ChapterEight
Avalie
The younger childwas screaming the loudest, and I recognized her as the one riding on her mother’s back yesterday.Seemed like she was holding some kind of grudge against me.
“Look, sweetie.I don’t have the book.Seriously, I don’t.He’s got it,” I explained, glancing toward the bathroom.These two were crying for their mother, but she was nowhere in sight.
Feeling kind of useless, I crouched in front of the stroller, grabbing each of their small hands.The older one, after giving me a serious look, switched from wailing to whining, throwing in an occasionalMama!for good measure.Meanwhile, the younger child—her cheeks flushed red—took a deep breath, like she was gearing up for something.
Then, everything went quiet as she held her breath.Her chest was puffed up as if she was going to blow the world apart with the next exhalation.Seconds crawled by, and I felt a panicky heat rise into my face.
“Hey, she’s not breathing,” I blurted out, glancing up at Reed.
“She’s just holding her breath,” he said, leaning in for a closer look.
“Just?Just?”
If this was some normal behavior for children, I had no idea.I was way out of the loop on that topic.And judging from Reed’s perplexed expression, he was no child-rearing expert either.
The toddler’s flushed face turned to a shade of red that rivaled the sunset colors.Veins bulged on her forehead.
“What should we do?”I scanned our surroundings, desperately seeking help.Though there were plenty of people on the beach—and many families—none were paying the slightest attention to us.
“No clue,” Reed admitted, his tone as urgent as my own.
The older devil-child was grinning, obviously enjoying the show.Her gaze kept switching from her sister to us and back.
What if this one burst a blood vessel in her head?What if a lung imploded?Years ago, I did take an emergency medical technology course.Not that I could remember much of it now when it mattered.In fact, I don’t recall anything in the course being of any use right now.
I couldn’t wait any longer.I unbuckled the stroller’s seatbelt and scooped the distressed toddler up into my arms.As I did, the little monster expelled her breath in a gush.And it was a good thing she did because I was about to start pounding on her back.I’d just remembered that was one of the methods for resuscitation.
“Okay, that’s good.Now breathe,” I encouraged her.“Like this.”
Taking deep, exaggerated breaths myself, I started making ridiculous sounds.Dramatically, I filled my cheeks and then puffed them out like a pair of balloons.She watched me.The red faded from her cheeks, and her face creased into a delighted smile as she pressed my cheeks and I complied with a sound like a truck horn as the air escaped.
She laughed, and so did her sister in the stroller.
That was how their mother and older sister found us when they came emerged from the bathroom.The child ran toward us, shouting.
“What’s funny?”
“Her.”The one in the stroller pointed at me.
When the young mother reached us, I couldn't hold back my frustration.“That was ridiculous.How could you leave your children out here with total strangers?”
“You weren’t strangers,” she said, looking surprised.“We met before.”
“We didn’t meet.You don’t know my name or his name.”I gestured to Reed.The child in my arms continued to playfully slap my cheek, and I continued to perform for her as I glared at the mother.“We could have been...could have been...”
“I’m Tina.”
“What?”
“I’m Tina.And these are my three little trolls.That’s us, Tina and the Trolls.And that’s my husband Brandon over there, waiting for his wave.”She motioned vaguely toward one of the two or three dozen surfers sitting on their boards.
Why didn’t she ask him?I thought.Or just take the other two into the bathroom with her?
The idea of someone stealing these precious babies was terrifying.These thoughts and a bunch more were about to explode out of me, but Reed interrupted.
