“I made those myself, with raspberries and cherries, that’s all. No additives or dyes. I made all their snacks for today from scratch, as well as the drinks. Nothing here has any dyes or strawberries.”
Looking at him shocked, I say, “You made all those snacks, homemade for my kids? Why? You could have just brought chips or crackers, or other foods that didn’t have the dyes added.”
Gently grabbing my arm and steering me away from the table, he waits to answer. “I wanted to make stuff I know they don’t normally get because of their allergies. Yes, I could have just done easy stuff, but they deserve to be spoiled. Even though we don’t know everything you or the kids have been through, we know enough to know you and those kids deserve the world. I know you barely know us, but the moment me, Silas, and Odin met you, you were all we could think about. And when Si met the kids? Let’s just say he’s already wrapped around their fingers.
“Orin spent all night and most of the morning making sure we had everything for a princess tea party, and while I cooked, the other three made sure we had everything possible we would need to help the boys fish. There is just something about you and the kids, and Silas wanted everything to be perfect.”
I look down at our feet, trying to process everything he just said, but I’m saved from answering when Arden hollers for me. “Mommy! I CAUGHT A FISH!!” At that, I walk to the bank where he is reeling in his catch.
“Oh wow baby! It’s huge!” I lean over and grab the fishing line to pull the catfish the rest of the way out of the water.
“What kind of fish is it?” Lachlan says, looking at it funny.
Walking up to where I have it dangling, Callum grabs it to take it off the hook. “It’s a catfish bud, about two pounds too! You did so good little man!”
“Let’s take a picture of your first fish!” my grandmother says, running over from where she was sitting at the picnic table. She takes a couple pictures, and Callum helps Arden release the fish back into the water. Looking around to check on the other two, I see Vivian is still sitting at her princess table, and Orin is painting her nails. Now that’s adorable. Bodie and my grandmother are chatting, probably discussing recipes, while he sets food out. Silas is helping Arden re-bait his fishing pole, with Callum and Odin nearby.
When I look to where Lochlan was sitting at Odin’s side, he’s not there and Callum has the pole Lochan was using. Looking to see if he went over to the trees to potty, I glance back and notice there is a small dock, where Lochlan looks like he’s trying to cast another small pole. When he goes to release, both the pole and my son go flying in the water. I notice it the same time Silas does.
“LOCHLAN!!” I scream. Running full speed to the dock, Silas and I reach it at the same time. Silas dives in without stopping to even kick his shoes off. Lochlan is fighting trying to keep his head above water, but before I can jump in after him too, I’m snatched around the waist. Turning my head to see who has me, I lock eyes with Odin.
“LET ME GO! I HAVE TO GET MY SON! I CAN’T LOSE HIM! PLEASE GET MY BABY!” I’m sobbing, fighting him trying to get free. I look over his shoulder and see that Orin has Vivian in his arms, trying to calm her down, Callum is holding Arden, and Bodie is holding my grandmother up. I can’t lose my baby, I can’t. I feel the world closing in on me. I can’t live in a world without my kids.
“Odin! GRAB HIM!” Silas shouts as he tosses a motionless Lochlan on the deck, climbing up after to catch his breath. Odin releases me and starts doing CPR on my baby, while I’m kneeling beside him. I hear sirens coming, and I’m ashamed I didn’t even think of calling for help. I’m still crying and begging Lochlan to breathe, and Odin is still doing compressions while Orin has taken over doing breaths. After what seems like hours, but is actually maybe only five or six minutes, I hear the amazing sound of my son throwing up water and taking a breath. I lean down to pick him up and hold him. Silas and Odin are holding both of us, then the rest of the guys, my kids, and grandmother come running and it's one big tearful group hug. It amazes me at how much this seems to have affected the guys as well.
“Okay, I need everyone to back up,” Orin says, taking charge. “Bodie, go flag down the medics; I think they are lost. Lochlan buddy, I need to check you over okay?” Orin gently takes him out of my hands and sits him in front of him, pulling a stethoscope out of a med bag that came out of nowhere. He checks his lungs, pupils, and is checking his blood pressure when the paramedics show up.
“Okay guys, we’ve got a four year old male, BP is 70/40, pulse is 40, oxygen is 80, respirations are a 9, and we did CPR for six minutes,” Orin informs them. “He still has fluid in his lungs. Get an IV and a 12 lead; he needs to be intubated to secure his airway. Isla, babe, come on. We are riding with y'all. Is he allergic to any medication?” Orin asks while we wait for them to load Lochlan in the ambulance. Please let him be okay, they deserve so much better. What kind of mom can’t keep her children safe?
“No, not that I know of. Maw-Maw, can you watch Arden and Vivi?” I call out.
“Yes, sweetheart I have them,” she replies, rushing over to hug me. “Call me as soon as they tell you what’s going on.”
Callum, Silas, Odin and Bodie come walking over. Silas pulls me into a hug. “Orin, Bodie, and I are following in the truck while Odin and Callum clean up, so we will be right behind you. They can call a cab.”
“No, y'all can get my keys from Maw-Maw and drive my car, it’ll be fine. She bought car seats for her car.” After giving each of my men a hug, and whispering thank you to Si for saving my baby, Orin helps me in the back of the ambulance. They have Lochlan sedated with a tube in his throat, more tubes and wires attached everywhere. After everything I’ve gone through, the one thing I don’t think I’ll survive is burying my son. I start sobbing while holding his little hand. “I’m so sorry baby, mommy failed you, I’m so sorry.”
Orin hugs me close and says, “Baby, he will be fine. Kids are resilient. The tube is just in case, and keeping him asleep will make all the tests easier. Besides, he wasn’t under the water but maybe a minute. Silas got him out quickly and it only took six minutes to get him breathing again. Not to mention, I know all the doctors at the hospital we are going to, and it’s one of the best trauma centers, you didn’t fail anyone it was an accident. We were all there. This isn’t on you Darlin’.”
Suddenly we pull up to the ER doors, and as they are unloading Lochlan, about a dozen nurses come running out. I just hope if there is a God out there, he doesn’t take my baby.