A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 15

My day is relatively uneventful. 

The lunchtime shift is quiet, the customers we do have are simple and kind.

I leave at half-past 3 and make my way to the leisure center, deciding to spend some time in the gym until 4:00 when the swimming class starts.

I do some squats and deadlifts then spend some cooldown time on the treadmill just walking.

At five to 4, I leave the gym and make my way downstairs. 

I walk onto the poolside where a couple of parents have already gotten their children in their swimwear.

There's a cumulative "Hi River." When I say hello to them all. 

When everyone has arrived, I call the register. 

"Molly?" I call, having not seen Archer around.

"Here." I'm surprised by her answer, looking up to see if I can see her brother. I smile at her when I can't find him. 

"Right then everyone, today we are going to try some swimming underwater. So I want everyone to sit on the side of the pool. Dangle your feet in the water and we are going to warm up gently by swinging our legs forwards then backward." I instruct. "Excellent." 

We spend five minutes warming up then I encourage the children to slide in and swim from one side to another. They're slow to start with but manage to get the hang of it after a while. 

Halfway through the lesson, I hear a splash behind me and the sound of a woman screaming.

"Adam!" She shouts. My head spins around as she's running towards where Adam has fallen into the pool. 

"Everyone, out the pool now!" I shout at the other children. I turn back to where Adam is struggling to keep his head above the water, "Don't jump in, Mum!" I shout to her.

"Get him out then!" She screams at me, hysterical. 

When I get to the side of the pool where Adam is I dive straight in. When I resurface next to him, I hold him up.

"Adam, you're okay, I'm getting you out, don't worry." I swim back towards the poolside, Adam in tow. 

I lift him out of the pool, where his mother starts fussing over him.

"Can you get his towel please?" I say to her while I turn him to the recovery position. He's conscious, but he looks dazed. His Mother brings his towel and I use it to wipe his face and cover his body to stop him from losing too much heat. 

"Mum, could you grab your phone and bring it to me please," I ask her, my phone is kept in my bag.

"Here," She says, handing me her phone. 

I then ring for an ambulance and dismiss the rest of the group. When I look up, I see Archer sat with Molly, he's looking right at me, a concerned look on his face.

When the ambulance arrives, I explain to them what happened, that Adam remained conscious throughout the whole incident and is okay. The paramedics take him and his Mother to the local Paediatric Accident and Emergency Department, I take her registration plate so she doesn't have to pay for parking. 

When Adam has left the poolside with the paramedics, it's just Molly and Archer left, waiting for me. 

"I'm sorry we couldn't finish the lesson Molly," I say, as I walk over to them.

"It's okay, is Adam going to be okay?" She asks, looking worried.

"He's going to be fine, the ambulance is just to make sure he's not swallowed too much water." I smile at her, turning to Archer, "Ready to take over my kitchen tonight?"