CHAPTER11
Austin lifted his hand to knock on Debbie’s front door. At the cry of, “No!” from inside the house, he changed his mind about knocking and threw the door open, grateful it wasn’t locked.
With his heart in his throat, he hurried inside toward the sound of his children’s panicked voices shouting, “Hurry,” and “Get him.” Then Savvy’s words filled Austin with dread. “Is he breathing?”
He bolted through the garage door that stood ajar. His gaze scanned the garage big enough to accommodate at least four cars. Additional noise drew his attention to another open door.
Austin stepped into what was undoubtedly a pool house. A wall of windows let in light that reflected off the water, momentarily blinding him. He focused on his three kids hovered at the edge of the pool, watching as Debbie made her way to the steps at the shallow end. She hugged a squirming Noah to her chest.
Austin’s mind raced as he took in the scene. Noah wasn’t wearing a floaty.
Wait.Debbie and Noah are fully clothed.
Had the kid jumped in without Debbie’s knowledge? Why hadn’t she locked the door? She should be more careful and keep it locked if they weren’t swimming.
Debbie stepped out of the water and staggered.
Savvy hurried to Debbie’s side and put a hand on her arm. “Are you okay? Do you want me to take him?”
“No.” The word was little more than a whisper. Debbie’s arms tightened around Noah.
She walked several paces, her gait unsteady, and dropped onto a padded wicker chair. She pressed her forehead against the top of Noah’s head.
Savannah followed and crouched down in front of them. Her voice was harsh when she spoke. “Noah, that was a big no-no. Do you understand? You could have drowned.”
Austin’s gaze jumped back and forth between Debbie and his kids. Savvy clearly thought Noah was in the wrong, but if Debbie had kept the door locked, this wouldn’t have happened.
He was about to step forward and say so when Dallas spoke up. “Yeah, Noah, it’s dangerous. That’s why the door was locked.”
The door was locked?
How did the little rascal get in then?
Cody noticed him standing there and rushed over to grab Austin’s hand. “Daddy, Noah jumped into the pool all by himself.”
Debbie lifted her head. Rivulets of water ran down her pale face, taking her mascara with it. Judging by the glassy sheen in her bright blue eyes, the moisture on her cheeks was more than pool water. Austin felt bad for thinking the worst of Debbie. Good thing he hadn’t voiced his opinions.
Austin crouched down beside Savvy. “What happened?”
“Noah disappeared, again,” Cody said.
Debbie shook her head. “H-He climbed up on the workbench and got the k-key off the hook.”
Talk about a resourceful child!
Debbie got more than she bargained for with this kid.
Noah turned and looked at Debbie’s face. “You look scary.”
Austin’s kids burst into laughter, but he couldn’t join them. Debbie did look strange with black streaks of mascara making their way down her cheeks, but there was nothing funny about the paleness of her face.
Debbie didn’t crack a smile. She simply stared at the water and scowled. A shiver shook her body.
Was it because she was wet and cold? Or because she’d processed what the outcome might have been had she been even one minute later?
“Here, let me take Noah. I’ll get him changed while you go take a warm shower.”
Debbie didn’t protest when he pulled the child off her lap. She stood with a blank stare, and he motioned for her to go ahead of him. She walked with stilted movements as they exited the pool area.
