Chapter Three
What a way to start the day that Colin dreaded. Amanda and Harry’s wedding day. He remembered how they’d approached him – hand in hand, both looking decidedly uncomfortable – wanting to share the news of their betrayal.
Colin’s unusually tight schedule over the last months had kept him from seeing their underhanded transgressions being carried out right under his nose.
Therefore, he’d tortured himself many times about not cluing in to what had been obvious.
Remembering his naive innocence made the banked anger he’d managed to control for months wake up and take hold.
How the hell had he been so oblivious… so caught up that he hadn’t been aware? Or followed up on Amanda’s sudden personality change from petulant whining for attention to sudden understanding about his absent role?
Sure, he’d been busier than usual, helping some of his more talented students with their year end work, and yes, he’d been involved with the faculty to the exclusion of most anything else, but weren’t fiancées supposed to be supportive at times like these? Not MIA.
With his mind seeped in the past, he drove up an older street.
Slowing for a turn, hysterical screams cut into his memories, and he stopped immediately on the side of the road.
Seeing the trauma, heartbeats ramping up, he rushed from behind the wheel, slid to a stop beside the hysterical woman, and like the screamer, began wildly digging into the snow, frantic to uncover the children that she seemed to know had been buried.
“I saw children get buried under here. Two little ones. Quick. We have to dig them out or they’ll suffocate.”
Not stopping for questions, he tensed when he saw the material from a sleeve and understood instantly what it came from.
Using brute strength, he dug at the place where he sensed the child’s face might be.
God must have been watchful, because in seconds, he had the boy’s upper body freed from the snow.
Knowing exactly what needed to be done, he began life-saving steps to get the child back.
It didn’t take long before he felt air rush into the small, lifeless body, making the poor kid choke, crying with panic from the experience he’d gone through.
Supporting the slim body, Colin rubbed his back, all the while reassuring him.
“It’s okay now. You’re fine, son. Breathe slowly.
That’s right. Big slow breaths… in and out.
Yes. Good boy. Don’t cry. Everything is going to be okay. ”
Suddenly, the boy seemed to realize the little girl beside them wasn’t breathing.
He thrust himself away from Colin and toward the woman helping the child.
Seeing his frantic expression, Colin tried reassuring him…
stopping his struggles. “It’s okay. Look, the lady who found her is helping her to breathe. You must wait and let her try.”
But the boy would have none of it. “She’s my sister.” Pulling away from Colin’s hands, he scrambled closer to the woman who still fought to save the little girl’s life and screamed, “Maisie.”
Like a miracle, they all watched as the little girl reacted.
She fought to breathe. One could see it happening in front of their eyes.
Her chest swelled from her efforts, her eyes flew open, and then her breath burst free.
Colin couldn’t help speaking, his voice cracking from the upswell of emotions.
“Look, she’s coming back. She’s breathing again.
See, she heard you, son. It’s going to be alright. Maisie heard you calling her.”
And forevermore, Colin totally believed that the demanding love in her brother’s voice had brought about the miracle. Before he could think on it further, the frantic mother arrived on the scene, as did others seeing the commotion.
The rest of their activities blurred until he found himself with the woman called Jaqueline as they searched Gisele’s house. Maybe it was the sudden lack of chaos, but he felt like himself again. The introvert in control with a clear head and a purpose.
Looking around, he remembered other people back home who suffered the same kind of poverty, and it was never pretty.
Families struggled all the time, but when two adults had each other to cling to during their battles, success came easier…
shared suffering seemed less stressful. His heart started to ache at the thought of what poor Gisle must be going through alone.
Covering his distress, he acted cool and calm, his usual front to the world.
But when he saw how the day’s tragedies affected Jaqueline, that trait changed.
Surprisingly, he felt comfortable enough to reveal his true feelings.
He had to help. No question. But it must be done in a sensible way that most benefitted the family.
Not fixating on inconsequential stuff like Christmas, his thoughts dwelled on the more serious aspects of life like food, money… and security.
When they arrived at the hospital, the sense of protection that started to form at the house strengthened. Whatever it took to help, he would do it.