Besides the cookies and the tissues, Lili also had her phone. It was on the bed beside her. She reached out and grabbed it and dialed the number she’d been putting off calling for too long now.
She waited, hardly daring to breathe, as the phone rang. And rang. Finally, an answering machine picked up.
Alex’s recorded voice said, “I’m not available. Leave a message.”
She waited for the beep and then she said, “Alexander. You are the most exasperating man.” She wanted to blurt out the truth right then and there. But it wasn’t a good idea. Not on the phone. “Read the letter I sent you,” she said. “And then you’d better call me, Alex. We really do need to speak privately.” She waited some more. Maybe he was there, listening. Maybe for once he’d behave like a reasonable person and pick up the phone.
But he didn’t. She heard the click that meant the machine had disconnected her. Very gently, she hung up.
And after that, she just sat there, not even crying anymore, not even wanting another almond cookie, feeling terrible about everything. Wondering what was going to happen when her father found out.