Page 13 of The Second Ending
Ashleigh ran forward and grabbed onto the child’s arm just before he plunged towards the glittering, dangerous objects, his foot slipping in the wet mud by the water’s edge.
The toddler let out a yell and began crying, just as the sounds of a frantic mother pierced the air.
“Max? Max? Where are you? Max, come to Mommy. MAX???” A frantic woman dashed out from behind the trees and screamed, “Hey, what are you doing to my—” before stopping dead still. Ashleigh saw her eyes widen in horror. “Oh my God! Max! Lady…”
“Here he is, safe and sound.”
The mother looked in shock. “I was… I was changing the baby…” She glanced down to where a newborn slept in the stroller that she dragged behind her. “Max… I thought he was right there, playing with his blocks, but the next second, he wasgone… he…” She took a shuddering breath. “He’d seen the cans earlier, how they were shining… I never thought… Oh my God!”
She grabbed the toddler and smothered him in a desperate embrace.
“He’s fine. I caught him. He’s a bit dirty, but he’s safe.” Ashleigh was about to wander off when the mother stopped her.
“You saved him. I was so upset… I’m not sleeping well, and I thought… Oh, God, I’m so grateful. You saved my baby.”
The familiar heat of embarrassment flooded Ashleigh’s face. “It was nothing. I happened to be there. Glad to help.”
“He could have drowned. How can I thank you?”
By now, the others had abandoned their walk and were rapidly nearing this little scene. “What happened?” Sebastian called out.
“She saved Max,” the mother sobbed. “Caught him before he slipped into the stream. I never thought… I was so sure he was safe…”
Masako took charge now. Managing her own four kids left her more than capable of helping this distraught woman. “It’s all fine. Kids do that, and everything is alright. Let me help you. Are you okay? I know what it’s like.” She led the woman back to wherever she had been sitting with her children, pushing the sleeping newborn while the mother clung desperately to dirty and squirming Max, who was still calling about his ‘pretty shiny’ cans.
“Good thinking, Ash.” Lana clapped her on the back.
“It was nothing. Anyone would have done the same.”
“But they didn’t.” Sebastian’s gaze was full of admiration. “You noticed the kid, and you were the one to save him.”
“He’d only have gotten muddy. The water isn’t deep.”
“A child can drown in an inch of water.” That was Marcus’ voice. “You really did save him.”
“Oh, I don’t know…”
Sebastian stepped forward. “Don’t downplay what you did. You realised what was happening, and you took action. It might not seem like a big deal, but it was. Your quick thinking might have saved that kid’s life. Look, I think we should reschedule this. Masako seems busy with that poor mother, and I’ve got a meeting at noon. But… Ashleigh, are you okay?”
“I really didn’t do anything…” she muttered again, trying to convince herself.
“Let me walk you to your car,” Sebastian offered, his rich voice rumbling. “Oh, you came by transit? Where are you heading? Perhaps I can give you a ride. Come along. Lana, you’ll arrange something with Masako, won’t you? Sorry about this, Marcus. We’ll talk.”
With that, he held out an open hand, gesturing for Ashleigh to walk ahead, back to the parking lot near where they’d met.
What a gentleman.
But when she turned around to say goodbye to the others, all she saw was the glower on Marcus’ face, and it was directed entirely at Sebastian.
CHAPTER 7
SEBASTIAN
Sebastian Vera was exactlywhat Ashleigh needed. After all those years of regret and invisibility, and especially after being pointedly ignored by Marcus for these past few weeks, it was a pleasure to be the focus of someone’s attention.
After the incident in the fields, which Ashleigh kept insisting was not an incident at all, he had driven her to her office, and had suggested getting together for coffee to discuss their experiences in Chile. She didn’t even pretend to think about it, and agreed at once, settling on the following Monday, right after work.
“¡Hola!” he called out from his chair in the coffee shop the moment she arrived. “¿Cómo estás?It’s good to see you. I was worried you’d change your mind, or think this was too forward. We’re working together, in a sense. I hope it’s not inappropriate.”
