Addy swam to the surface to find that almost no one had left the water or the lawn.

Her heart was under that cold lake.

But her job was up here.

She could see poor Shauna dashing around the shore pointing toward the water ineffectually. The guests and staff were having too much fun dancing and laughing to pay much attention to her.

This called for a microphone. Good thing she knew right where to find one.

She dashed back toward the auction stage. With any luck the mic would still be live.

All around her torches blazed and people sat around bonfires. The D’Angelo twins twirled sparklers as they danced and giggled. Was the world always such a fire hazard?

At last she reached the stage. She gathered up her sodden gown and climbed the stairs, grabbing the mic and hoping for the best.

“Hello,” she said.

Her voice echoed back through the speakers.

Thank god.

“Attention, staff and guests,” she said loudly.

Plenty of people stopped what they were doing to look up, but the lawn was still alive with dancing and talking.

“Attention, staff and guests,” she repeated, more forcefully. “There has been a gas leak on the premises. We need everyone to calmly evacuate.”

Now there was silence.

“Staff, please follow the emergency protocol we went over at orientation,” she continued. “You’re going to meet at the bridge, organize, and then walk toward town, rather than waiting for emergency personnel. Guests, please walk calmly to the bridge and meet the staff for further instructions.”

She expected that mayhem would ensue almost immediately, but the staff had been trained well. They rounded up guests, who wandered to the one-lane bridge looking almost excited for this change in events.

She wondered fleetingly if they might think this was all just an elaborate part of the event. But whatever their reason, she was relieved that the guests were calmly following instructions.

She headed down the steps and back to the lake.

No bubbles.

Somewhere deep in the water, Remington still held the line.

She wondered if the big man’s strength was waning without oxygen.

The lawn was empty now, except for two small figures running toward her.

“Addy,” Honey called. She was dragging Kitt along with her. “Where’s the fire department?”

“I-I don’t know, I told Shauna to call 9-1-1,” Addy said. It occurred to her that she didn’t hear sirens.

“Do you think she did?” Honey asked.

Addy looked up to the bridge, but the staff had already disappeared down the main road with the whole crew of staff and guests.

It struck her that Shauna really might have been so freaked out that she had forgotten to call.

“Can you call now?” Honey asked. “My phone is at the cabin.”

“My phone is with Remington,” Addy said, shaken.

“Where’s Remington?” Honey asked.

Oh boy.

Addy hadn’t exactly told her friends about his gift.

She jogged with Honey toward the bridge, wondering how quickly they could catch up with the others.

“He’s got, um, a special talent,” she said as vaguely as she could, wondering if Kitt already knew about his brother’s gift. “He’s helping to control the leak until help arrives.”

“Kitt has a special talent too,” Honey said.

“You do?” Addy asked Kitt.

He nodded.

“It’s a long story, but basically he’s so fast. Like, really fast. I wouldn’t have thought you’d believe me, but I saw Remington go under and I know he hasn’t come back up yet.”

“Oh,” Addy said, thunderstruck. “Wow.”

That was a lot to unpack, but it would have to wait.

“If you can explain to me where the fire station is, I can be there instantly, as far as you’re concerned, and get them to help,” Kitt said.

“Yes,” Addy said. “Please, as fast as you can. I don’t know how much longer he can hold on.”

She explained carefully how to follow the main road around the curve all the way to town, then the exact spot where the firehouse was tucked between the library and post office.

Then she blinked and he was gone.

Honey grabbed Addy’s hands and held them tight.

“It’s going to be okay,” Honey whispered.

Addy hugged her friend close.

Two minutes later, there was a whoosh of air and Kitt was back.

“Wow,” Addy breathed.

She could already hear the sirens just over the crest.

“Go get him,” Kitt said. “By the time you get him out they’ll have shut down the main.”

“Are you sure?” Addy asked.

“Go,” Kitt nodded.

Addy could see the firefighters in the lot above, already wrestling the metal cover plate off the shut-off valve. They had a special key they would use to shut down the gas main as soon as the plate was off.

She dove into the water and swam out to Remington.

He was holding the pipe, a fierce expression of determination on his face.

Addy patted his shoulder and he didn’t even look up.

She patted him again, more urgently.

He didn’t respond.

Then she swam in closer, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly.

He leaned his forehead against hers.

She pulled away and gave him a thumbs-up.

Suddenly he was smiling.

But he didn’t let go.

She pulled on his arm, but he shook his head vehemently.

She rose to the surface for a quick breath, flummoxed as to what she should do.

Then she saw the two men carrying equipment down to the water.

She stayed above while they swam out to her.

“We brought a pipe clamp,” the one said. “We shut down the main but there’s still plenty of gas in the pipe. Is it down here?”

“Yes,” she said, “the boat dropped anchor by accident. My friend is down there trying to stop the leak.”

“We’ll take it from here,” the other firefighter said.

They were trying to hide their smiles. They understandably thought it was funny that someone was trying to stop the leak by hand.

“You and your friend should evacuate,” the first firefighter said.

“Okay,” Addy said. “I’ll try and explain to him.”

She went under as the men put on their masks and dove under too.

When Remington saw the divers he nodded.

They came over to examine the area he was holding. One of them held out the patch, and when Remington let go, they clamped it down before too many bubbles could escape.

Then Addy grabbed Remington’s hand and half dragged him to the surface.