Page 79 of Outback Reunion

His phone started ringing again. This time he ignored it.

‘Sounds like someone really wants to talk to you,’ Gabriela said, nodding towards his hidden phone.

He sighed. ‘It’s my ex.’

A flicker of something that almost looked like jealousy crossed her face. ‘Do you still talk a lot?’

‘Hell no. We haven’t spoken since before I left Melbourne. She sent a text message wishing me a Merry Christmas as if we were old acquaintances, but we haven’t had any more contact than that. I have no idea what she wants, but she can wait.’

All of a sudden, Gabriela frowned and snatched her hand from his. For a second, he thought it was because of the phone call, but he followed her gaze to see Jai racing up the sand towards them.

‘I think Luna’s drowning!’

‘Oh my God!’ She sprung up, kicking sand into his face as she did so, but Mark was right behind her, uncaring of the granules stinging his eyes.

Only about ten metres out, he saw Luna’s small red head tilted back, just bobbing above the water. The wind wasn’t terrible this morning and the waves weren’t as rough as they sometimes could be, which had clearly lulled Luna and Jai into a false sense of security, and either she’d been caught in a rip or wasn’t a strong enough swimmer. Maybe both.

‘We’re coming,’ he shouted, his heart slamming against his chest as he saw her head slip beneath the surface just a metre or so from a buoy.

Hold on, he prayed, overtaking Gabriela, swimming as fast as he could towards her daughter. If he didn’t save Luna, Gabriela would never forgive him for distracting her.

Hell, he’d never forgive himself.

Time seemed to slow as his arms churned through the water and he knew that every second she was under could be fatal.

His heart burning from exertion, he came close to the buoy and glanced around.Dammit, Luna. Where the hell are you?His eyes stung as he plunged beneath the surface, keeping them open as he searched under the water.

Thankfully, he found her quickly, grabbing her tiny limp body and pushing them both to the surface.

‘Luna!’ he shouted, squeezing her shoulder, but there was no response.Fuck.

Gabriela was suddenly upon them. ‘Oh Jesus. Is she okay?’

Mark couldn’t bring himself to reply, as he swam past her as fast as he could to the shore. He was going to do everything he damn well could to try and make sure of it.

‘Someone call an ambulance,’ he shouted as he dropped to the sand, rolled Luna into the recovery position and checked her pulse. It was faint, but he could feel it.Thank God.

Seconds later, Gabriela sank down onto the sand beside them. ‘We need to do CPR. Do you know CPR?’

‘Yes,’ he said as he opened Luna’s mouth. ‘I just need to check her airway.’

As he did so, water spilled out and then she spluttered and began to cough.

‘Luna! Oh my God, baby.’ Sobs interspersed Gabriela’s words and although they weren’t out of danger completely just yet, Mark grinned.

He’d never been happier in his life to hear someone cough.

And when Luna shakily sat up and vomited onto the sand, he felt like he’d won the lottery. This was a very good sign.

As Gabriela drew her daughter against her chest and whispered ‘I love you’ over and over and over again into her wet hair, a husky voice sounded above them. ‘Is she okay? Do you need anything?’

Mark looked up to see that a small crowd had gathered—all tourists, no one he recognised. ‘A couple of towels would be good,’ he replied.

The man, who turned out to be Jai’s dad, rushed over to their beach umbrella and returned with two large, colourful towels. ‘Here.’

Mark draped the towels around Gabriela and Luna—who were still joined together as if they never wanted to let each other go—then stepped back slightly to take a much-needed breather. He’d never been more terrified and then more relieved. Maybe it was the adrenaline, but he doubted he’d have felt more of either if Luna was his own child.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and bloodshot. ‘Is Rookie okay?’

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