NANNY FOR MENDES.

Ninety-three

"Where are they, then? We have to know something." Aaliyah says, impatient.

"The woman on the news they were injured and had to be taken care of. You already called every hospital in Toronto. We'll get something about them, soon enough, for sure." I tell her.

"They didn't give you any information, anyway. And they wouldn't." Karen says.

"Ugh!" Aaliyah yells in frustration.

"It's 9 PM! It's been a while!"

"Aaliyah, please." I tell her.

My phone rings: Mom.

"Hey, Mom."

"Bear is hysterical, Soph."

"Put him on the phone."

"Mommy...." He's crying.

"Baby. Why are you crying?"

"Something happened to Daddy, right?"

"No, Bear."

"Please tell me the truth. Something happened to Dad..."

"Sweetie..... Dad is fine now."

"'Fine now'? So something happened!"

"He's okay, baby. I promise."

"Where are you?"

"I'm in our house."

"Can I come?"

"No, baby. I'll pick you up later."

"Okay.... but Dad is okay, right?"

"Yes, he is, baby."

"Okay, bye."

Oh, my God....

My phone rings again. This time an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Miss me?" That's.... SHAWN!

"SHAWN! OH MY GOD!"

They all come rushing toward me.

"Oh, my God. Thank God! Thank God!" I start crying again.

"I'm fine, babe, I promise."

"Noah?"

"The asshole is fine."

"Thank God." I whisper.

"Where are you?" I ask him.

"In a hospital."

"Which one?"

"You're not coming."

"Yes, I am. Your family, too."

"No. How are they?"

"They were terrified. Your mom and dad have been here since this morning."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Your sister and your parents met me in your apartment."

"Our apartment." Even when we're in this fucked-up situation, Shawn?

"Not now, Shawn. At all."

"Okay. Sorry."

"Where are you?"

"In a hospital."

"Shawn!"

"Okay. Fine. We're at Toronto General Hospital."

"We?"

"I mean Noah and the other people who made it."

"Okay. Bye."