Page 37 of Signed With Love

Things happen quickly as Jamison rushes toward the lake. I watch him drop to his stomach and begin crossing the frozen lake to the girl and the dog. I can’t breathe as I watch. My hand lands on my mouth each time he slides farther out. He almost reaches the girl when the unthinkable happens. A large chunk of the ice breaks when the girl tries to reach for Jamison.

I’m being held by someone as I scream. Jamison’s body, the girl, and the dog disappear under the icy water. Two more cops and Chadwick begin to cross the water. They’re pulling the rope, working to bring them back. The time they’re under the water stretches out until I see Jamison’s bright yellow coat reappear. He’s got the girl wrapped in his arms. He’s being pulled across the ice, and he never lets her go. The large Alaskan Malamute follows behind as he breaks more of the ice and swims to the surface. The officers on scene grab Jamison and the girl. They’re swarmed by the paramedics that have joined the rescue team.

I can’t breathe. My heart was torn in two when Jamison disappeared into the water. Someone is holding my face, making me look at them. His hands are cold, but he’s demanding for me to stop. To breathe. His lips say “Breathe, Claire. Fucking breathe for me.”

Chadwick’s eyes are piercing. The brown depths are stern. I take a deep breath. I’m hyperventilating, and now that the oxygen hits my system, my chest constricts.

“He’s going to be okay.”

I nod that I understand. Chadwick forces my gaze and speaks slowly and clearly. Jamison is going to be okay. I look around for him. Rylee rushes to me joining the fray of the rescue team.

“He’ll be at the hospital.”

Then that’s where I need to be.

Chapter Eighteen

Jamison

I fucking hurt everywhere. I took some water into my lungs when the ice broke.

The damn climate is shifting on us, and people aren’t prepared for it. More and more of our rescues are people getting stuck on or in the ice.

“Has the kid woken up yet?” I ask Finn, who is waiting at my bedside. Claire is beside me, but she’s resting her head on my arm. I’m thankful for her weight.

“They said she should wake soon. You know how these first twenty-four to forty-eight go. She’ll pull through, though.”

“What the hell was she doing out there, anyway?”

“Her parents said she was playing. Was supposed to be heading to her grandparents’. That lake should have been sturdy enough for your weight and hers.”

I take a deep breath and let out a sigh. “I know.”

I glance at Claire. She’s about to fall asleep. I want to take her home, but the doctor was insistent with monitoring me a bit longer although I said I was fine. Claire hates it here, so I told her to go, but she wasn’t moving, so I finally convinced the doctor to write some discharge papers. Hopefully, I’ll be free soon.

“You scared the shit out of her,” Finn adds when he catches where my gaze traveled.

I saw the panic when she found me after she arrived at the hospital. She knew about this side of my life, but seeing it in person is always different. I don’t know why I thought I could shield her from it.

“I don’t want to hurt her.” Even though I hurt her tonight.

“You know that comes with the job.” His voice drips with pain. Finn has been there with a woman before. His woman wasn’t able to handle the job and left him. She moved to Arizona and took his daughter with her to live with her parents. She told him that she couldn’t handle not knowing if he would come home. The fear tore them apart.

I don’t want to put Claire through the same worry and fear every day. She shouldn’t have to endure that.

“All right. You’re free to go.” My doctor’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “You know what to watch for. Be careful.” Claire rises and grips my hand as she watches the doctor’s lips closely. “And since I know you are worried, the girl is awake.”

I nod to the doctor and say thank you. She’s a nice older woman with a low bun and a stern disposition.

Claire releases a deep breath and lets my hand go. When I know she’s watching me, I sign, I was worried too.

I don’t need to translate for her. Even though her father does, she doesn’t always need the help.

I’ve never been so scared, she admits.

I’m sorry you had to see it.

Claire lays her head on my chest and doesn’t add anything more. Instead, she holds me. I wrap my arms around her and tangle my hand into her hair. When I glance at Finn, he’s watching us with a knowing look. It makes my chest tighten. He walks around the bed and rests his hand on Claire’s shoulder. She lifts up and turns his way. He leans down and hugs her goodbye, his hand lingering on her shoulder as they share a silent communication.

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