“Tonight, I lied to my wife,” Ryan continued, and the whole cabin went silent. “I told her I was working, and I let her believe I would miss our tenth anniversary. She is sitting somewhere on this plane right now, and she has no idea I know.” My knees locked. I had not breathed since the first sentence. How could he know?

“Hanna, seat 9C,” he said softly, “please stand up.” Two hundred heads turned toward me. My hands shook as I rose, my red dress suddenly feeling like a spotlight. Ryan’s voice crackled through the speakers. “I have to confess something, and then the first officer will hand you something that will explain everything.” The cockpit door opened, and the first officer stepped out holding a small black box.