The clock on Bella's desk ticked too loudly in the silence of her small office. Her fingers hovered uselessly over the keyboard as she tried to concentrate on the latest report Jake had asked her to finalize.
Numbers swam before her eyes, black lines blurring against white. She had barely finished her coffee, and her head throbbed with the familiar ache that came when she worried too much.
She had only just reached for her pen when her phone buzzed sharply against the desk. The screen lit up with the name of Timothy's school.
Her heart plummeted. Why were they calling her? Was Timothy fine?
Bella snatched the phone so fast it nearly slipped from her hands. "Hello?" Her voice came out breathless, almost fearful.
