Lib Novel Page 60
Sylvester didn’t respond, but his labored breaths were making his whole rib cage suck in and out and Jared knew it was costing him everything to get enough air to stay conscious.
“Cora,” Jared screamed at the top of his lungs as he took the porch steps two at a time. “Cora.”
The door flew open, and he saw the blood drain from her face the moment she realized that Sylvester was in his arms, fighting for breath.
She burst into motion, her body practically a blur as she ran for the kitchen and grabbed something from the counter, then fell to the floor, gesturing for Jared to put Sylvester in her lap.
He crouched down, lowering the boy gently down, so that he was cradled in his mother’s lap.
“I have your inhaler,” she told him. “You’re going to take a puff.”
Jared watched, mesmerized as she held the little plastic device to his lips. As soon as Sly inhaled the first puff, Jared remembered himself, and grabbed for his phone.
“Should I call 9-1-1 or my brother?” he asked Cora.
“Wait,” she said softly.
Sylvester took a second puff as Cora murmured softly to him, telling him to relax, stroking his arms.
He called Kellan then, not caring if he came out for no reason.
Knowing Cora was trying to calm her boy, he moved to the living room, keeping his eye on the two of them from the doorway.
But for once, Kellan didn’t pick up right away.
Jared did his best to leave a coherent message, pacing the living room as he did.
When he was finished, he moved back to the kitchen, where Sylvester seemed to be breathing normally again at last.
He was sitting in his mother’s lap, leaning back against her chest, looking smaller than usual with Jared’s coat still wrapped around him.
“My keychain,” he whispered softly.
“You’re okay,” Jared breathed, falling into a crouch in front of them.
“He’s wet,” Cora said, her voice tight. “What happened to him?”
“He wanted to see the fishing hole,” Jared said. “He dropped his football keychain over the water and he tried to catch it. I didn’t get to him in time, and he fell in. I’m so sorry?—”
“Get out,” Cora said softly.
“I’m sorry, Cora,” Jared said, tears prickling his eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Get out, right now, and don’t ever come back,” she whispered in a tone that that even was colder than the freezing water.
Sylvester began crying softly and she turned her attention back to him, telling him he needed to stay relaxed and not cry, that he had lots of treasures besides his keychain.
Jared rose and somehow his feet carried him out the front door and into the frigid air.
He stood on the porch, unable to move, until his jeans began to freeze solid around his legs and he realized he was shaking.
His heart was breaking, and he was drowning in guilt and sorrow. He was never going to see either of them again and it felt like his soul was being torn in pieces.
If that was Cora’s decision, then he would respect it.
But there was one thing he had to do first.
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