The Beginning Of All Sins

"Look, Olivia really needs help right now, right? If she gets better, everything will work out better for us," Hillary said quickly. "So don't worry too much, okay? He'll call you when he's free." Naomi didn't respond.

"Maybe you should call him? To check on Olivia?" Hillary suggested, trying to hide her own worry.

Naomi looked annoyed for a moment but quickly calmed down.

Seeing Naomi's silence, Hillary pressed on, "Just call Tyler and ask about her, okay? Your dad is worried about her too."

Naomi sighed softly. "Okay."

She waited a bit before taking her phone from her nurse. The phone rang for a long time, as if no one was going to answer.

Just as Naomi was about to hang up, Tyler picked up.

"Tyler?" she asked.

"I'm in a meeting right now."

Naomi was at a loss for words. Tyler sounded so distant and uninterested. Still, she hid her feelings and continued, "I just called to ask how Olivia is. We're all worried."

There was a pause. Then he replied sharply, "I'll call you back later."

Naomi was surprised by his abrupt response. She tightened her grip on the phone. "Okay. Don't let me keep you."

He disconnected the call almost immediately.

Hillary could see from Naomi's face.

that the call hadn't gone well. She hesitated, then said, "He's in aPlease check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

meeting, right? We can ask him after it's over."

Naomi didn't reply, and she didn't look relieved either.

Hillary quickly offered some fruit.

"Here, try some of these! Your dadet thed them fresh from the orchard

this morning. You'll like them!"

319

Tyler wasn't lying about being busy. He handed his phone back to his secretary and got back to his meeting, which lasted all afternoon.

Naomi never got a call back. Hillary was getting anxious. She sneaked to the pantry and called Camilla.

Camilla was taking notes when her

phone vibrated. She glanced at

screen, then at Tyler, who frowelet "Take it outside," he grumowned.

She nodded. "Got it."

Camilla stepped outside. She was about to answer the call when she saw Alisa and Olivia inside the building.