LITMIR.BIZ

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live in hope that there are a few still in there, and they’re hiding from all the people. I bet they come out at night.’

      They spent a while on the island, taking pictures and looking at the displays. Joe could sense that Regan was starting to get distracted, and they led him back across the red bridge and back to the grounds around the lake.

      They sat on the grass underneath one of the trees for a while as the sun climbed in the sky. Joe reapplied Regan’s insect repellent, then Lien took them to a nearby store that sold ice cream.

      They walked along the busy streets with their ice creams dripping. It was only when they stopped at one of the crossings that Joe sucked in a breath.

      He hadn’t thought about Esther today. Not at all.

      Pain sliced through him. For a long, long time she’d been the first thing he’d thought about in the morning and the last thing he’d thought about at night.

      This morning they’d just been so busy waking up and getting ready that they really hadn’t had a minute. All Joe’s thoughts had been on Regan and Lien.

      He’d known this would happen at some point but guilt still flooded through him. He’d promised Esther he would keep her memory alive in his son, and how could he do that if he hadn’t even spared her a thought today?

      ‘Joe? What’s wrong?’

      Lien was standing in front of him, her nose only inches below his, chocolate ice cream dripping down her hand.

      He jerked back. ‘What?’ He felt a bit confused.

      She gave him a curious smile and he noticed she was holding Regan’s hand. ‘The lights changed for us to cross, and you missed them. We had to come back for you.’

      He flinched. Had he really been so lost in his own thoughts? Heat rushed into his cheeks. Not only was he embarrassed, he was angry with himself. What if something had happened to Regan?

      He noticed the crossing lights change again behind Lien’s head. ‘Let’s go,’ she said easily, as if nothing had happened.

      He sucked in a breath as he watched her slim figure in white loose trousers and a bright pink long-sleeved tunic walk in front of him. From the way the sun was striking her, he could see the outline of her body beneath the thin clothes.

      They’d taken a hundred photos today. Some together, and some of just Regan and Lien.

      He licked his lips as he tried to rationalise the blood racing around his body. She was good for him. She was good for them.

      Of course, she was a colleague. It was quite likely she had a no-date rule for work. And that was fine. Because he had to deal with his feelings before he could even consider anything else.

      This was the first time he’d felt this rush, this attraction, in for ever. At least it felt like for ever.

      The only woman Regan had really had in his life since Esther had died had been Joe’s mother, and while she was great, it was nice to see him interact so well with someone else. He watched as they stopped at the other side of the street and Lien pulled some tissues from her bag so they could all wipe their sticky fingers.

      She looked over the top of Regan’s head. ‘You okay?’ she asked softly.

      It was almost like she knew. As if she’d read his mind.

      His heart stuttered, partly because of the empathy she showed and partly from the thought that if she could read his mind, she might not be entirely happy with some of the thoughts he’d been having.

      He gave a quick nod of his head. ‘I’m fine.’

      He sucked a deep breath in and closed his eyes for a second, inhaling the scent from the nearby street vendor carts. As he opened his eyes again he took in the bright splashes of colour all around them, and his ears adjusted to the constant buzz of noise. He smiled. Vietnam. Something about this city was giving him a new lease on life.

      The next two days were busy. No time to sightsee or do anything other than work. Lien liked that. It was normal for her. But she was conscious of the fact that Joe was used to more support back home. She also wondered how well he was sleeping. She’d noticed some dark circles under his eyes today. Her hand paused at the blue door, wondering if she should knock or not. She wasn’t being nosy but she hadn’t seen Regan for a few days.

      From the smell wafting through the open window she could tell they’d already had dinner. Good. She wouldn’t be interrupting. She knocked at the door and pushed it open when she heard the shout telling her to enter.

      Joe waved her inside. Regan was perched on the edge of the sofa and she could see they had an electronic tablet in their hands. ‘We’re just video-calling back home with my mum and dad,’ he explained. He moved over on the sofa. ‘Come and say hello.’

      She shook her head quickly and backed up. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.’

      ‘Don’t go.’ He smiled and waved his hand, beckoning her inside. ‘Come. My mum and dad want to say hello.’

      She smiled nervously. This definitely felt like an intrusion, but Regan waved her over too. ‘Come on, Lien, say hi to my grandma.’

      Lien took a few steps and sat down nervously next to Joe. There was an older couple on the screen, waving at her.

      ‘Mum, Dad, this is Lien.’

      Regan stuck his head across the screen. ‘She works with Daddy.’

      Joe nodded to the screen. ‘Lien, this is Rob and Ann, my mum and dad.’

      Lien laughed nervously and waved back.

      The woman, Ann, stepped right up to the screen, obviously to get a better look at her. She clasped her hands together. ‘Lien, it’s so nice to meet you. Regan’s been talking about you and how you live in the house next door.’

      Lien nodded. ‘Yes, that’s right. I’m next door.’

      She’d spent her life talking to patients and relatives—usually complete strangers—and managed perfectly well. But right now she’d never felt so awkward. She had the strangest sensation of meeting a boyfriend’s mum when she was nineteen years old, and vowing not to set foot in that house again.

      His mum had been nice, but it was clear she didn’t think anyone would be good enough for her son.

      Ann kept talking. ‘How are they getting on? Regan says he likes the nursery, have you seen it? Does it have a good reputation? And Joe? Is he behaving? And how big is the laundry pile? Has he started wearing crumpled shirts yet?’

      Lien’s head was buzzing, not least with the speed of the barrage of questions, but also with the broad Scottish accents. She actually started laughing.

      Joe gave a casual shrug and rolled his eyes. ‘See, Regan? I told you. She doesn’t believe a word we say.’ He gave Lien a slight nudge. ‘Go on, back me up here.’

      She turned from Joe to Regan and back to Ann. Rob stood in the background with his arms folded and his head shaking in amusement. It was clear he was used to all this.

      Lien started to brush off the nerves. She shook her head. ‘Oh, no. I know how this works. I’m Team Ann.’

      Joe’s mother’s face broke into a wide grin and the older woman held up her hand towards the screen. ‘High five!’ she said.

      Lien returned the gesture. ‘High five.’ She shifted on the sofa. ‘So, the real story is, yes, your boys are doing fine. The nursery is great and Regan…’ she gave the boy an appreciative nod ‘…is mastering the language better than his dad.’ She gave Joe a quick glance. ‘As for Joe, well…’ she put her hand to her face ‘…where do I start?’

      Ann started laughing and Joe leaned forward.

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