“The ambulance is here,” he said, his voice filled with relief.
“Yeah, your friend Leo said to tell you it’s on its way. I would have called you to tell you, but you were already in the water.”
He gave her a radiant smile. “Let’s get you to shore, Rebecca Kingston. Your kids are waiting for you.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Accompanied by a flash of lightning and the crash of thunder, Marcus carried Rebecca from the river. He was greeted by Ashton Campbell and Gabbie Gros, two paramedics he’d known from his days in the field.
“Hey, Ash,” Marcus called out.
“What’ve you got?”
“She’s got at least one broken rib.” Marcus set Rebecca on the gurney.
The paramedics flew into immediate action, checking her vitals and assessing her injuries before wrapping an emergency blanket around her. Gabbie gave a blanket to Marcus too, and he draped it over his shoulders, shivering as his body fought to regain some warmth.
“My kids,” Rebecca murmured, her eyes delirious.
“Your daughter suffered an acute asthma attack,” Gabbie said. “We gave her oral prednisolone, oxygen and nebulized salbutamol.”
“Is she stable?” Marcus asked.
Gabbie nodded. “She’s out of danger. We have her and her brother on oxygen. Minor hypothermia.” She patted Rebecca’s arm. “And your son’s leg is sprained but no break. Other than that, there’s nothing to worry about. Your children will be fine.”
“You’re the one we need to worry about now, Mrs. Kingston,” Ashton said as they moved the gurney into the ambulance. “Marcus, we have to get moving. The storm is picking up, and we need to get her to the hospital.”
“Which hospital?”
“Hinton. Edson doesn’t have any beds. Cutbacks.”
Ashton motioned for Marcus to step aside.
“Wait!” Rebecca said, gripping Marcus’s arm. “You have to come with us. You saved us.”
“I can’t go in the ambulance. It’s not protocol.” Even as he said this, Marcus counted all the rules of protocol he’d already broken. There’ll be hell to pay later.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital,” he said. “I promise.”
Inside the ambulance, Ella and Colton lay side by side on a second gurney. With blankets piled high, their small faces were barely visible.
Colton raised a hand and waved. “You are a superhero.”
Marcus waved back. “Take care, buddy. I’ll see you at the hospital.”
“Taylor!” someone called out.
Marcus spun around. John Zur stood a few yards away, and the detective didn’t look very happy.
“Shit,” Marcus muttered beneath his breath.
He walked toward Zur, thinking of all the excuses he could use for his blatant disrespect for the rules. But there was just one excuse he could think of that made any sense. Rebecca and her kids had needed someone to help them, and Marcus had been the only “someone” available.
Zur studied him, seconds extending into minutes. “So what happened, Marcus?”
“You can see what happened, John.” I saved a woman and her kids. They’re alive because of me. I didn’t let them die like Jane and Ryan.
When Zur was finished lecturing him, Marcus glanced at his watch. 12:39. He couldn’t believe how his life had changed in the past twenty-four hours.
“Marcus!”
He returned to the ambulance. Inside, Rebecca was arguing with Ashton and Gabbie.
“Hey, don’t give them such a hard time,” he said with mock sternness. “You need to let them take care of you.”
“I needed to speak with you,” she said, lying back down.
“I’ll see you at the hospital. We can talk all you want then.”
She peered up at him, then smiled. “Your voice fits your looks.”
“What?”
“You look exactly as I pictured you.”
“What, soaking wet, shivering and chattering teeth? That’s what you pictured?” He laughed.
“You look like a decent man. A bit on the rugged side.”
The smile she gave him sent intense heat through his body. “Gee, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”
“It’s a good thing,” she said. “On the phone your voice made me think of Russell Crowe.”
He batted a hand in the air. “Nah. I’ve been told I look more like Gerard Butler. Before he started working out.”
She laughed. “You’re not in that bad of shape. Otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to do what you did tonight.”
“Well, you’re even prettier than I pictured you. Even if you are sopping wet and your hair is scraggly.”
She touched her hair. “I’m not at my best, am I?”
He grinned. “Guess I’ll have to wait and see how you clean up. Now go.”
As he turned away, she shouted, “One more thing.”
“What’s that?” he asked, peering over his shoulder.
“Thank you! For finding us.”
“You’re welcome. Now lie down.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hey, Marcus!” Gabbie called out.
“Yeah?”
“We miss you. When are you coming back?”
“I don’t think I am. My paramedic days are over.” And for once, he was okay with that thought.
“Get some rest,” he called to Rebecca. “Your kids need you to be okay.” So did he.
He watched as Gabbie and Ashton closed the doors, and the ambulance took off down the road. Zur and the other patrolman followed in their respective vehicles, lights flashing, no sirens.
Marcus climbed into his car. First, he took in a long gulp of air, releasing it slowly. Then he stared out the window at the river, trying to extinguish the images of a terrified boy trapped underwater. Colton had more strength than he knew. And Rebecca? She was a fighter too.
He glanced into the rearview mirror. A face stared back at him.
Jane.
For some reason, he wasn’t surprised to see her, even though the rational side of his brain said it was impossible. He was afraid to turn around, in case she vanished. “Hi, Elf.”
She smiled. “You did it. You saved them.”
His shoulders quivered as he began to sob. “I’m sorry I didn’t save you and Ryan.” He covered his face with his hands.
“I know you are.”
“I can’t handle the accusation in your eyes. Or knowing you feel I failed you both.”
Jane’s expression was filled with love. “Marcus, don’t you know I would never accuse you of that. Look at me.”
He raised his gaze back to the mirror.
“What do you see there?” she asked.
What he saw made his heart lurch. Love, forgiveness, acceptance—they were all there in her eyes.
“I want you back,” he whispered hoarsely. “Both of you. I miss you so much, Jane.”
She looked stunningly beautiful, her hair glistening, her skin flushed with color and… life?
“We miss you too.” She leaned forward, and her cool hand stroked his cheek. “But it’s time for you to move on.”
He kissed her fingertips. “I love you, Jane.”
“I know.”
“I’ll never forget you.”
“I know that too.”
He stared into the mirror, willing her to stay.
“Remember what you always used to tell me after you came home from a really brutal day?” she asked.
He shook his head.
Jane smiled again. “You said, ‘life is for the living.’ And it is. You have a lot to live for. You’re a good man with a good heart. People need you. Especially now.”
“No one needs me.”
“She does. And her kids.”
“Rebecca needs me—another addict in her life? No, I doubt that very much.”