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Maybe that person isn’t on a need to know basis about Bella’s comings and goings. She loves that job. Why would she abandon it?
    I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”
    “Her co-worker told me they’ve lost several students in the past few weeks. They simply dropped out. Explain that.”
    “I’m sure there’s some logical explanation.”
    “Only the deaf students? Something screwy is going on.”
    “In your mind.” Sydney huffed her exasperation. “Why not stop worrying? It won’t do you any good one way or the other. I’m sure Bella is fine and we’ll hear from her shortly.
    Holly stomped her foot in frustration, wishing she could get it through her friend’s thick skull that something was terribly wrong. “How can you be so callous?
    Our friend is missing and all you can say is everything will be okay?”
    “It’s better than making myself sick with worry. Bella has gone off before without notifying us. Why is this time any different? Look, Bella is a big girl, who’s quite capable of taking care of herself. I wonder if you’d be so concerned if I took off somewhere for a little bit without calling.”
    “Of course I would. Why would you even imply that I wouldn’t?”
    “Because I’m not deaf. You treat Bella differently, always trying to protect her when she’s doesn’t want you to.”
     
     
     
    - 33 -
    “I do not! I… I just don’t want to see her get hurt.”
    “Sometimes we have to fall to get back up. You can’t always be there for her,” Sydney said gently.
    “That’s what friends do; we look out for each other. Not everyone has their head stuck in the sand like you do. And furthermore, you’re probably not interested because this subject doesn’t revolve around you.” The second the words were out, Holly regretted them. Arguing wouldn’t bring Bella back any sooner, and that attack wasn’t called for.
    Sydney uncurled her long legs from the sofa she’d been reclining on and stood up, her dark face remaining impassive. She strode over to the balcony window and stared outside. Though she didn’t say a word, Sydney’s hurt was evident in her rigid stance and stony expression.
    Holly knew she’d gone too far. Her anger and concern for Bella had gotten in the way of her judgment. Maybe a little of what she’d said had sprang from jealousy.
    Sydney was used to being the center of attention, but not by design.
    She was a rare exotic beauty -- stunning. Men fell at Sydney’s feet when she walked down the street. With rich coffee-colored skin, which was a startling contrast to her tilted light brown eyes, she possessed features many women would kill for and others spent money to attain.
    She wore her hair cut closely to her scalp in tiny natural curls that emphasized the highness of her cheekbones, and regality of her oval-shaped face. She was tall and slender with curves in all the right places, the exact opposite of Holly’s short dumpy body.
    Whenever Holly stood next to Sydney, they looked like the number ten. She supposed she couldn’t blame Sydney if all the attention did go to her head but it didn’t.
    Taking the attention all in stride, sometimes it seemed like the way men treated her annoyed rather than flattered her.
    “I’m sorry, Syd. It’s just… I… well, my temper… actually, there’s no excuse for what I just said. It was totally unnecessary.”
     
    - 34 -
    The other woman shot her a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You said how you felt at the time. I can’t fault you for that. We all say things we don’t mean in the heat of the moment.”
    “But I shouldn’t have said it regardless. It was a bitchy thing to say.”
    “Forget about it. Look, if we’re both being honest here, I’m starting to get a little worried too, but I also know from experience Bella doesn’t like it when she’s hovered over. I know you have a mothering instinct, but you have to let her fend for herself sometimes. I wasn’t exactly thrilled at the