Clifford had no ill intention to surprise Ingrid; it was only her reaction that leads the accident. Fortunately his reflexes were swift and he caught her immediately before adding another injury."Argghhh!!" she winced in pain and almost cried.
"Mommy!" "Ingrid!" all of them called her in chorus when they heard her wince in pain.
"Hush. Don"t move." His voice was soft and comforting.
She just gritted her teeth because of the throbbing pain she felt. Clark hurriedly climbed down from Helen"s arms crying. The Howards and the Briggs hurriedly went to their side and checked on her.
"Jeri, go prepare the cold pack for her ankle." John ordered the househelp; hurriedly she went inside and obeyed as she was commanded.
"Ingrid, lean on Cliff for support." Her mother said while placing her hands on Clifford"s shoulders. She stiffened the moment his warm breath brushed pa.s.s her face.
"...hurry uncle Cliff, let"s get mommy inside the house, she needs medicine." The child said innocently and leads Clifford inside the house while still crying.
"Mommy, I know you"ll be alright..." Ingrid painfully smiled upon hearing her child"s soft voice cheering her up, while Clifford"s face becomes warm and a glimpse of concern could be seen on his handsome face.
"Clark, tell the househelp to give the cold pack and a wrap, too." Clifford instructed the child.
When they reached the living room, Ingrid almost fainted because of the pain. Clifford soothingly lay her in the couch and she closed her eyes trying to ignore the pain. Suddenly she felt that her foot was gently ma.s.saged and she saw Clifford sitting on the floor, looking at her foot in a laser-like focus. When he touched the swelling part, she almost kicked him in the face.
"Ooooouuuchhh!" she winced in pain again.
"Easy, easy..." Ingrid shed a tear because she could no longer bear the pain she feels.
"It"s your fault, why I sprained my ankle." She said while holding her tears again.
"Why is it my fault, when I was just trying to help you with the utensils? It was you who tripped not me, Ingrid."
"It is your fault, I was surprise when you... when you... awwww! Ouch! Are you doing it on purpose? You brute!" her mind diverted on the pain again.
"I did not surprise you; it was you who so easily get distracted. It really hurts, just bear it..."
"How dare you say I am distracted? To whom? You? Ha! You bet!" she said defensively even if she is still wincing in pain.
Clifford only snorted in response when he saw that Clark came running to them with a cold pack in his hands.
"Here it is, uncle Cliff.." the boy arrived in a hurry and handed to him the cold pack.
"Careful, child..."
He took the cold pack from him and gently, Clifford placed the cold pack onto the injured foot and her skin felt cold tinge from it. Little by little she felt relieved from the throbbing pain she suffered earlier.
"Mommy, how do you feel now?" the child asks her and looked at her straight to the eyes.
"I am okay now somehow, baby." She answered a.s.suredly.
"Do you want to take a medicine?" the boy enquired again.
"No, it"s alright, I don"t need medicine. I"ll be all right any moment. Thank you, darling." She said smiling.
"Say thank you to uncle Cliff, too, mommy. Because he was the one who lifted and carried you here. Right, uncle Cliff?" Clifford smiled fully to the child.
Ingrid could not believe what she is seeing. Because ever since she met him he never smiled like that and even to the point that she sees his perfectly formed teeth.
"Ugh! Here it is again. I really need to overcome this awkwardness and irritation I felt towards him. Grrrr!"
"hmmmm.." was the only response did Clifford uttered.
"Thank you..." she whispered.
"Ahh mom, Uncle Cliff could not hear you." The child reminded her.
She sighed deeply and said, "THANK YOU!" still controlling her voice not to shout at him.
Clifford only nodded in response.
Not far away from them, the two househelpers, nanny Tess and the driver were sneaking and observing them.
"Aren"t they lovely, Nanny Tess?" Brenda said while she embraced herself feeling giddy over the scene they are watching.