by Madison, Mia
After reassuring the little girl I wasn’t mad, I changed the subject, telling her a little about the process of making eclairs. Unlike her brother, she always asked about the baked goods I brought. Half an hour later, we were still chatting on the bench, our heads bent over my phone as we looked at a video of a kitten trying to figure out how to go down the stairs.
“Play it again!” Ava said, still laughing at the little kitten’s antics. I pressed play but then I looked around, automatically scanning for Brandon. He wasn’t on the playground.
“Did you see where your brother went?”
“No,” Ava said, her eyes still on the screen.
That bothered me. He almost always stayed in this part of the park, either by the playground or the field just beyond it. “Let’s go find him, okay?”
Reluctantly, Ava handed the phone back to me. I held my hand out to help her off the bench, and to my surprise, she kept hold of it as we walked across the playground. That made me smile and made my heart do a little flip-flop. I definitely wanted children someday, and I hoped they’d be as sweet as Ava and Brandon.
We walked along a path through the woods. The trees weren’t dense, and I could still see the ball fields. A half dozen kids were crouched down on the ground, playing with something in the dirty, but Brandon wasn’t among them.
The path was leading toward the lake, and my heart sped up. I told myself that Brandon was eight and knew not to go too near the water, but still, I was worried. Perhaps Ava sensed my concern because she didn’t protest as I pulled her along faster.
When we neared the lake, I heard boyish voices ahead. They sounded loud and rambunctious, not panicked. My fears subsided.
Three boys were standing on the edge of the lake, still partially blocked by the trees. I couldn’t tell if Brandon was among them.
They looked around as they heard us approach, and my heart sank: Brandon wasn’t there. Before I could ask about him, I heard his voice.
“I’ve almost got it.”
Ava spotted him before I did; I heard her gasp and followed her gaze. Off to the left, a fallen tree protruded into the lake, sticking out about fifteen feet before disappearing underneath the murky water. Balanced at the end of the log was Brandon.
He had a branch and was trying to fish a floating ball out of the water.
“Stretch just a little farther,” one of the boys called to him.
“I don’t think—” I started, but I never got to finish my sentence. Brandon reached out with the branch again and, almost in slow motion, overbalanced, falling head-first into the water.
A heart-stopping moment later, his head emerged, and he cried out, his arms beating ineffectively at the surface of the water.
3
Gabi
“Brandon!” I shouted, dropping the box of eclairs and pushing past the other boys. His head dipped below water and reemerged. Behind me, Ava screamed.
I ran out on the log, moving too fast to worry about balance. At the end, I jumped into the water a few feet from Brandon. The water closed over my head and then I broke through the surface. “I’m here,” I shouted but I doubted Brandon heard me. He was flailing around, clearly panicking.
Moving in behind him, I put my arm across his chest. I’d never taken a CPR class, but I could swim fairly well, and I’d seen people use this kind of grip in movies. “I’ve got you, Brandon, you’re okay.”
He was still crying and slashing at the water with his arms, so I spoke louder. “Just relax, okay, Brandon? I’ve got you. I’m here.” His hand smacked against the side of my face and his tennis shoe got me in the shin, but then he started to calm down a little.
With my free hand, I treaded water, trying to support us both. “I’ve got you… just don’t kick me or I won’t be able to make you cookies anymore.” My lame attempt at humor was somewhat marred by my being out of breath.
The log was a few feet away, and I realized it would be easier to make it there than back to shore. “We’re okay,” I shouted to Ava who was still sobbing.
My shoulder bumped into the log, and I guided Brandon’s hand to it. He clung to the rough bark with one hand while his other arm was wrapped around my neck. He spit out some water and looked up at me. “Gabi?”
“Are you okay?” Already he looked better—he wasn’t panicking any longer, thank god.
With one hand each on the log, we pushed our way to shore. After a minute, my toe touched the muddy surface under the lake.
“Yeah,” he said, panting. “I know how to swim, I just… my shoes were so heavy, and it was so scary when my head went under the water…”
My breathing was labored, too, perhaps from adrenaline. “It’s okay, anyone would’ve been scared.” It was easier to hug him against my chest now that I could stand. Slowly, I made my way toward shore. As we emerged from the lake, Brandon and his sodden clothes became too heavy for me to carry. I set him down but kept my arm around him as we walked back to his twin.
Ava immediately threw her arms around him, sobbing onto his shoulder, getting her clothes almost as wet as ours were. Brandon ignored his friends entirely as he hugged his twin and let her guide him away from the lake.
The walk back to the Pearson home was not pleasant. Both kids were upset, and my clothes were heavy, my shoes sloshing with each step. Ava had grabbed the box of eclairs and it was clutched under one arm, her free hand firmly in mine.
Once we reached the kids’ house, I hesitated, not sure whether I should knock or not. But Ava solved that problem by pushing open the front door and running inside, shouting for her dad.
Luke flew down the stairs at top speed, his eyes wide as he took us in. Exhausted, I wanted to collapse in his strong arms, but of course his concern was for his son, and rightly so. Still, I couldn’t help being a little envious of the way he scooped Brandon up and carried him to the sofa, Ava and I trailing after them. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had been that worried about me.
“Did you hit your head? Did you swallow much water? Do you need to see a doctor?” Luke’s questions came out at a rapid pace while he wrapped his son in a blanket. He repeated the last one to me. “Does he need to see a doctor?”
“I don’t think so,” I said, kneeling on the floor next to him and looking at Brandon. “His head went under once or twice, but I think he spit the water out. He didn’t lose consciousness.”
Ava hovered behind me. “It’s okay, Daddy. Gabi saved him.”
For the first time since arriving, Luke fully focused on me. “Thank you. I want to talk to you more about this later, but I hope you know how grateful I am.”
I nodded, a bit shaken by the intensity in his gaze, and then his attention returned to his son. “Jesus, you’re shivering. Let’s get you out of those clothes. Would you like a warm bath?”
“No!” Brandon said instantly, and I didn’t blame him. We’d both spent enough time in the water today.
“Ava, go get Brandon some dry clothes.” The little girl popped up immediately, seemingly pleased to be able to help. Luke turned to me, his eyes sweeping up and down my soaked clothes. “And grab my robe off the hook on the back of the bedroom door.”
Luke stood up, lifting Brandon easily. “I’m going to get him cleaned up. You can use the bathroom in the hall and wear my robe while we wash your clothes.”
Ava returned and handed me a soft flannel robe.
Still carrying Brandon, Luke paused at the foot of the stairs as I headed toward the bathroom. “Do you need anything? Are you hurt?”
I shook my head to both questions. I was fine, technically, but still a little shaken.
“I can never thank you enough, Gabi.”
Luke’s words warmed me more than the towel I used after peeling off my wet clothes. I’d stripped down to my bra and panties, unwilling to take them off. Luke’s robe was wonderfully big and soft. Somehow, it had a masculine scent to it, sort of spicy and outdoorsy. I wondered if that was what he smelled like up close.
&
nbsp; Pulling on the robe was like stepping into a hug. It was warm and all-encompassing. It was huge on me though. The bottom hem was only an inch or two above my toes, and I could wrap the belt around me twice. It was kind of nice, actually, especially since half my own clothing sometimes felt a bit too tight.
I emerged holding my wet clothes only to see Ava descending the steps with Brandon’s. “Dad says he’ll wash your clothes when he’s done with Brandon.”
I smiled at the little girl. She’d had a stressful day, too. “I bet we can do it on our own if you show me where the washer and dryer are.”
She nodded and led me to a small laundry room near a door that must’ve led to the basement. I started Brandon’s clothes in the washer, but I just put mine in the dryer. I just needed them dry enough to get home—I could clean them there.
Ava and I were sitting on the couch, neither of us paying attention to the cartoon on the television set, when Luke returned. He glanced from me to his daughter and back again. His whiskey-colored eyes seemed to travel from the V-neck of the robe to the slit where my bare leg peeked through. I couldn’t imagine what he was thinking—the big, bulky robe was not exactly a flattering look.
“If you give me your clothes, I’ll pop them in the washer for you,” he said finally.
“Gabi already did that,” Ava piped up. “Brandon’s too.”
Luke stared at me for a long moment. “Thanks,” he said finally. “It’s nice to have help.”
Something in his expression told me that wasn’t a normal thing, and my heart went out to him. It couldn’t be easy being a single dad with two rambunctious kids. Especially on a day like today. “How’s Brandon?”
“I think he’s okay, but I’d feel better if I could have someone look at him. So even though you’ve already done so much for us today, I have to ask another favor. Could you watch Ava while I take him to the doctor?”
“Of course,” I said, but Ava spoke over me.
“No, Daddy, I want to go, too.”
Luke sat down on the edge of the coffee table across from us. “It might be a long wait, sweetheart.”
“I want to go,” she repeated, and she started to cry. I put my arm around her, and she snuggled against my side. “I was so scared when he fell off… please, I want to go with you.”
“Okay,” Luke said. His expression was hard to read as he looked at his daughter sobbing in my arms. “Of course you can come.” His intense gaze returned to me. “Do you want me to wait until your clothes are done and drive you home?”
“Of course not. I’ll be fine—I’ll let myself out and lock the door behind me when my clothes are done. That is, if it’s okay.” Maybe he didn’t want me in the house while he was gone? After all, we didn’t know each other very well.
The corners of his eyes creased as his face broke into a reluctant smile. “You saved my kid’s life today. I’d be grateful even if I came home to find you’d taken the piano with you.”
I glanced over at the grand piano and grinned. “That doesn’t look all that easy to snatch and grab, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
He winked and then held out his hand for Ava. The little girl scrambled off the couch and he picked her up as easily as he had Brandon before.
Once they were gone, I checked on my clothes. They were almost dry. Feeling restless, I went into the living room and sat at the piano. I didn’t play much beyond “Chopsticks” but even I knew it was a beautiful instrument. I wondered if Luke played.
It felt weird being in his house without him there, so after a few more minutes, I changed back into my clothes. They were mostly dry though discolored from the lake. I also put Brandon’s clothes in the dryer. The sight of his small shirt and shorts made my heart ache for him. He’d been so scared today. I hoped he was okay.
It dawned on me that I wouldn’t know how he was doing, and that bothered me. Luke clearly felt that he owed me one—though I’d only done what anyone would’ve—so maybe he wouldn’t mind updating me once they got home. I found a piece of paper and wrote a quick note with my phone number asking him to let me know how Brandon was.
Then I located the slightly tattered box of eclairs. They actually didn’t look so bad which was amazing. I put the box on the table on top of the note and took one last look around. It was a nice house. I didn’t know what had happened with Ava and Brandon’s mother, but Luke had made a good home for his children.
I of all people knew that families didn’t always consist of two parents and their kids. My own mother had passed away, and my dad had returned to his native Italy. I only saw him about once a year. But during college, I’d found a new family with Kait and Sierra.
Family meant the people you loved. And Ava and Brandon were obviously loved.
With a smile, I slipped out the door, locking it behind me.
4
Gabi
No one was home when I got back. Probably Kait and Sierra were with their boyfriends. As happy as I was for them, it was hard not to envy them. They’d found such good men. Some days it felt like I never would.
After changing and having dinner, I sat in front of my computer, scrolling through job ads, but my attention kept wandering.
A little after nine, my phone rang. Since Sierra’s ordeal earlier in the summer, I was cautious about receiving calls from unknown numbers. Hopefully it was Luke.
It was, and he immediately assured me that Brandon was just fine.
“Thank god,” I said, my voice almost a whisper. He’d seemed okay, but still, I’d been worried. Brandon was a good kid.
“I have,” Luke said. “Now it’s time to thank you again. I mean it, Gabi. My kids mean everything to me. If you hadn’t been there… I don’t even want to think about it.”
I shuddered. “I don’t want to, either. I mean, he said he can swim, but he was panicking…”
“Let’s not think about that,” Luke said firmly. “I can’t or I won’t be able to let him out of my sight again. Let’s focus on you. I can never thank you enough, but I want to do something… your clothes were probably ruined in the lake. Can I buy you new ones?”
Surprised, I shook my head, forgetting he couldn’t see that. “No, I’m sure they’ll clean. You don’t have to do that, but thanks.”
“How about dinner then? Friday night over here? I promise there won’t be any pint-sized proposals this time.”
I laughed. “That sounds great, thanks.”
“We eat pretty early, I’m afraid. Could you come at five-thirty?”
“Sure.”
“What kind of food do you like? I could get Mexican, Italian, Indian… I’ve got all the finest restaurants in town on speed dial.”
I shook my head ruefully. Only a man would say that like it’s a good thing. “I’ll bring dinner.”
There was a beat of silence. “But this is supposed to be a thank-you dinner in your honor.”
“If you want to thank me, don’t order takeout. I’ll prepare everything and bring it at five-thirty.”
I could picture him frowning a bit. As a single father, he was probably used to calling the shots.
At last he spoke. “Thank you. I already know you’re a good baker—we all had an eclair when we got home tonight. The no sugar after dinner rule was temporarily suspended in light of the circumstances. I’m sure whatever you cook will be excellent. But you shouldn’t have to make all the food and drive it over here… I’ll pick you up at five-twenty.”
“You don’t have to do that.” For some reason, I remembered how he’d pushed in my chair at the birthday dinner for the twins. Luke was definitely a gentleman and I didn’t know how to act around men like that. Guys my age rarely showed much in the line of manners.
“It’s not a problem.”
“But what about work? Will you be done by then?”
“I work from home, so it’s not an issue.”
“Oh,” I said. “I didn’t realize that.”
“Didn’t the twins mention it?”
; “They said you were a writer, but I thought maybe you worked at a newspaper or something.”
There was a silence. And then, “You assumed I was at an office somewhere since Ava and Brandon were at the park by themselves so often.”
“No, I didn’t,” I protested though I kind of had.
“I see them every day after school. We sit at the table and have a snack and talk about how everyone’s day was. I used to take them to the park myself whenever they wanted to go, but now that they’re in third grade, I figured they could go by themselves. It’s just down the street.”
Upset, I jumped in. “Luke, I’m not questioning your decisions at all.”
“But I am. Or at least I am now. I never dreamed Brandon would get that close to the lake. I thought he knew better.”
“He just wasn’t thinking. He was with other boys, and they were goofing off, you know how it is.”
“God, if you hadn’t been there, Gabi…” There was a hitch in his voice as he trailed off.
The emotion in his words touched me. “But I was.” Of course he was second-guessing himself, but Brandon was fine. There was nothing to be gained from Luke’s beating himself up. It was time to change the subject. “So what kind of things do you write?”
“Novels. Westerns, actually.”
“Really? I wouldn’t have guessed that.” There was absolutely nothing in his house that had indicated he was a fan of the Wild West.
“You wouldn’t have if you’d seen our backyard.”
“Why, what’s out there?”
“You’ll see Friday night.”
I pushed back from my desk and stretched out on my bed. “Do you really write books about cowboys and such?”
He chuckled. “Is that really so surprising? I used to be a history professor. When I needed a job I could do from home so I could be with the kids, it seemed like a natural place to start.”