Chapter 43
Rebecca is driving Maddy to the beach when the cell phone rings, interrupting the Disney Channel. Caller ID shows an unfamiliar number. Swooping through the Palisades on Sunset Boulevard, she clicks to answer.
“Mrs. Higgins?”
“Yes?”
In the back seat, Maddy keeps Mr. Elephant dancing on her lap to “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana, even though the music has stopped.
“My name is Jim. I’m the personal executive assistant to Sheila and Don Evans.”
“How is she?”
“Mrs. Evans is stable. Thank you for your concern. She’s undergoing reconstructive plastic surgery this afternoon. It’ll be a long road back, but she’ll be okay.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Rebecca says and is happy to feel how deeply she means it.
“Mr. Evans wanted to thank you for the care you showed Sydney in the aftermath of the accident.”
“Of course,” Rebecca says.
“He wanted to send something over as a token of his appreciation.”
“What might that be?”
“A new technology, still in beta phase. It’s not yet to market, but because Mr. Evans invested heavily in the Series B, he has a plus-one he’d like to offer to you.”
Rebecca laughs.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Higgins. Is something amusing?”
“No,” she says. “Please tell Mr. Evans he can save his plus-one for someone else.” In the rearview she watches Mr. Elephant pirouette on Maddy’s knee. “We’re fine just as we are.”