Chapter 15 #2
was in the right place. But maybe the child had been swept further out.
Feeling a mix of desperation and despair, she looked around her. She saw a crowd forming on the beach and a vehicle crossing
the sand.
The relief she felt in knowing that help was on its way lasted only seconds. By the time they made it into the water it would
be too late.
She trod water, increasingly tired, and then she saw pink again, just a few strokes from her current position.
She dived towards it and grabbed it, screaming in frustration as it disappeared under the water out of her reach.
She wrapped the cord from the board around her wrist and dived down, stretching out her arms, searching. Water slid through
her fingers. Water and more water and then finally when her lungs were bursting for air and she was about to give up, her
fingers brushed against something and she grabbed fabric and then a limb. She held on with grim determination, pumping her
legs hard to bring herself and the child back to the surface.
Her lungs were bursting and for a moment she was disorientated. All she could see were waves. She had no idea where the shore
was.
She grabbed the edge of the board and heaved the child onto it, lying her on her stomach, gripping her firmly.
Her limbs were exhausted and her eyes were stinging from the constant onslaught of salt water but somehow she figured out which way the waves were going and angled the board so that it was pointing towards the beach.
She picked up a wave and was swept towards the shore at the same time two lifeguards prepared to enter the water.
The mother was standing at the edge of the water, holding the baby who was crying as hysterically as she was.
Abby finally felt sand under her feet and then the lifeguards scooped up the child, laid her on her back on the sand and started
resuscitation just as a helicopter landed on the beach.
Relieved to have someone else take responsibility, Abby plopped down on the sand, but she didn’t take her eyes off the child.
Breathe. Breathe.
It was painful to watch the mother’s distress and Abby looked away for a moment, her own problems as miniscule as a grain
of sand in comparison to the woman’s agonising grief.
What did it matter? All this stuff she worried about. What did any of it matter really?
It wasn’t important, was it? How had she lost sight of that?
She felt humbled and ashamed that she’d allowed herself to treat something trivial as the end of the world. It could be fixed.
And even if it couldn’t be fixed, it would work out in some way and she’d handle it. But if this woman lost her child . . .
She heard a thready cough, then choking, and the little girl vomited seawater everywhere.
The mother burst into sobs of relief and Abby was close to joining her.
Thank God.
After that everything happened in a whirl of activity. Abby watched as the paramedics scooped the child into the helicopter,
then she felt a hand on her shoulder.
One of the teenagers stood next to her. His limbs were lanky and long, his hair mussed by the sea. He gave her an awkward smile and offered her a can of drink.
“In case you swallowed seawater.”
“I did.” She gave a grateful smile and took the drink. “Thanks. And sorry for stealing your board without asking.”
“It was cool. What you did was cool.” The boy frowned. “You’re bleeding.”
“Am I?” She glanced down and saw the ugly gash on her leg. Blood mingled with seawater. “It was probably the rocks. It’s only
a scratch. It’s not important. Was it you who called the coastguard?”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “It’s 999 over here by the way, in case you’re planning on saving anyone else while you’re staying.”
She gave a near hysterical laugh. “That was my first and last rescue.”
She glanced across the beach. There was no sign of the mother or baby. Presumably they’d gone in the air ambulance.
One of the lifeguards approached her with a first aid bag. “Let me deal with that cut. You did well to grab the board. Bystander
rescues don’t usually end well.”
“I’m aware. But what was I supposed to do? There was no one else around.” Although she hadn’t really thought it through that
carefully, had she? She hadn’t weighed options. She’d seen the child disappear and reacted. But now the immediate adrenaline
rush had receded, the horror of it seeped into her. It could have ended badly. Her teeth were chattering which made no sense
because it wasn’t even cold. Maybe she was still feeling the effects of her overindulgence the night before. “I couldn’t stand
there and let a child drown. I’d had a bad day. I didn’t want it to end that way.”
He cleaned the cut. “You saved a life. A child’s life.
I’d say a person’s day couldn’t get much better than that.
You don’t need stitches, but you’re going to need to change that dressing tomorrow and if the wound looks red get it checked.
” He glanced up as someone else arrived. “Hey, Tris. Are you okay?”
Tris? Oh no, no, no. That was the last thing she needed.
Unfortunately, although her memory of the night before was a little hazy, she had a clear memory of her time on the beach
with Tristan. She’d propositioned him and he’d turned her down. He’d all but carried her from the beach to her bed, but she
didn’t remember much about that part. Embarrassing didn’t begin to describe it. And then there was the fact he’d overheard
the message she’d left for her mother.
Currently he knew more about her than any other person in this village.
“I heard someone went into the water after a child. Anything I can do? Use the pub, if you need to. We have food and dry clothing.”
“Thanks, but it’s all under control. The air ambulance has taken the child to hospital, but it seems she’s going to be okay.
As is our rescuer.”
She wished she could melt into the sand, but there was no chance of that.
“Abby?” Surprise in his voice, Tristan dropped to his haunches. “What the—?”
“You know each other? Your friend is the hero of the hour. She’s definitely earned herself a free drink. Fortunately for that
family she’s a strong swimmer,” the lifeguard said. “Hell of a strong swimmer. If you ever want a job, let us know.”
Abby thought about Evie and the rest of the team at The Alexandra, Cornwall. She thought about the conversation she still
had to have with her mother.
She might well need another job very soon, but it was going to be a long way from here.
“As long as that little girl is okay, that’s all that matters.” She didn’t look at Tristan. She kept her attention on her leg as the lifeguard finished dressing it.
“It was clever of you to grab the board before going into the water. Most people plunge in and then they’re in trouble, too.”
He straightened. “Given that you know each other, I’ll leave her in your capable hands, Tris.”
She didn’t want to be left with Tristan.
“I’m okay. I don’t need anyone’s help.” Determined to prove it, she scrambled to her feet but her legs gave way and Tristan
grabbed her.
“You’re right. You don’t need my help at all.”
She ignored that. “My legs are tired, that’s all.”
“I can imagine. What were you doing on the beach this late anyway?”
“It’s not that late. And I was swimming. Swimming is a good way of getting rid of stress. What are you doing here?”
“I was behind the bar when someone said a child had drowned.”
Abby shook her head and stroked her hair out of her eyes. It was still wet and matted with seawater. Her eyes stung. “It was
a little girl. She was paddling, but fell over and got swept out. I hope she’s going to be okay.”
“The lifeguards seemed to think she would be, thanks to you.” Tristan muttered something and pulled her against him, rubbing
his hands down her back. “You’re shivering. You’re cold. We need to get you warmed up.”
She had a powerful urge to lean into him and let him hold her, but she resisted.
“I’m okay.” She pulled away and forced her limbs to walk the short distance to her things.
She realised how far the tide had come in since the adventure had started.
She tugged her sweatshirt out of her bag and pulled it over her head, welcoming the soft warmth.
“You don’t need to do anything. I can sort myself out. ”
He picked up her bag. “I don’t doubt that, but smart people know when to accept help.”
“Are you trying to scare me?”
“Just stating the truth.” He glanced at the ocean and then back at her. “I can’t believe you went into the water. Do you know
how many people drown each year trying to rescue people in trouble in the water?”
“Not the exact figure, but I know it’s a thing. Which is why I grabbed the board from those teenagers. I was lucky they were
there.”
“Still, you should have—”
“Should have what, Tristan?” She pulled up the hood of her sweatshirt. “Left a child to drown? I know you have a low opinion
of me, but even I’m not that bad. And honestly after the day I’ve had, I don’t have the energy for this conversation. And
before you ask, yes, I told Evie the truth. I have apologised to the people I needed to apologise to, so you can let it go.”
She forced her wobbly weak legs forward.
It wasn’t far. She could make it without leaning on him.
She could see a small crowd gathered at the harbour.
She tugged her hood further over her head. “What are they doing there?”
“They were watching the helicopter. It’s a change from watching seagulls.” He put his arm round her and urged her through
the crowd. “Keep walking.”
“I’m doing my best.” She was shivering badly now, and he sent her a concerned look as they headed across the street to the
pub.
A man stopped him. “Hey, Tris, everyone okay?”
“Everyone is fine. All good, thanks, Jim.” Without pausing for conversation, he propelled her up the stairs and into her room.
Closing the door behind them he strode to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
“You need to warm up.”
She waited for him to leave and when he didn’t, she sighed.
“I’m not undressing in front of you.”