Page 90 of Totally Shipped
“You think she’s teaching little kids to read?” Leander murmurs in my ear.
I snort; the idea is so ridiculous.
“I have no idea what my brother's cell number is,” Leander says aloud. “Malcolm Westhall. He’s in Beverly Hills and has an investment company called WestThrall Entertainment.”
I know my sister’s cell number. We got phones at the same time, for our fifteenth birthdays, so our cell numbers are one digit apart.
“I’ll call my sister.” I stand up, no point delaying matters. “Is there somewhere I can go and be private?” I don’t mind the guys hearing my conversation, but I don’t want anyone else to.
“Sure. There is a smaller waiting room next door.”
Mr. Delong shows me where to go and I sit alone on a hard plastic chair and think about what I’m going to say.
Hello Brooke.
After that I’m stumped, so instead of over-thinking I just plunge in.
The phone rings. No one answers, and I’m told the voicemail inbox is full. OK, try again, from a different angle.
Text.
With proof that it’s me. Using a codeword no one else would know.
ME: Hey—this is Daze. I’m alive. Just been rescued. If this is Wookie, please call me.
I wait for a minute then the phone rings.
“Hello?” I say tentatively.
“Daisy?” My sister’s voice is choked. “Is that really you?”
“Yep. We were shipwrecked, and just got picked up by the coast guard yesterday.” It’s at this moment that everything hits me and I just start to sob, then can’t stop.
“Daisy! Daisy!” Brooke is screaming. “Mom! It’s Daisy, she’s alive.”
“Mom’s there?” I’m bawling now.
There is some garbled noise from the other end, then my Mom comes on the line. “Daisy? You’re really alive?”
“I am, Mom. I’m in Samoa. There’s so much to tell you.”
“It’s a miracle. How are you getting home? When will you be here? Your dad is going to lose his mind…”
“I don’t know anything, Mom. The others will probably figure that all out.”
“Others?” It’s Brooke, I can tell the phone is now on speaker. “Harvey, too?”
I knew this question would come.
“Not Harvey. He didn’t make it. Everyone else did, though. All the crew, and Killian.”
“Harvey’s dead?”
“I’m sorry, Brooke. I’m so sorry.”
Brooke doesn’t reply.
There is a knock on the door and Leander puts his head in. “Are you doing OK?”
