“You have four new messages,” the electronic voice announced. “Your first new message was sent at 7:30 a.m.”

Who would call that early…except my parents!

I was disappointed to hear the voice of a partner at my father’s law firm. “I know you’re not there,” he said. “I just didn’t know what else to do. If you get this message, please call me as soon as possible…I know you’re okay…just call me…okay?”

The second message was from a friend of my mother’s saying almost the same thing. I fast-forwarded through it. The third message was from my aunt Amy asking them to call and saying how worried she was. I’d call her right away, as soon as I knew anything. One more call, one more chance. I’d begun to say a silent prayer when the strange voice started, telling us we could get “a Christmas carpet-cleaning special discount.” I slammed the phone down.

“Hello!”

I jumped. It was Tad.

“I’m in here!”

Tad rushed into the room and threw his arms around me. It felt good. Very good.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m here. I’m not the one we need to be worried about.”

“I’m concerned about your family, but I’m still worried about you. What can I do to help?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know what either of us can do.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together. Have you been listening to any updates on the situation?”

Again I shook my head. “I just got here…I wasn’t expecting you for a while…you’re here so soon.”

“I drove a little faster than I should have,” he said. “Is there somebody you should call?”

“There’s my aunt Amy, and one of the partners at my dad’s firm, I guess. They both phoned.”

“I mean to get information,” he said. “Is there somebody you can call who can tell you what’s happening in Thailand?”

“I don’t know. Who do you think I should call?”

“The State Department, the U.S. embassy in Bangkok, maybe a reporter…come to think of it, my uncle works for ABC News. How about if I give him a call?”

“Could you do that?”

“Of course. I’ll call him, and then I’ll try to call the State Department. I know they’re involved. The news said there were many American lives lost in every—” He stopped himself mid-sentence. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive. There have to be hundreds, maybe even thousands of Americans in those countries.”

“Thousands,” I agreed.

“And I can’t even imagine anything happening to your father,” Tad said. “Or him letting anything happen to your mother or brother.”

I knew exactly what he meant. It wasn’t just that my dad was big—he was a large man, though, and Sam was showing signs of catching up to him in height. It was that he always seemed to have things under control. Nothing bothered him. Nothing fazed him. He always knew what to do.

“I’m sure they’re just fine. Probably the worst thing is that they can’t get through to you to let you know that they’re okay. Your mother was feeling really guilty before this happened so she’s probably driving herself nuts right now.”