Page 74 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“Still, hurt feelings, anger, betrayal, none of that can be easy. You have my sincere sympathy. May the nitwit trip on her wedding gown while walking up the aisle.”
When Colin burst out laughing, Jaq hid her blushes. The only other person who’d ever been subject to her rather weirdly acidic sense of humor was her grandmother who thought her the best thing since sliced bread.
By then, they’d made their way into the parking lot. Soon, Colin led them through the hospital’s emergency ward to the nurses station where they made enquiries for the Tremblay family. Only to find that it had been Gisele who they’d admitted. Both children were free to leave.
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.
Chapter Four
They soon arrived at Gisele’s room to see both children nestled on the bed beside their mother who looked weak and distressed. As soon as the woman saw Jaqueline, her eyes begged for help. Instinctively knowing she wanted to talk with the adults, Jaqueline made a decision. She quickly helped the children change from their damp clothes and then taking money from her purse, she approached the volunteer worker in the hallway.
Before she could speak, the lady started the conversation. “I’m glad you’ve come to visit that poor woman and her children. She’s been fretting terribly.”
Reading the kind woman’s identity pin attached to her pinstriped blouse, Jaqueline smiled. “We had to go to her house and get changes of clothes for the children and Gisele’s handbag. Now I believe she wants to talk with us without the children in the room.” Holding out some money, she continued, “Bettina,would it be possible for you to take the Maisie and Charlie to the cafeteria and get them lunch while we visit with her?”
“Of course.” She leaned closer to whisper, “I’ll keep them away for as long as I can.”
Free now, Jaqueline joined in the conversation being carried on between Gisele and Colin and picked up on the woman’s distress. What is it, Gisele? We can see you’re ill. Is there anyone we can contact to look after the children? A family member or their father?”
Colin cut her off by answering her question to save Gisele from having to talk. “She says there’s no one. She already asked her only sister to take the children, but she can’t.”
Speaking haltingly, Gisele muttered, “It’s true. She has three kids herself and a rotten man. Won’t take my kids. Can’t. Their father’s dead. No help from his family. Old folks in a home now.”
“Did they say how long you’ll be in the hospital?”
“Dying. Ischemic heart disease. Knew it was happening. Thought I’d have longer.” Tears gathered at the sides of her eyes and dripped down her thin, pale face. “My beautiful children. They need to stay together. Charlie c-can’t be away from Maisie. He adores her.” Crying hard now, Gisele’s hand shot out to snatch Colin’s. “Help me. You take them. You and your wife. I’m dying. Please help.”
