Page 90 of Risky Move

“Pizza? Pasta? Spaghetti? Salad?” Lauren offered. “I know Mr. Martin is very hungry, so take advantage of the offer. You can save it for later. Maybe some chicken parmigiana?”

Cassie shrugged. “Sure.”

“What do you want, squirt?” Dave asked Lauren.

“Surprise me.”

Dave looked at Cassie. “Don’t beat yourself up, kiddo. Remember that this was an accidentandthat Daniel’s okay.”

Cassie nodded when she met his gaze, but her heart knew she’d never forgive herself for putting Daniel’s life in danger.

* * *

Lauren persuaded Cassie to sit on the couch and brought her a bottle of water.

“Will Andrew or Caryn give you updates on Daniel?”

“Someone will contact me if his condition changes,” Lauren said. “Tom said Daniel’s stable…The main concern is if any water remains in his lungs.”

“Has he had a chest X-Ray?” Cassie pictured Daniel’s face as he’d gasped for breath. “I told them he coughed up water.”

“I’m sure the paramedics put that in their report. You know our little guy will get the very best care. He’s in good hands.” Lauren reached for her hand. “Can you tell me what happened?”

Cassie shrugged. “Amelie came over to help, then study. The twins loved playing with the ‘new’ toys I’d swapped…so enthralled.” Cassie flinched at the memory. “After lunch, I took them out to play while Amelie did some coursework on the deck. I guess I forgot to check that the door was closed. Then, I asked her to watch both, so I could go to the bathroom. I could hear laughter and babbling even in my room.” Her voice choked and Cassie took a deep breath. “When I came down the hallway, I couldn’t hear Daniel…I…I thought maybe he’d fallen asleep. But he wasn’t with Amelie.”

Cassie took a deep breath and sipped some water. “When I saw the pool door open, I knew where he was… I spotted him…at the edge of the pool down by the deep end. Danny…tumbled into the water before I could reach him.” She looked at Lauren as tears streamed down her face. “He wasn’t under water for more than a few seconds, but…he screamed and kicked until I could get him to the shallow end. Then he just went limp.”

“Luckily, you knew what to do. You didn’t panic.” Lauren hugged Cassie. “Did Amelie say how he slipped out that door?”

“She didn’t notice that Danny had moved. Jenna had climbed on her back. She may have used her phone.” Cassie handed the phone to Lauren. “I found it near where she’d played with Jenna...I should never have left both twins with her.”

“Amelie should have watched both babies. I just don’t understand how Daniel got away without her noticing.” Lauren’s tone reflected her disapproval. She swiped at the screen on the phone. “Locked. But look at these notifications, Cass—texts from many people. Now you know how Daniel slipped away.”

Cassie closed her eyes for a long moment. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. The twins are my responsibility. I can’t blame anyone else.” Cassie cringed when her phone sounded. “Mom.”

“Let it go to voicemail. You don’t need to speak with her right now.” A short time later, a beep indicated that Cassie’s mother had left a voice message.

“So, your spa day completely blew up, and now you’re here instead of celebrating with Dave at home…Mom would say I’m a colossal failure, and she’d be right.”

“Stop, Cass,” Lauren interrupted. “Look forward. Remember, Danny’s okay. He didn’t drown. You did not leave Amelie playing with Jen and Daniel, thinking she’d text while ‘watching’ them. If Amelie’s attention focused elsewhere for even several seconds…you know how quickly toddlers can scurry out of sight. You’re not the only person who needs to apologize and accept responsibility.”

Cassie began to reply but stopped when the door opened, and Andrew entered his home. She stood, her breath catching in her throat as Andrew approached. She started to ask him about Daniel, but the look in his eyes caused the words to die in her mouth.

49

When Andrew spoke, his voice sounded controlled, too calm. His steel-blue eyes conveyed suppressed anger—rage?

“How the hell did Daniel get near the fucking pool?”

Cassie felt tears welling in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Andrew...”

“Answer. The. Question.” His voice chilled her like a bucket of ice.

“I don’t know…I didn’t notice the open door.”

“What, were you distracted? Did you leave them alone? Why the fuck wasn’t that door locked? What was so important that you didn’t notice my son was missing—talking on the phone? Texting someone? Sleeping?”

Cassie shook her head, unable to respond.

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