He really couldn''t wait for this kid to arrive.
But all that had nothing to do with Sylvia. She was totally focused on her work.
Around lunchtime, Sylvia''s phone buzzed. She nced at the screen. It was her mom, Naomi.
"Hey, Mom, what''s up?"
"Honey, all your packages keep showing up at the Garcia ce. I figured I''d drop them off and maybe we could grab lunch together."
"Packages? I haven''t ordered anything. And I never use the Garcias'' address when I shop online."
Okay, maybe she had forgotten to update her shipping address after moving to campus recently. She''d had to take a few detours to pick up stufftely.
She heard the sound of packages rustling on the other end.
"Nope, your name and number are right here. Anyway, I''m almost at your office. You can see for yourself."
Sylvia was about to say "sure thing," when she heard Naomi suddenly shriek. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
"Naomi, please! I''m begging you-help me!"
That voice... It was Freya!
Sylvia remembered hearing that after getting fired, Freya''s parents still treated her like a cash machine for her younger brother. She really hadn''t been having it easy these days.
Who knew what she might do now?
Panic hit Sylvia. She sprang up from her desk and bolted for the door.
But Bridget, her coworker, blocked her path.
"Sylvia, where''s the fire?"
"None of your business."
Sylvia pulled her arm free and dashed outside.
Bridget, always the drama queen, made a show of stumbling backward into another colleague.
“Bridget, just let her go. She''s always acting like the world''s against her."
"I dunno, she seemed pretty freaked out. Maybe we should check it out? We are coworkers, after all..."
Bridget hurried after Sylvia, and
since everyone had just gotten little thank-you muffins from Bridget (she was pregnant, after all), nobody wanted to let her go alone. One by one, they followed her out,
Sylvia barely made it out the front door when she heard her mother crying out.
"Freya! Let me go! If you''re having a rough time, that''s your parents'' problem-it has nothing to do with my daughter!"
"It DOES! Naomi, I know Sylvia''s got big shots in the industry looking out for her now. Please, I''m begging you, tell her to stop sabotaging me! just want a normal job and a normal life. Please!"
Just like always, Freya went straight to the theatrics-dropping to her knees and making a scene before even saying anything.
She clung to Naomi''s legs, shaking
her so hard it looked like Naomi
might fall. Naomi used to work retail,
standing all day-her back was never the same, so this was
definitely not good for her.
Sylvia rushed over and grabbed Freya''s arm.
"Freya, stop with the crazy usations! I have nothing to do with your job problems. Let go of my mom!"
But Freya didn''t even seem to hear her. She kept apologizing, begging, even
banging her head on the ground, totally losing her dignity.
"Sylvia, I''m sorry! I really am! Please stop ruining my life!"
She wouldn''t let go of Naomi, shaking her harder.
Naomi was in heels and clearly in pain, reaching out for Sylvia, about to topple
over.
By now, their coworkers had gathered around.
Even the security guard looked hesitant to get involved with Freya acting so unhinged.
But Bridget stepped forward, trying to calm things down.
"Freya,e on, let''s not do this. Let''s talk it out. Sylvia only ever gave you a
hard time because she was upset, that''s all."
"Sylvia, just promise Freya you''ll stop messing with her behind her back."
Sylvia stared at Bridget in shock.
She hadn''t done anything, but if she promised, it''d sound like she was admitting to Freya''s usations.
Bridget pressed her: "Sylvia,e on, your mom can''t take much more of this." Coworkers and the security guard chimed in too.
"Sylvia, just say what she wants to hear, don''t make things worse for your mom. Freya''s not in a good ce right now-she could do anything. Just go along with it for now."