I waited, finding it hard to take deep breaths. It felt as if a strap had been tightened around my back and chest, preventing it from expanding.
"Hannah?" I finally heard. "Where the hell are you?"
"I'm some place in South Carolina. Daddy, near a place called Anderson."
"South Carolina! How did you get there?"
"We rented a motor home. It broke down and-- "
"A motor home? Was this your crazy uncle's idea?"
"No," I said.
"Well, you'd better just turn around, young lady, and get your rear end back home pronto. I'm very disappointed in you, especially after that bit you pulled with your brother's at the house. Danielle is still upset over it."
That wasn't my fault. Daddy. I didn't get a chance to explain and--"
"Well, put an end to all this silly nonsense. Just get home," he said.
"I can't!" I screamed into the phone. "Daddy?" It was silent. Had he hung up already? "Daddy?" There was no response. I clicked the receiver frantically and then realized he had hung up.
Panicked. I called his office again.
"Didn't you speak with him?" Mrs. Gouter sounded annoyed. "We were cut off." I claimed, I could almost hear her lips click like a matchstick. Moments later she was back on the line,
"Your father cannot speak with you now. He has just gone into the courtroom."
"But I didn't get a chance to explain anything," I moaned,
"He said to tell you to get home immediately and not to call him again until you are home."
"I'm trying to get home. but I have no one to drive the motor home back and--"
"That's all he said. I have to pick up another call," she said sharply, and then she cut me off just as abruptly as Daddy had. The line went dead.
I stood there holding the receiver and feeling like an astronaut whose tether had snapped. I was floating in space, feeling lost and helpless. I had so hoped I wouldn't have to call Mommy and Miguel first, I wanted to spare them any more burdens. and I knew it wasn't going to be easy talking to them over the phone. Now I had no choice.
Lila answered the phone. I could hear how excited she was to hear that it was me calling. I had decided to ask first for Miguel, hoping he was there. He was..
"Hannah," he began. "Agradezca a Dios. Thank God. Where are you?"
Hearing his voice and his jay in hearing mine was so dramatic a contrast to what I had just gone through speaking with Daddy and his secretary that I just burst into tears.
"Miguel," I sobbed, my voice cracking so badly. I had actually pain in my throat trying to get the next few words out. "I need your help."
"What is it? Where are you? Dios mio!"
I sucked in enough breath to continue and explain all that had happened and where we were. The words flew out of my mouth so quickly. I was sure he didn't understand it all.
"A motor home?" he asked, astonished when I was finished.
"Yes."
'Dios mio. And Linden?" he asked.
"He's fine. Miguel. Really, he is." I took a deep breath and asked. "How's Mommy?"
"Whoever said. 'Physician, heal thyself.' couldn't imagine emotional and psychological illness." he replied as an answer.