An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Tim felt like throwing the phone against the wall. His mother must have accidentally turned off her cell. How could she be so negligent at a time like this? All the lines at the modeling agency were busy. Damnit! Wasn't there an emergency line? "What the hell is going on over there?" he screamed into the phone. "This is ridiculous!"

"What's going on, Tim? Can't you reach Mom?" Trudy charged in, her face tear-stained and her features paralyzed in shock on her pale face.

"Mom must have turned off her cell phone! All the lines at the agency are busy."

"What!" Trudy grabbed her hair, trying not to scream.

When the twins checked on their father before their activities this morning, he was moaning. He struggled to breathe and couldn't even find the strength to lift his head from his pillow.

Tim and Trudy heard approaching sirens.

"I'm going with Dad in the ambulance. Tim, if you can't reach Mom, you've got to drive over there."

"OK, OK. Just make sure they're careful with Dad," Tim said, his hands shaking so much he could barely use the phone.

When the ambulance parked in their driveway, he and Trudy were directing the ambulance workers to their father. Daniel was shivering and continuing to moan. His eyes were shut tight and he tried rolling back and forth on the bed.

"Dad, they're going to take you in an ambulance. I'm coming with you. I'm here for you, Dad!" Trudy touched her father's shoulder. He nodded and they hoisted him onto a stretcher. Trudy wept as she followed him into the ambulance.

Tim reached for the phone again and tried to call his mother. Still no luck.

A fear seized and descended over him with ironclad force: Could his mother be in trouble?"

He turned on the TV to find out if there was a hostage situation in Boston, but he saw Dr. Oz chatting about the best anti-aging foods with a guest. He flipped to another station and Rachel Ray was advising her viewers to place a basil plant in water to preserve its freshness for weeks. Since there was no emergency news, Tim grabbed his father's car keys to go to his mother's job and tell her about Dad. But first he dialed his grandparents and Uncle Seth.

Harry answered the phone and said, "We'll meet them at the hospital." Before he hung up, Tim overheard him tell his grandmother in a choked voice, "Judy, it's time."

Uncle Seth told him, "I'm going straight to the hospital now, Tim. Will you be all right driving? Should I pick you up and drive you to your mother's office instead?"

"No, I can go get Mom myself," Tim said, getting off the phone because he found his own voice faltering.

Tim hung up and left.

***

Ryan wished he could quell his rapidly- beating heart. His head was swirling with worries and fears. He had never felt this uptight, even when preparing for a movie that was considered a box office risk. He tried pushing aside a thought that he didn't know whether it was a real or imaginary premonition: that evil little man was watching him. But before he could collect himself on his way into the modeling agency, his cell rang.

"Ryan?" a voice asked tentatively.

"Megan?" he asked. "Is that you?"

"Yes, we haven't spoken for ages, Ryan. How are you?" she asked with forced enthusiasm.

"I'm fine," he lied. "But right now I'm real busy. Can I call you back? Is everything all right?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I didn't want to bother you in Boston, but I couldn't help thinking about you. I've been thinking about us and wondering where we stand."