We were still gathered around the dining table, basking in the afterglow of Anne's exciting news and the family dinner that followed. The evening had brought a much-needed respite from the tension that had been hanging over us. But then, Mom suddenly spoke up, her voice breaking through the calm.
"Where is Timothy?" she asked, looking around the table with a hint of worry in her eyes.
Everyone turned to look at each other, expressions of confusion and concern spreading across their faces. Timothy hadn't been with us for dinner, and in the excitement of Anne's news, we hadn't noticed his absence.
"Has anyone seen him?" Dad asked, his tone turning serious.
"I haven't," Andrew said, looking puzzled. "I thought he was with us."
Anne shook her head. "I didn't see him either. Wh
