Chapter Twenty
Tasha’s POV
I rushed out of the elevator, headed for the door
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Just when I opened the door, my eyes met Ethan playing with his toys, I dropped to my knees and pulled Ethan into my arms, holding him tight as relief washed over me. “Ethan, you scared me so much,” I said, my voice trembling. “Where did you go? I was so worried.”
“I’m sorry, Mommy, he murmured into my shoulder. “I got lost. I know I should have stayed put, but the man on the upper floor brought me home. He pulled back just enough to look up at me, his eyes wide and earnest. “He’ll be my new friend.”
I felt a mix of emotions relief, frustration, and a twinge of curiosity. “What man, sweetheart?” I asked, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead,
“The man on the up floor,” Ethan repeated. “He found me and helped me get back here.”
My heart skipped a beat. Who was this man? And why was he helping Ethan? I hadn’t seen anyone in the hallway when I rushed out, but then again, I was too panicked to notice much of anything.
“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath to calm myself. “I’m just glad you’re safe, Ethan. But you have to promise me that you’ll stay put next time, okay? No more wandering around.”
Ethan nodded solemnly. “I promise, Mommy.”
“Good,” I said, giving him another tight hug. “Now, let’s get you settled, alright?”
After making sure Ethan was settled and occupied with his toys, I grabbed my phone and dialed Robbin’s number. The screen flickered for a moment before his face came into view. He looked concerned, his brows furrowed slightly.
*Tash, are you alright?” he asked immediately. “Did you find Ethan?”
“Yes, yes, I did,” I replied, trying to sound more composed than I felt. “He got lost and ended up on another floor, but he’s back now.”
Robbin let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God. You had me worried there for a minute.”
“I know,” I admitted. “I was in full panic mode for a while. But he’s fine now, thanks to a kind stranger who helped him.”
Robbin’s eyebrows shot up. “A stranger? Should we be concerned about this?”
“Well, he brought Ethan back to the apartment,” I said, still processing the whole situation. “I guess I should be grateful, but it just feels… strange.”
Before Robbin could respond, another face joined the call, Aunt Linda. Her eyes were wide with concern, clearly having caught the tail end of the conversation.
“What happened?” she asked, glancing between the two of us. “Is Ethan alright?”
“He’s fine now, Aunt Linda,” I assured her. “He just got a little lost, but he’s back.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you must have been so scared,” Aunt Linda said, her voice filled with sympathy. “I’m so
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Chapter Twenty
sorry I can’t be there to help.”
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“I wish you were here too,” I admitted, feeling a lump form in my throat. “It’s been a rough start, but we’re
managing.”
“We’ll be alright, Tash,” Robbin interjected, trying to sound reassuring. “Just take things one step at a time. And hey, if anything like this happens again, just call me, okay?”
“Of course,” I said, nodding. “I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“You better be,” Aunt Linda said, half–jokingly but with genuine concern. “You know how much Ethan means to all of us. And you too, of course.”
I smiled, feeling a bit of the tension ease. “I know, Aunt Linda. I know.”
“Alright,” Robbin said, his tone lighter now. “Let’s not make a habit of these scares, okay? I’ll check in later.
“Thanks, Robbin,” I said, feeling grateful for his support. “And Aunt Linda, thank you too. I know you’re just a call away if I need anything.”
“Granny! Dad!” Ethan exclaimed in his British accent, excitement lighting up his face as he saw them on the screen. “I missed you both so much!”
“Hello, my
little man!” Aunt Linda replied warmly. “How’s New York treating you so far, eh?”
“It’s alright, Granny,” Ethan said, trying to sound grown–up. “But the plane ride was so long. I’ve never traveled that far before.”
Robbin chuckled. “I bet you were a brave boy, though.”
Ethan nodded vigorously. “I was, Dad. I looked out the window the whole time. The buildings here are massive! And guess what? I made a new friend today.
Robbin’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A new friend? Already? Who’s this new friend then?”
Ethan looked back at me, a hint of pride in his voice. “It’s a man from the floor above us. I got lost, but he helped me find my way back to our flat.”
“Oh, Ethan,” Aunt Linda said, her voice carrying a mix of relief and concern. “You must be careful, darling. Always stay close to your mummy, alright?”
“Yes, Granny,” Ethan promised earnestly. “I know. I just got a bit confused with all the floors.”
“That’s okay, sweetheart,” Robbin chimed in. “But you must remember to stay where it’s safe.”
“I will, Unc Robbin. I promise,” Ethan assured him, his small face full of sincerity.
“Good lad,” Aunt Linda said approvingly. “You’re such a brave boy. And remember, always listen to your mum. She’s got a lot on her plate, especially now.”
Ethan nodded solemnly. “I will, Granny. I won’t get lost again.”
“Alright, we should let you get some rest,” I interjected softly, noticing Ethan starting to yawn. “It’s been a long day for us both.”
“Take care, Tasha,” Robbin said, his tone softer than usual. “And Ethan, we’ll talk again soon, alright?”
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Chapter Twenty
“Okay, Dad! Bye, Granny!” Ethan waved enthusiastically at the screen. “Love you!”
“Love you too, sweetheart,” Aunt Linda replied. “Stay safe.”
After the call ended, I put my phone down and looked at Ethan. “Alright, my little explorer, we’ve got quite a day ahead of us.”
“Okay, Mum,” he said, still buzzing with energy from the call.
“First thing, we need to sort out a babysitter,” I explained, trying to plan out the day in my head. “You know, someone who can keep you company when Mummy has to go out for meetings.”
Ethan scrunched up his nose, clearly not thrilled with the idea. “But why can’t I just come with you, Mum?”
“I know, sweetheart,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile. “But some places Mummy needs to go aren’t very fun for kids. Plus, it’s always good to have a friend here in the building if you need anything.”
“Okay,” he sighed, giving in. “But they better be fun.”
“I’ll make sure they’re the best,” I promised, ruffling his hair. “Now, let’s get dressed and have some breakfast. We have a lot to do today.”
We spent the next hour getting ready. After everything that had happened since we arrived, I was already exhausted, but there was no time to rest. The presentation was in two weeks, and there were still so many things to sort out.
Not to mention, finding the right school and babysitter for Ethan was at the top of my list. Navigating the education system in a new country was daunting, but it was necessary, Ethan deserved the best, and I was determined to provide it for him, even if it meant juggling a million other things at the same time.
After we were settled, I finally got some time to sit down with my laptop, attempting to get some work done. The presentation was near and I needed to ensure everything was in order. My fingers hovered over the keyboard as I tried to focus, but my mind kept wandering back to the day’s events, I pushed the thought aside, reminding myself to call some schools tomorrow.
A few minutes later, as I was engrossed in replying to an email, I heard Ethan’s voice coming from the living room. He was speaking confidently, but there was a hint of that British politeness in his tone. I paused, listening carefully.
“I’m good, sir,” Ethan said, sounding unusually formal for a five–year–old.
Frowning, I turned around to see who he could be talking to. To my surprise, Ethan was standing near the couch with the house phone in his hand, his tiny frame looking quite serious as he spoke into the receiver. My heart skipped a beat. Who on earth was he talking to? I hadn’t given him permission to use the phone.
