Chapter 26: The Fifth of July

Arabella was confused, torn by her fears and Simon's desire for commitment. Her breakfast shift in the mess hall had just ended and Arabella walked back toward the campsite, her mind churning through all the things that she wanted to tell Simon. Important things. But she didn't know how to start. Suddenly, the clouds in her thinking parted and she had the answer.

"I'll call Granny Safi!" she said to no one in particular.

Although she'd found the answer, finding Granny proved frustratingly difficult. Arabella spent the morning on the phone trying to locate Granny. Finally, with the time for the lunch shift drawing close, Arabella dialed the FEMA office. Felicia, Simon's secretary, answered and sounded overjoyed to hear from her.

Questions shot back and forth as the two women caught up with each other. Arabella nervously evaded Felicia's unspoken question about where she'd been, changing the subject to office gossip. Arabella found out that Granny, ever the energetic party girl, had dropped from site when Arabella had gone away.