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which to hang this new stress.
    Exactly. She had no place to put this, but others did. And they knew the secret of binding up the stress so that it did not weigh too heavily on their own nerves.
    She pulled out the keyboard shelf and moved the mouse. The monitor woke up, and she saw that the computer was connected to the Internet.
    She also saw news headlines.
    Massive Quake Hits Los Angeles.
    She aimed the cursor over the link and hesitated.
    Lacey did not need details. She needed help.
    She went to her e-mail, composed a short note, and sent it to the addresses of everyone who had ever said to her, “I’m praying for you.”

Chapter 10

    LOS ANGELES
    When Teal returned to River’s hallway, she saw someone with a bloodied head bandage lying on the bed.
    Her breath caught, but as she neared the figure, she realized it was not River. Where was he?
    With effort she waited calmly at the nurses’ station until one of them got off the phone. Her effort to remain calm went out the window.
    As did the distraught nurse’s composure. She informed Teal that River had gone for a CT scan, and no, she was not allowed to follow, and no, she had no guess how long it would take. She also said Teal had no business standing there. The waiting room was the place to wait.
    Her heart raced as she made her way back to the pay phone area and stood at the end of the line that now wrapped around chairs and out the door.
    Like an unbelievable line for a stupid Disneyland ride.
    But maybe it was for the best. Telling River what she had learned from Shauna about Maiya would not exactly comfort him. Reaming him out about that boy Jake would most definitely not comfort him. All of those things could wait until he felt better and she cooled down.
    On a normal day she would have chatted with others in line. Today she bit her fingernails and checked her cell phone. Over and over and over.
    At last it was her turn to use a pay phone again.
    â€œHello?”
    At the sound of her daughter’s fearful voice answering her cell phone, Teal clutched the partition to keep herself upright. “Maiya! Are you all right?”
    â€œOh, Mommy! Mommy!”
    â€œShh, hon. We’re okay. Where are you?”
    â€œI’m so scared!” Her voice was not lowering from screech level. “I couldn’t reach you!”
    â€œI know, but we’re talking now. Where are you?”
    â€œI’m coming home, but the traffic is so insane!”
    â€œMai, exactly where are you ?”
    â€œUm. Um. I don’t know. El Camino and something. At a gas station by that strip mall with Ralphs and Rite Aid.” Maiya named an area in the community east of them, typically a thirty-minute drive.
    Teal gave up waiting for her daughter to confess. She also gave up aiming for a neutral tone. “Are you on the back of Jake’s bike?”
    â€œOh, Mommy.” Things were really bad. Maiya hadn’t called her Mommy since she broke her trumpet in the eighth grade. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
    â€œNot as sorry as you’re going to be, Maiya Marie.” Stupid. “Honey, I didn’t mean that. This is just so awful.” She burst into tears.
    Then Maiya wailed.
    Behind Teal came the loud clearing of a throat. “Hey, lady.”
    She whipped around and blubbered out, “Hold your horses, mister. I’ve only been on for two minutes.”
    So much for disaster bringing out humanity’s best.
    â€œMom! Where are you?”
    â€œAt the hospital.” Teal glared and turned back around. “River has some broken ribs.”
    â€œOh no!”
    â€œThey’re doing scans now to make sure nothing else is damaged inside.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œThe Leaning Tower of Bins fell on him.” She took a shaky breath. “Are you wearing a helmet?”
    â€œY-yes.”
    â€œThen just get your rear end home ASAP. Shauna and the Yoshidas are waiting there for