CHAPTER TWO
1831 Words
Peach Shenaya was the last candidate to be interviewed, not because she was supposed to be, but because she arrived very late, even when the interview had ended just a few minutes before.
Standing in front of the desk, she pleaded with the receptionist to advocate on her behalf.
“It’s not in my power to have mercy,” the young lady repeated, her voice firm. “I’m sorry, Miss Peach, but you’re three minutes late, and the interview has already ended.”
Peach had heard this line several times, each time coming up with excuses, but this last time, she finally sighed, accepting her fate.
Ellen, the person in charge of recruitment, had just exited the interview room and was approaching the front desk when she noticed the commotion. For a few seconds, she watched Peach empathetically plead, even pointing to her kids who were lost in their own play. Realizing Peach was the absent candidate, Ellen unwrapped her arms from her chest and stepped into the interview room to call the receptionist.
“The lady at the front desk—who is she?”
“Peach Shenaya, the absent candidate,” the receptionist replied.
Peach, who hadn’t fully turned away, looked at the receptionist when she heard her name, but the receptionist only creased her brows in sympathy.
“Send her in,” Ellen demanded before quickly hanging up.
With a deep sigh, the receptionist dropped the phone and called out to Peach, who had already given up on the job offer and was retreating to her kids, who stood outside the glass building under the sun.
“Miss Peach Shenaya, you can go in now.”
Peach's face lit up in surprise. “You mean I can have the interview?”
The receptionist nodded, mirroring the young lady's excitement, though she masked her own to maintain professionalism. “Yes, Miss Peach. Go ahead; don’t keep Miss Ellen waiting.”
“Alright, I won’t,” Peach said, shooting a thumbs-up to the lady before heading in the direction she had pointed.
Clutching her files to her chest, she inhaled deeply, knocked, and slid the door open.
“Good day, Miss Ellen. Thank you so much for having me,” Peach panted, having overheard the receptionist address her as Miss Ellen.
Miss Ellen wasn’t pleased. “Please sit, Miss Peach Shenaya.” She gestured to the chair and began skimming through Peach’s application, even though she was already aware of its impressive content.
“Miss Shenaya, I see here that you have great qualifications in wedding event planning, but your punctuality isn’t quite impressive.” Miss Ellen intertwined her fingers on the desk, her gaze unwavering.
Shenaya panicked under her intense scrutiny, fearing that sharing about her kids would ruin her chances.
“I’m so sorry for my lateness, Miss Ellen. My kids’ nanny bailed, so I had to get them ready.”
Ellen leaned in closer. “You’re well aware that in this workplace, excuses are strictly prohibited. This work requires great skills—no lagging at any point.”
Peach nodded vigorously. “I understand, Miss Ellen. I’ll make sure to adhere to all policies, and I’m actively looking for another nanny.”
Miss Ellen leaned back in her seat, pondering. She had no further questions for this young lady; Peach had the best qualifications, so why waste an opportunity?
Miss Ellen slammed the file shut in front of her. As Peach awaited other hard questions, Miss Ellen announced, “You’re hired.”
Peach squealed, “Really?” But the woman remained stern. Peach quickly composed herself.
“You can leave now; you’re to start work tomorrow morning.”
Peach thanked her and left the office, rushing over to the receptionist where she exploded with happiness. “I got the job!”
“You got the job? Oh goodness, I’m so proud of you!” The receptionist began to squeal but halted when she spotted Miss Ellen approaching.
In this workplace, it was strictly a rule to be professional around here, especially around Miss Ellen.
Peach glanced over her shoulder and met the same sight. She waved goodbye to the receptionist and rushed out of the building to her kids, only to find them in a frantic search.
“Come on, girls and boys,” she called casually.
Feather was the first to run back to her. “Mummy, we can’t find Tether! We were all right here playing, but Tether is gone now.”
Panic gripped Peach. It wasn’t usual for Tether to run off; in fact, he was her most quiet child, which made her worry even more.
“Which way did Tether run off to? I’ll go find him.”
“I don't know, Mummy! We’ve been searching but can’t find him. He’s been gone for a very long time.”
Peach’s files dropped from her grasp. “A very long time? How long?”
Weather interjected, “I don’t know, Mummy. We were all just playing here.”
Looking over them, Peach realized there was truly no sight of her son, Tether. Gathering her kids around to sit at a point, she ran off, searching every corner for Tether.
She hadn't realized her search had led her across to the adjacent building and into the women’s restroom, and still, there was no sign of Tether—even after her frantic, piercing calls of his name.
He might be in the other restroom, Peach told herself, frustrated. She had already checked the women’s restroom and everywhere else possible, except for the men’s restroom.
Peach entered cautiously, announcing her presence. “Female coming in! I’m so sorry—I’m just looking for my son,” she called out, apologizing to the two or three men inside. She closed her eyes halfway, covering them with her hand as she peeked between her fingers.
“Tether, are you here?”
That’s when Tether’s small voice floated back, sounding faint and a little strained. “Momma…”
Peach whipped around, her heart pounding as she scanned the stalls. “Tether, where are you?”
“I’m in here… I’m pooping,” he replied, and she followed his voice to a stall. She opened the door in haste, finding her son perched on the toilet, clutching the seat for support, his expression uncomfortable.
An unpleasant smell filled the space, and Peach wrinkled her nose. Tether was gripping the toilet, his hands not exactly where she’d want them, given the situation.
Holding her breath, she stepped in, noting his struggle as he dealt with what was clearly a bout of diarrhea.
Relieved to have found him, she quickly helped him clean up, and together they exited the restroom.
Once outside, she squatted down to his level, her tone gentle yet firm. “Tether, darling, don’t ever go anywhere without momma, okay? You had me so worried.” Peach exhaled, thankful to have him safe with her again. For a moment, she had feared the worst.
“Momma, I won’t do it again. I just really had to go,” Tether said earnestly.
Peach gave his hair a gentle ruffle for being a cool kid, taking his wrist as they headed out. But they had barely taken three steps out the restroom when Peach’s attention was caught by a woman’s voice from the nearby female restroom, speaking loudly on a phone.
“Caelum, we need to stop this—I’m getting married to Shane tomorrow.”
Peach halted abruptly at the mention of the name, her heart skipping a beat. She glanced toward the women’s restroom, spotting an elegant woman, oblivious to anyone overhearing, engaged in a tense phone call.
“Jewel, cut the nonsense. Are you really going to throw away everything we have just to marry Shane Downey?” a deep male voice could be heard faintly through the phone.
Peach’s heart shattered. Shane Downey? She knew that name all too well. He is getting married?
She froze, her mind reeling. Tether tugged at her hand, his small voice breaking her trance. “Momma, why did we stop?”
Hearing him, Jewel turned, catching the sound of the little boy’s voice. Peach quickly collected herself, and before Jewel could catch sight of them, she whisked Tether away, her heart still racing.
Still in a daze of hurt, Peach hadn’t fully crossed the street when she noticed her other children weren’t where they were supposed to be. They were scattered, dangerously close to the freeway, with a small crowd gathered around.
Heather looked up, spotting her as she held Tether by the wrist. “My mommy is here!” he said out loud to the people surrounding him, looking in his mom's direction.
Seeing the tears in his eyes and the concerned faces of the gathered crowd, Peach immediately sensed that something was wrong.
“Momma, please hurry—Feather has collapsed!”
Peach didn't realize when she let go of Tether's wrist and dashed across the road, narrowly avoiding a collision with a truck. The deafening screech of brakes and blaring horns shattered the usual calm of the area.
The gasps and sudden rush of people toward her confirmed she hadn't been crushed—she was still alive. Peach opened her tightly shut eyes and was met first by Tether, who clutched her arm and cried out, “Momma, are you okay?”
She nodded numbly at the gathered crowd, but her mind was still reeling. The shock paralyzed her until the chaotic commotion around her kids snapped her back. Heather's words echoed in her ears.
“My babies! What happened to my babies?”
Peach shot up so quickly that those nearby feared she might collapse. “Ma’am, you need to stay calm,” one of them urged, holding her steady. “The paramedics are on their way. Please, panicking will only make things worse.”
But Peach couldn't be restrained. She struggled against their firm grip, her eyes glued to Feather’s pale, unconscious form as someone administered careful chest compressions.
Her cries tore through the air. “What happened to my baby?” she wept, her voice trembling with anguish.
Feather’s limp body sent shockwaves through the rest of the quadruplets. “Mommy, please don’t cry,” Heather whispered through tears, clinging to Peach. “We want Feather to be okay too.”
The women around Peach hesitated, then let her go, allowing her to gather her children in her arms. She dropped to her knees, wrapping them tightly against her chest, her head buried in their little shoulders as sobs racked her body.
The piercing sound of sirens broke through the tension, announcing the arrival of the ambulance. Paramedics quickly surrounded Feather, checking her pulse, attaching an oxygen mask, and inserting an IV with practiced urgency. Peach climbed into the ambulance with her remaining children, clutching Feather’s frail wrist.
“Hang on, baby,” she pleaded softly, her tears flowing freely. “Please, don’t give up.”
- Writer
