Until the Stars Fall From the Sky Read Online Free PDF Page A

have no idea who I’ll encounter on the other end. Yet, for some reason I trust Jeff’s instincts, if he says it’s safe. I’m going to give it a shot. With trembling hands, I push the button. “This is Kiera Ashley speaking. “Come Back.”
    Jeff’s eyebrows shoot up quizzically when he hears my CB lingo . I just shrug. Once a trucker’s daughter, always a trucker’s daughter I guess. He pulls his jacket a little tighter around my shoulders and gives my hand a squeeze for reassurance.
    A tearful voice comes over the radio, “Are you the angel that rescued my Sam today?”
    My heart clenches and tears come to my eyes as I answer, “Well, yes, ma’am… I guess I am. But, it was really a team effort. The lifeguard did CPR.”
    “Oh honey, call me Hazel. Alistair and I saw you pull him out of the water all by yourself and swim to shore. They told us if he had been under any longer , we would have lost him and the other stuff would not have worked.”
    I choke up and can barely force an answer around the lump in my throat, “Hazel, I am so glad I saw him fall and had the skills to help. I hope he has a speedy recovery.”
    “You don’t understand Kiera,” she replies. Sam is our world. “If we were to lose him, our family would cease to exist. You didn’t just save Sam. You saved all of us. We don’t even know how to thank you.”
    “No thanks are really necessary, Hazel. Just get Sammy some swimming lessons when you can. It will give him some tools if he finds himself in trouble again,” I answer, my voice shaking with emotion.
    “Of course!” Hazel exclaims. “That’s a good idea. He can be a handful. I better run and see how he is doing. Thank you again.”
    I start to shake and tears stream down my face. I vaguely register Jeff signing off the radio after he gingerly removes it from my grip. Jeff returns with a wet paper towel and he gently washes my tears away and hands me some Kleenex. He politely pretends not to notice, as I have to noisily blow my plugged nose.
    Jeff tilts his head to the side and examines me critically as he mutters, “I’m probably going to get fired for this, but I don’t care. You look like you could really use a hug.”
    He scoops me up and puts me on his lap as he sits down in the chair I just vacated. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. I am instantly struck by three things. First, this should be uncomfortable, but it really isn’t. Second, we fit amazingly well together, like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Lastly, even after fishing Sam out of the lake, he smells amazing. Some fragrance company could make a mint if they bottled his scent. I couldn’t help myself, I settle deeper into his arms and take a deep breath and close my eyes.
    Suddenly, Tara and Heather burst into the tent. When they survey the scene in front of them, they come to an abrupt halt. Their eyes widen, and their jaws are slack with disbelief. It is as if a roadrunner cartoon has come to life. I can’t fully contain my chuckle.
    “What are you laughing at?” Heather demands, clearly irritated with me, “I thought you were going to die! I looked over and you were gone. I didn’t know you went after the little guy until he was on your chest.”
    I start to respond, but Tara beats me to it. “I told her you probably have had more training than the lifeguard.”
    “Training? What does she mean?” Jeff interjects.
    Tara arches her eyebrow at me. She is obviously expecting an introduction. I flash her a small smile. “Jeff, these are my friends, Tara and Heather, otherwise known as the ‘Girlfriend Posse.'
    Girls, this is Jeff. He generously volunteered to serve as my temporary transportation.” I explain. “As a teenager, I was a swimmer for the Paralympic team until I tore my rotator cuff. One of my former teammates has a brother who is a Navy Seal. He held some informal training sessions on water rescue for us in case we needed to help a teammate”
    “ I was