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Movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention and I swung my head to the side just in time to see Hampton trip over a stick.
His large frame slammed into my tiny body, knocking the wind from my lungs. I’d been ready to make a break for it, not braced for an impact, and I went flying, like a scene out of an action movie.
“Piper!” a strangled cry escaped Georgia’s lips and as I sailed through the air, I caught sight of her panicked face.
Hampton’s fall may have been in slow motion, but my flight through the air seemed to happen in less than an instant. My head collided with the cement of the pool, the sound rivaling a crack of thunder, filling my ears for a split second before the world went dark.
When I came to, I tried to open my eyes, but my lids wouldn’t budge. I was cold, even though I could feel the sun on my face and my clothes were soaking wet. I tried once more to open my eyes and finally they cooperated. Hampton’s face loomed above mine, his eyes wide with fear and filled with tears.
“Piper!” he breathed, relief washing over his features.
I could hear Georgia’s sobs and Jack’s strangled cry, but my head felt heavy, like it was stuffed full of cotton. I tried to open my mouth to reassure them I was okay and tell them to quit being such babies, but when I did, water poured out. I coughed hard before my stomach twisted and I wretched chlorinated water.
Had I fallen into the pool?
I wrapped my arms around Hampton, clinging to him as he stood and attempted to carry me toward his house. When I saw the tears roll down his face, fear coursed through my veins.
“Piper! Oh, thank God.”
I turned my head to see Lawson’s pale face trailing after us. The movement caused my head to pound. Another wave of nausea washed over me and my stomach heaved once more. Instead of jumping out of the way, Lawson moved forward and pulled my hair away
from my face, holding it back until my stomach was empty. When I managed to open my eyes, I noticed his clothes were dripping wet too.
Weakly, my throat feeling like sandpaper, I asked, “What happened?”
Lawson’s lips parted, but before he had the chance to tell me, I heard my mother scream my name.
I pulled my eyes away from Lawson’s and saw my mother and Mrs. Reed racing down the back steps of the large wraparound porch, fear etched in both of their faces.
All at once, everyone started talking, the sound of chaos causing my aching head to throb even harder. Tears streamed down my face, adrenaline finally coursing through my veins and overwhelming my senses.
“Give her to me, Hampton,” my mother demanded.
He didn’t release his iron grip on me. Instead, he took the back steps two at a time and continued into the house. “Call an ambulance!” Despite his attempt to be tough, his voice trembled.
Hampton was never scared. That was Lawson, but not Ham. His fear intensified mine and the tears fell harder as he made his way to the front door.
“I think she’s okay,” his mother assured as she grabbed his arm to stop him. “But let’s put her in the car.” She looked at my mom and my mother nodded in response. “We need to take her to the doctor, though, just to make sure.” Her arms were outstretched and she gave him a wide smile, prompting him to hand me over. Yet, he still refused.
“This is my fault,” he whispered, standing in the foyer as we dripped water all over the hardwood floors.
“No, honey, it’s not,” my mom replied, her voice much calmer than it had been. “I don’t know what happened, but I’m sure it isn’t your fault.” She looked back at me, still clinging to Hampton as though he were a life preserver and I was drowning in the ocean. “Now, let’s get her in the car and get you and Lawson into dry clothes.”
Lawson was watching me closely, his dark eyes full of concern, his face pale, his bottom lip pulled in between his teeth. He was studying me the same way he read one of his stupid books, as though I were a great mystery he was trying to solve.
Even though any movement at all seemed to cause my head to pound, I smiled at him, trying to relay that I was okay.
His eyes widened slightly and he looked away. “She gonna die?” he asked his mom.
Georgia, whose sobs had finally died off, wailed loudly.
Jack marched the few steps between them and shoved at Lawson. “No, she ain’t gonna die!” His voice cracked and he pushed him again. Lawson was easily a foot taller than Jack and he didn’t budge. But he also didn’t fight back. He just stood there, eyeing me with what seemed like contempt, and waited for an answer.
My mother’s face softened as she looked at Lawson and she shook her head. “She’s fine, honey. Probably has a concussion. But nothing life-threatening, I’m sure.”
Lawson gave her a quick tilt of his chin and turned on his heel. With one more glance at me, he sprinted up the stairs before slamming his bedroom door so hard that the china in the hutch rattled.
With a heavy sigh, Mrs. Reed wrapped an arm around a still crying Georgia. “Come on, honey. Let’s go get you a snack and check on your brother.” She glanced back at my mom. “You want to leave Jack with me?”
