Page 7 of Betrayed

She couldn’t stop. She had to take care of the boy.

Logan grasped her arm and drew her aside. She fell into his arms, and he held her.

They stood like that for what seemed like an eternity before the boy began to cough.

“Breathe, AJ.” Logan rubbed her back.

She finally looked at him, meeting his eyes.

They stepped back from one another, and AJ ran to the boy.

A woman came out of the back door. “What on earth? West!”

AJ stepped in and held the woman while Emily helped the little boy cough up as much as he could.

“He’s all right,” AJ reassured the mom. The processing of what might have been sank in, and the woman wept.

Logan said, “I recommend taking him to the ER to be sure his lungs are clear.”

Secondary drowning was just as scary and dangerous as first. The mother nodded, but AJ wasn’t sure she’d heard his advice.

As soon as Emily gave AJ a nod, she released the mother to go to her son. She scooped him up and held him close. AJ glanced at Logan, but he was already gone. She didn’t blame him. Never had.