Page 65 of Rescued Heart

She wasn’t going to be able to prove to her parents that she’d changed. Save their house before the foreclosure was finalized. No youth center either. Wouldn’t see her sister get married. And she’d never see Eddie again.

Her fingers tugged on the left-hand side of the seat belt and shoved it back in, hoping it would give her enough slack to slip out. Her pinkie hit something—the seat recliner.

Her chest burned. She tugged on the lever and rammed her back against the seat. She only needed a little more room. Except the chair didn’t move.

Stars filled her vision.

She swallowed and cleared her ears, but she needed air. Now.

God, I’m sorry for everything. I should have worked harder. Been better.

She willed her lungs to loosen, but her heart thumped oddly in her chest. Pain threaded into her sides.

This was it.

Eddie’s face burst into her mind. She would never get to help him. Never get to tell him that she wished things could be different between them. He was the best man she’d known. She blinked slowly at the memory of Eddie coming toward her and all the times he’d rescued her.

Something touched her shoulder.

She jerked. This wasn’t a memory. Eddie was there to save her?

Even in the shadowed water, panic showed on his face. He wrapped his arms around her sides and pulled, but her body remained rooted.

She took his hand and ran it along the seat belt.

His fingers left hers. Darkness filled her vision.

Hurry.Bubbles escaped her lips.

He pulled something out of his pocket. A knife.

Her lungs screamed. She released more air bubbles, and water slipped into her mouth. It tasted like dirt and death. She couldn’t let Eddie die trying to save her.

She pushed at his chest, but he batted her away and reached farther down beside her seat. One heartbeat. Two. And then suddenly the seat belt and safety cords floated in front of her.

Eddie yanked her out of the window and thrust her up, toward the light.

She kicked, freedom in sight. Her lungs were on fire. Burning. Finally, light filled her vision. She crested the water and gulped for the glorious, chilled air.

She kicked, but her legs felt like they were tied down. Water filled around her face again.

Arms circled around her—strong yet gentle. Eddie.

She wrapped her sluggish arms around his neck, breathing hard. His chest vibrated. He said something. Her ears rang. She shook her head.

People swam toward them. Their mouths moved, but all she could do was cling to Eddie.

He spun to his back in the water and pulled her on top of his chest.

She willed her legs to kick but wasn’t sure her body listened. The thump of Eddie’s heartbeat echoed not only in her ear but under her fingertips. He’d jumped in after her. He’d saved her.

Thank You, Lord. Thank You for this man in my life.

She closed her eyes. She had more time.

The water disappeared around her shoulders, and she opened her eyes.

The river rippled around Eddie’s knees.

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