I stepped closer, keeping my voice concerned.
"Aunt Maya, you didn't get hurt, did you?"
Maya shook her head quickly, still not quite meeting my eyes. Her face remained flushed.
"I'm fine…"
With that, she bent down again — more carefully this time — and filled one of the empty coconut shells with the clear stream water. I did the same, filling another shell.
When I straightened up, I deliberately walked past Maya and over to where Rachel was standing a little further along the bank.
Rachel's forehead was damp with sweat from the heat and the walk. I stopped in front of her, reached out, and gently wiped the sweat from her brow with my fingers, then offered her the coconut shell of water.
"Here. Drink a little. You look like you need it."
Rachel blinked in mild surprise at the sudden attention, then accepted the shell with a soft, grateful smile.
"Thank you, Dexter…"
