Keller and Callahan

Chapter 26

By the time Sam and Olivia left her cabin, the sun was starting to set beyond the lake, which meant the majority of the campground, guests and staff alike, would be on the lawn near the Rec Center for the best view of the fireworks. Olivia had checked via radio back at the cabin to make sure the staff on the barge out in the middle of the lake were good to go once the show was ready to begin. Because Olivia’s house was tucked away from the rest of the campground, the silent walk back towards the hub was a bit eerie. She tried to ignore the goosebumps that popped up on her arms, despite it being 82 degrees outside. She involuntarily rubbed her arms as she and Sam made their way back towards the crowd.

“Hey, Liv, I was thinking –” Sam’s words were cut off once they both heard the scream and cries of a little girl in the distance.

Whipping their heads around to the noise, they realized it was coming from the water. They took off running, Sam pulling ahead due to his long stride, with Olivia not far behind. Without giving it a second thought, Sam plunged his way into the water and started swimming strong and confident strokes out to the girl. Noticing the screaming had stopped, his strokes picked up pace with his pounding heart. Reaching her quickly, he wrapped her in his arms and started to swim back to shore where Olivia was pacing, helplessly waiting for them.

Laying the girl flat on her back, Sam skillfully initiated CPR. Kneeling down beside him, Olivia could only offer her prayers in the terrifying moment. As time seemed to stretch endlessly, Olivia’s panic began to intensify when Sam started to breathe more urgently into the girl’s mouth. A small whimper escaped Olivia just as the girl coughed up water. Letting out a deep exhale, Sam sat back on his heels and wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his forearm.

Giving Olivia a relieved smile, he gently reached out to the girl and slowly sat her up. “Easy. Easy. Atta girl….” he trailed off, his way of asking for her name.

“My name’s Daisy. Do you know where my Mama is?” The sweet voice responded weakly.

“Hi Daisy. My name is Sam. And this is my friend, Liv. She owns the campground. Do you remember the last place you saw your Mom?” Sam asked gently as he sat cross legged on the ground next to her.

Gauging by her height and weight, and the Princess Elsa swimsuit she was wearing, Sam would guess Daisy couldn’t have been older than six.

“She was back at the cabin, arguing with my dad. I was worried they wouldn’t stop fighting in time and we’d miss the fireworks. I heard them say they were going to be so pretty on the lake, so I thought I’d take my floatie and see them by myself.” At her admission, Sam looked over his shoulder and sure enough, he could see a blue Frozen swim raft that matched her sweet little swimsuit, floating out in the distance.

“I see. So you took your raft out to see the fireworks. Did you fall off, Daisy?”

Ducking her head in embarrassment, she nodded her head. “I don’t know how to swim, but I thought it would be ok. But it got dark really fast and it was hard to see.” At this, her lower lip began to quiver. “Can you help me find my Mommy?”

“Yeah, honey, we can help you find your Mommy,” rubbing a gentle hand down Daisy’s back, Sam looked over to find Olivia wiping away a tear. Clearing her throat, she pushed off her knees and stood up.

“Let me radio my dad over at the Rec Center and we’ll get this figured out,” she said softly to Sam as she reached into her back pocket for her radio.

Sliding her hand all the way down, her heart instantly sank. “Shit. I must have left it at the cabin,” her face shot up to Sam when her hand came out empty.

His eyes sharpened at the realization before he forced them to soften before turning back to Daisy. “Daisy? My friend Liv is going to call for your Mom, but she left her radio at her house. Do you mind coming with us to go get it?”

Daisy’s eyes flickered back and forth between Sam and Olivia, and she nervously started twisting her fingers. “My Mommy says I’m not supposed to go anywhere with strangers,” she admitted quietly.

“That is very good advice, your Mommy must be a smart lady,” Sam reassured smoothly.

“She’s the smartest Mommy in the whole world,” Daisy said with a big smile.

“I bet she is. So let’s go find her, ok?” Looking up to Liv, he lowered his voice. “We can’t leave her here.”

“I can run back to my cabin and get the radio. It will take me five minutes,” Liv said confidently.

“No. I’m not letting you out of my sight. Especially tonight,” Sam reached out and grabbed her hand with a fierce look in his eyes.

“Sam, I’ll be back in five minutes. We can’t leave her, and she feels comfortable with you. I promise I will be back in no time.” At this, Daisy reached for Sam’s hand and grabbed it tight.

“Please don’t leave me, Mr. Sam. Not until we find my Mommy.” Daisy pleaded.

Squeezing her hand, he bent down to her ear and whispered. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise. We’re going to find your Mommy.” After Daisy gave him a reassuring nod, he cursed under his breath and stood up to take Olivia’s face in his hands.

“Go. Quickly. Do not stop to talk to anyone. Do not put out any other fires on your way. You get your radio, and you come straight back to me. You understand?” He exhaled a shaky breath, acutely aware of how painful it was knowing he was going to have to let her go.

Nodding her head reassuringly, she pulled him down for a hard kiss. “I understand. I’ll be right back.”

With this, she turned and sprinted back down the road in the direction of her cabin. As Sam lowered himself to sit down next to a soaking wet Daisy, he watched the love of his life slip further and further out of his grasp, and there was nothing he could do about it.