When we’d boarded the plane hours earlier, we’d introduced ourselves after her daughter had crawled over to the aisle next to my seat, chasing after the plush soccer-ball type toy that had rolled down the row of seats. I’d picked the ball up with a deft maneuver, flicking the soft toy up with my toes as the ball rolled near my foot, and then caught the ball in mid-air.   The little girl had giggled with delight as I’d partially tossed the ball at her; she looked excited about having a potential playmate for the long plane ride that lay ahead of us.

“Suzy Yao,” she’d said after picking her toddler and hiking her up to her hip with practiced ease. She’d introduced herself with a smile in a slightly English-accented voice that was soft, cultured. “Looks like we’re both going to LA.”

I wasn’t surprised by the scent my nose picked up as I stepped closer to shake the hand she’d proffered. Her perfume was citrusy with a touch of bergamot, and it fit into her smoothly put-together persona like a puzzle piece. Not overpowering. Considerate. Just right for an enclosed space that she was going to share with other people for the long flight from Hong Kong to LAX.

I contemplated her now, marveling at how the woman had managed to keep her chignon in place and the dark blue silk-linen suit uncreased all this time. She’d remained smoothly-packaged, even as her toddler had crawled over her periodically during the first few hours of the flight. We’d exchanged friendly smiles. I liked that she wasn’t one of those women who kept their children at arms-length when they were dressed the way this woman was dressed. Instead, with practiced maneuvers, she’d kept the precious cherub from messing her clothes and hair up, but had managed to cuddle the toddler periodically, at the same time.

Just like with Chris, I noticed there’d been something elegant and refined about her, something that stood out even when we were relaxing back in the first-class lounge in the Hong Kong international terminal while we’d waited for our flight. And I knew she didn’t ruffle easily.

During the lull in our casual conversation as we took personal things out from our carryon to stuff in seat pockets around our respective seats, we’d swapped stories about what we’d each done to break up the stress and toll of long-haul flights on our bodies.