this way?
‘I’m Ben by the way,’ he announced as they came to a stop at a table. The waiter laid serviettes, while the medic arranged the chairs.
‘Sit down here,’ the medic instructed with a long pointed finger.
Ben swung round and as she lifted her gaze, dark-lashed eyes roved her face then fastened on her own eyes for several seconds, firing rapturous ripples through her veins. Belatedly she took his hand and shook it.
‘I’m Evie,’ she managed, clearing her throat, the sun glinting between them.
‘Delighted to meet you, Evie,’ he said, his lip curling up at the edge. ‘Tell me what you would like to drink?’
‘A cool orange juice, please. I feel in need of sugar.’ Evie said, sitting back to savour the view. The trembling began to subside. Wasn’t it bizarre that just moments ago, she’d been staring death in the face and now, suddenly, here she was, on a beautiful dawn, in a café she had longed to visit, with a very handsome stranger who was making a film. Surreal came to mind. This was a somewhat fortuitous treat. She had never sat at this beautiful canal-side café before. Perhaps she was dead; witnessing herself being seated in a sumptuous chair, admiring the enchanting Capestang Bridge and the Canal du Midi from this angle, rather than perched on a rough-grass bank with a sandwich, gazing enviously at the diners.
Carl laid his bag on a chair and reaching in, lifted out a small box.
‘Is it ok if I take a look at that injury?’
‘It’s just a little sore. Bruised maybe?’
‘I’ll clean it up and have a look. Put your leg up here.’ He tapped a chair opposite her, took out a small packet and, tearing off the top, slid an antiseptic wipe between his fingers and knelt down, dabbing her wound.
‘It’ll be fine.’ Evie couldn’t decide if a doctor was really necessary. Painful and bloody as it was, the damage was nothing more than grazing, she was sure.
She felt Ben’s eyes resting on her as Carl tended to the side of her calf.
‘I’m really sorry about all this,’ Ben reaffirmed with sincerity.
Evie met his gaze. ‘Don’t apologise. I’m so glad you caught me.’
As Carl washed over the wound, she gritted her teeth. It was more painful than she thought. Ben’s face screwed up a little and Evie found herself increasingly uncomfortable at all the fuss. Whilst Carl appeared detached and duty-like, Ben seemed genuinely concerned – possibly responsible, she thought as he scratched his chin. Perhaps it was harsh comparing him to Seb. Not once had she seen that look of concern in her partner’s eyes.
She watched the medic wrap the dirty swab and poke it into a clean plastic bag. The wound now throbbed.
‘I’ll get some ice brought over,’ the medic said, standing and pulling out his phone from his trouser pocket and immediately began texting.
Evie let out a chuckle. ‘I’m alive, that’s all I care about. And, as long as you make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else, I’ll leave it at that. And, somehow I must have missed the sign.’
The medic replaced his phone and unpeeled another antiseptic wipe, dabbing her skin again gently. ‘I’ll find a dressing to keep it clean but you have a nasty bruise. The ice should bring it down quicker.’
Ben sat back and rubbed his thighs. ‘Ok. So, you said you have a daughter. You called her name a few times.’
‘I’m sure I did, that’s all I could think about. My gorgeous little Charlotte. I can’t imagine life without her, she’s all I have.’ Evie gave Ben a sideways glance but felt her muscles go rigid. She shouldn’t have said that. It could invite questions. She changed tack swiftly. ‘So, what are you filming exactly?’
‘It’s the story of Pierre-Paul Riquet. The man who built the Canal du Midi. His life story and the challenges he had to overcome.’
Evie shoulders relaxed a little as she sat back in her chair. ‘Yes, makes sense. I should have guessed. Sounds fascinating! I’ll definitely be watching. He was quite the visionary. And it took a lot of money, time and expertise to get it completed. I love the fact that so many women were involved, and that the peasant women from the mountains had such an influence in the design. I hope you’ve included their story too.’
He scratched his head. ‘Well it’s more about his quest to get authorities and nobles to listen to his ideas, he had quite a battle to realise his dream. Even went against them and worked in secret.’
‘Oh, so it’s all about the men. Why are the heroes all male? I suppose that’s how you get the bulk of the viewers. Yes, Riquet should take credit for the overall initiation and the design of such a monumental achievement, but the Fonserannes Lock would never have worked without the expertise from the peasant woman. I think their inclusion would make it far more interesting.’
Ben’s eyes were suddenly distracted. ‘Ah,’ he peered up as a young woman approached the table. ‘Samantha, this is Evie.’ He stood up. ‘This is my second AD, assistant director.’
The assistant handed a package to the medic. ‘For the patient, I presume?’
‘Yes. Thank you.’
Evie immediately wondered if she and Ben were a couple. The girl was about her own age, possibly a little older, and she had the most beautiful long golden hair which spiralled down her back – almost touching her miniscule denim shorts. Samantha held out a tanned arm, offering a welcome hand.
‘Hi Evie. Gosh. That was scary. How are you?’ the assistant said, shaking her hand and immediately squatting to inspect the wound, her lips pouting one way and then another. ‘Mmm, fierce, you’ll have a nasty bruise.’
As Samantha examined her leg, Evie observed Ben. He watched his assistant step back as Carl positioned the ice. Evie blushed and reached for her glass.
‘Sam’s also our first-aider,’ Ben said. ‘She likes to mother.’
Samantha looked at Evie, ‘Take no notice, but you are trembling. Make sure you rest here for a while just to recover from the shock.’ Samantha tossed her head at Ben, rubbing her palms. ‘I can sit here with her.’
Cracking one knuckle with his other hand, his eyes glistened as he glanced from Evie to his assistant.
‘No, I’ll stay here with her and then run her home. Inform Daniel and Ravi. I think Gaz is in the van. Ask him for a form. I’ll start a report? I’m surprised he hasn’t got wind, but let him know, and can you tell the guys to break for an hour, then prepare to run through it again. They can then muck the road. Thanks. And thanks for getting here so quick.’
‘No problem.’ Samantha smiled. ‘Lovely to meet you, Evie. I hope you’ll be ok.’
Evie nodded. ‘Yep, fine. I’ll be off shortly. Bye and thank you.’
After waving her off, Evie said to the medic, ‘I can hold that ice on?’
‘It’s fine. You relax,’ he instructed, winding gauze around the ice on her leg.
‘Are
