Chapter 35

"Give the phone to Charles. I'd like to talk to him." "Okay, Dad." Naomi knew that the only way her parents would be reassured was if they spoke to Charles directly, so she turned to him and said, "Charles, my Dad wants to talk to you." Charles and Naomi were huddled so close together that Charles already overheard the entire phone conversation. He nodded. "Don't worry." He understood Naomi's concerns and knew just how to help her alleviate her parents' worries. Naomi smiled and handed the phone to him. Charles took it from her and put it up to his ear. "Hello, Mr. Goodwin." Naomi stared at him but could not hear what her father was saying to Charles. However, Charles remained calm and did not appear to be fazed at all. He nodded with every sentence that Dean said and replied earnestly. A few moments later, he said, "Okay. I'll hand the phone back to Naomi." With that, he raised the phone to Naomi's ear, and Dean's voice reappeared. "Naomi?" "Yes, Dad." "We're on