.
When Caitlyn and Declan Cooper welcomed their son, Eden, Caitlyn decided to step up on the household front and embrace her mommy duties, making Declan the family’s primary breadwinner.
However, a few months after Caitlyn became a full-time mom, Declan noticed how tired she looked. She hardly had any time to herself and couldn’t sleep well since Eden would wake her in the middle of the night.
So on Catilyn’s birthday, Declan surprised her with flight tickets to Japan for a trip with her friends, ensuring that he’d stay behind to care for Eden alone. Caitlyn was reluctant to go, figuring everything would be too much for Declan to manage on his own. But he insisted, and she agreed.
Caitlyn was barred from boarding a flight. | Source: Shutterstock
A week later, after Declan and Eden dropped her off at the airport, Caitlyn badly missed them already. Even as she settled on the plane, her thoughts were preoccupied with whether Declan would be able to care for Eden on his own.
From the minute she arrived in Japan, she called Declan every hour to check on how things were going at home. Her friends mocked her and laughed at her, saying she was just being paranoid about the whole thing.
But only Caitlyn knew how hard it was to subdue the unsettling fear in her heart that something dreadful was about to happen. She didn’t know it would happen so soon…
Three days into their vacation, Caitlyn and her friends were at a beachside party. Her friends Amanda, Sophie, and Veronica were ogling their eyes over the shirtless men, complimenting their hot bodies, but Caitlyn … she was just lost.
“Hey, Caitlyn,” Sophie whispered, interrupting her thoughts. “Where are you even, babe? Just look at that guy. Damn, he’s hot….”
Caitlyn and her friends were enjoying a beach party. | Source: Unsplash
“Ughh,” Caitlyn sighed. “I’m just not in the mood right now, Sophie. I – I want to go back to the hotel. I’m sorry.”
Sophie frowned. “Is this about your baby and husband again? Look, Caitlyn, I understand you’re a new mom and all that, but stop being such a bore here, okay? You know what, it’s because you’re too engrossed in that stupid phone! Give it here!” Sophie tried to snatch Catilyn’s phone from her grasp.
“STOP IT, SOPHIE!” Caitlyn screamed, jerking Sophie’s hand away and drawing Veronica and Amanda’s attention away from the loud music. “I told you I am not interested! To hell with you and your party!”
Caitlyn stormed back to the hotel room, agitated, and she was pacing across the room frantically as she tried to get Declan to answer the phone. Back at the beach, she’d already tried contacting him three times, and now there were a total of 10 attempts with no news from Declan.
Caitlyn’s heart dropped to the floor at that point, and as a last resort, she called their next-door neighbor, Mrs. Louis, to check on Declan and Eden, but the call went unattended. Sophie was bawling like a child at this point, unsure of what to do.
Caitlyn was dead scared when Declan didn’t answer his phone. | Source: Unsplash
Suddenly, her phone rang, and it was Mrs. Louis on the other end. But in addition to Mrs. Louis’ voice, Caitlyn also heard some commotion in the background.
“Mrs. Louis!” cried Caitlyn. “Declan…he’s not returning my calls. Could you please check in on him and Eden for me? Please? I’m in Japan right now, and….”
“Caitlyn! Oh, I’m so glad you are safe, honey. There – There was a fire at your house, and the firemen… they’re still trying to put it out…”
“Fire?” Caitlyn’s heart skipped a beat. “Hello? Mrs. Louis?” The phone call was abruptly disconnected.
Caitlyn tried again, but it was all for naught. She panicked at this point and dashed back to the beach.
“Caitlyn, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Sophie asked, concerned.
“Oh my god! Dec – Declan and Eden…there was….”
Caitlyn broke down after she learned her house was engulfed in a fire. | Source: Unsplash
“Okay, cool down, okay…” Amanda wrapped her arms around her and comforted her. “Did something happen at home?”
Still sobbing, Caitlyn told them what transpired, insisting to go home right then. Her friends accompanied her to the airport, but sadly, when Caitlyn checked for a flight back home, she discovered that all flights to New York were fully booked.
“I guess we’ll have to wait, Caitlyn,” Amanda said gently. “Let’s hope everything turns out okay.”
“Hell no! I am going home right now!”
Caitlyn began to plead desperately with nearly every customer at the check-in counter to sell her their ticket to New York. But she was met with dismay because hardly anyone understood English and those who did refused her.
Finally, an old woman approached her and offered to help her.
“Hello, are you the one wanting to buy a ticket?” she inquired gently.
A woman came to Caitlyn’s rescue. | Source: Unsplash
“Oh yes!” Caitlyn nodded desperately. “I am ready to give you whatever price you want and even my diamond earrings, please! I need to get home to my husband and baby. Please!” she said, ready to offer the diamond earrings that were Declan’s wedding anniversary gift to her.
The woman handed her her ticket with a gentle grin. “There’s no need for that. You can have this. I’m Brenda White, by the way.”
“Oh my God! Thank you so much! I’m Caitlyn – Caitlyn Cooper. Trust me, I’ll forever be grateful to you!”
“You better get going,” the woman said. “Your flight takes off soon.”
“Of course, thank you!”
Caitlyn was over the moon, but her joy was short-lived when she was barred from the flight. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” the ground stewardess at the check-in counter said after checking her passport. “The name on your passport does not match the name on your ticket. You cannot board this flight.”
“Listen, you don’t understand! I need to see my baby!” Caitlyn screamed. “Please let me go! It’s urgent. I can’t afford to waste time here!”
Catilyn was stopped at the check-in counter. | Source: Unsplash
“Sorry, ma’am, but that’s the protocol. Please step back,” the staff member replied flatly.
Caitlyn was about to burst into tears when another member of the staff approached her. “You may go, ma’am,” she said. “We have received word about your situation, so it’s all good.”
Caitlyn was so panicked that she didn’t even wait to hear how she was suddenly allowed on the flight. She was just anxious to get home – to Declan and Eden.
Several hours later, she arrived home and saw a half-burnt structure standing in place of what used to be her home, with no sign of Eden and Declan.
Caitlyn went to Mrs. Louis’ house, shivering in horror as she wondered where her husband and child were.
Mrs. Louis consoled Caitlyn. | Source: Pexels
Mrs. Louis informed her that Declan and Eden were taken to the hospital immediately after the accident and were admitted there. Caitlyn rushed to the hospital and learned from doctors that their condition wasn’t bad, but they needed to be monitored for a while. It turned out there was a short circuit at their home, resulting in a fire.
Caitlyn couldn’t stop crying when she saw Eden and Declan wrapped in bandages and with bruises on their faces. But she was relieved that they were still alive and safe.
When they were discharged about two weeks later, they stayed at Mrs. Louis’ place while their house was being repaired. It was during that time that Caitlyn told Declan about how an elderly lady had helped her.
Declan suggested they thank her, so they started looking for her on Facebook. But when Caitlyn found her, she almost collapsed to the floor. The woman was the airline owner’s mother. She had posted several pictures with her son. No wonder the staff gave her a pass.
Declan and Catilyn messaged her via Facebook, wanting to thank her, and a few days later, they got a reply. Mrs. White arrived for dinner with a beautiful bouquet, having accepted their dinner invitation, and she got acquainted with not only Catilyn’s family but also Mrs. Louis. The families have been close to each other ever since.
What can we learn from this story?
- Family is your greatest treasure. When she learned Declan and Eden were in trouble, Caitlyn was ready to spare anything, ever her diamond earrings, just for a ticket back home.
- Always be there for your loved ones. Caitlyn always prioritized her family, and she was there for them when they needed her the most.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who discovers a chest while digging in her backyard and opens it only 3 years later.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
My Neighbor Refused to Carpool My Daughter Claiming She Had No Space in the Car — So I Taught Her a Harsh Lesson
When Lena agrees to help her neighbor Karen by driving their daughters to school, she thinks it’s just a one-time favor. But as Karen’s requests become a daily expectation, Lena starts feeling used. When Karen refuses to return the favor with a blatant lie, Lena decides to teach her a lesson.
I used to think I was one of those people who could just go with the flow, you know? Avoid drama, and keep things pleasant. But that all started to change the morning Karen knocked on my door.
A woman looking at a front door | Source: Midjourney
“Lena, hey! I’m so sorry to bother you this early,” Karen said, flashing that overly sweet smile of hers.
I was still in my pajamas, trying to coax my brain into waking up with a cup of coffee. Sophie, my eight-year-old, was upstairs getting dressed for school. The last thing I expected was a surprise visit from the neighbor.
“No bother at all, Karen,” I replied, yawning as I opened the door wider. “What’s up?”
A woman answering her front door | Source: Midjourney
“I have an early meeting today, and I was wondering if you could take Emily to school with Sophie. Just this once? I hate to ask, but I’m in such a bind.”
I hesitated. Not because I didn’t want to help, but because I wasn’t sure if I could juggle two kids in the morning rush. But then I remembered how much Sophie liked Emily, and how sweet Emily always was, so I shrugged it off.
“Sure, no problem. I can drop them both off.”
Karen’s face lit up like I’d just offered her the winning lottery ticket.
A happy woman | Source: Midjourney
“You’re a lifesaver, Lena. I owe you one!”
I waved her off, smiling. “Don’t worry about it, really. It’s just a quick favor.”
That’s where it all began. A ‘quick favor’ that turned into something much more complicated.
The next morning, Karen was at my door again, looking just as polished and perky as before. “I have another early meeting today. Would you mind taking Emily again? She loves riding with Sophie, and it would be such a help.”
A woman asking a question | Source: Midjourney
This went on for weeks. Every morning, there was Karen, all smiles and gratitude, asking me to take Emily. At first, I didn’t mind. Emily was well-behaved, and Sophie loved having her along.
But soon, it started to feel less like a favor and more like an obligation. Karen wasn’t asking anymore — she was expecting.
One morning, Sophie and I were running late. I’d hit snooze on my alarm one too many times, and the house was a whirlwind of chaos. Sophie couldn’t find her shoes, the cat had knocked over a vase, and I hadn’t even had a chance to brush my hair.
A woman rushing to get ready | Source: Midjourney
As I scrambled to get us out the door, my phone buzzed with a text from Karen: Can you take Emily today?
I stared at the message. I was already frazzled, and the thought of adding another kid to the mix made me want to scream. But then, I had an idea, a simple, desperate one.
I texted Karen back: Actually, I’m running late today. Can you take Sophie?
A cell phone | Source: Pexels
I figured it was only fair. After all, I’d been driving Emily to school for weeks now. Surely Karen could handle one morning, right?
The reply came almost immediately: Sorry, the car’s too full today.
I blinked at the screen, disbelief flooding over me. Too full? Karen drove a massive SUV! And all she ever transported in there was Emily!
My mind raced, trying to come up with any reasonable explanation for that blatant lie, but there was none. Karen had just shown her true colors, and they weren’t pretty.
A woman reading a text | Source: Midjourney
That was the moment I realized I’d been played. My goodwill had been mistaken for weakness, and Karen had been taking advantage of me, plain and simple.
I wanted to march over to her house and confront her, let her know exactly what I thought of her flimsy excuse. But instead, I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm. This wasn’t the time for a confrontation. Not yet.
Instead, I got Sophie ready, drove her to school, and spent the rest of the day stewing in my anger. Every time I thought about Karen’s text, a fresh wave of frustration washed over me.
A woman near a window | Source: Midjourney
I wasn’t going to let Karen get away with this. Not anymore. She’d poked the bear one too many times, and she was about to learn that I wasn’t as much of a pushover as she thought.
The next morning, sure enough, I got the text: Can you take Emily again today?
I could practically see Karen’s smug smile as I read those words. She was so sure I’d say yes, just like every other time. And I did say yes — only this time, I had a plan.
A woman smirking | Source: Midjourney
“Hey, Sophie, how about we stop at Rosie’s Donuts on the way to school today?” I called up the stairs as I finished packing her lunch. Sophie’s favorite donut shop was just a few minutes out of the way, but I knew it’d add enough time to our trip to make Karen notice.
“Really? On a school day?” Sophie’s voice was full of excitement as she came bounding down the stairs, her backpack slung over one shoulder.
“Yep. It’s a special Friday treat. What do you say?”
A woman looking up a flight of stairs | Source: Midjourney
“Yay!” Sophie practically danced her way to the car, her ponytail bouncing behind her.
I smiled to myself, the bitterness of Karen’s betrayal easing just a little at the sight of Sophie’s joy.
As expected, Karen was waiting outside with Emily.
“Good morning, Lena!” Karen chirped, her smile bright but her eyes sharp, assessing. “Thanks again for doing this. You’re such a lifesaver.”
“Oh, no problem at all,” I replied, matching her fake cheerfulness with some of my own. “It’s always a pleasure.”
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
Sophie and Emily climbed into the backseat, chatting away about their favorite YouTube videos, and I pulled out of the driveway, waving to Karen as we drove off.
I could feel her eyes on us, probably already mentally checking off another morning of childcare that she didn’t have to worry about.
But today, things were different.
Instead of taking the usual route to school, I turned left at the next intersection, heading straight for Rosie’s. Emily noticed immediately.
“Miss Richards? Aren’t we supposed to go that way?” she asked.
A girl in a car | Source: Midjourney
“We’re stopping for donuts this morning, Emily,” I said with a wink.
Emily looked confused. “Won’t we be late?”
I glanced at her in the rearview mirror and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll get there in time.”
Except that wasn’t exactly true. By the time we reached the donut shop, we were already cutting it close. But I wasn’t in any rush. We strolled inside, and I let the girls pick out their favorite treats.
Donuts | Source: Pexels
“Mom, this is the best day ever!” Sophie exclaimed, her mouth full of a donut.
I smiled, savoring the moment. “Glad you think so, sweetie.”
We took our time eating, chatting about nothing in particular, while the clock ticked on. I wasn’t usually the type to make my kid late for school, but this wasn’t about Sophie or Emily. This was about making a point.
By the time we finally left Rosie’s, the morning rush had died down, and the roads were blissfully empty.
A car driving on a city street | Source: Unsplash
When we finally pulled up to the school, the parking lot was nearly empty. I could see the school staff starting to pack up from the morning drop-off, and I felt a twinge of guilt. But it was quickly drowned out by the satisfaction of knowing Karen was probably already fuming.
“Alright, girls, here we are,” I said as I parked the car. “Have a great day, and don’t forget to tell your teachers we had a special morning!”
Sophie grinned, giving me a quick hug before she and Emily hurried inside. As I watched them go, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the fallout.
A woman in her car | Source: Midjourney
Sure enough, when I got back home, Karen was standing on her porch, arms crossed, waiting for me. She looked like she was trying to keep it together, but her eyes were practically blazing with anger.
“Lena, what happened? Emily was late for school! I thought you were going to drop them off on time!” she snapped the moment I stepped out of the car.
I walked up to her, keeping my expression as innocent as possible. “Oh, Karen, I’m so sorry! But you know how it is.”
A woman looking innocent | Source: Midjourney
Her jaw tightened, and I could see the wheels turning in her head. “I see,” she said through gritted teeth. “Well, try not to let it happen again.”
“Or maybe you could take Emily yourself? Just a thought.”
Karen didn’t reply. She just turned on her heel and marched back inside, slamming the door behind her. I watched her go, feeling a wave of triumph wash over me. It wasn’t often that I stood up for myself, but this time, it felt good. Really good.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
And that was the last time Karen ever asked me to take Emily to school. From then on, she made sure to get her daughter ready early enough to handle the drive herself.
She also avoided me whenever possible, clearly embarrassed and resentful, but I didn’t mind. She’d finally learned her lesson.
And I’d finally learned mine too. Being a good neighbor doesn’t mean being a doormat. Sometimes, you’ve got to stand up for yourself, even if it means taking the scenic route to get there.
A satisfied woman | Source: Midjourney
Here’s another story: Who charges a $500 bill for a family BBQ? My stepsister Karen, that’s who. Instead of paying, I decided to teach her a lesson in family hospitality — with a twist she never saw coming. Click here to read more.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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