Cocktails & Dreams
Page 19
“Fecking hell! Holy Jesus, Mother of God! I was shitting myself, but you fight like girls.”
All the men started laughing as the translation was made by the Chief. Then it was handshakes and back patting all around.
“Khun Danny, I am very sorry that I didn’t tell you everything sooner, but sometimes it is best to keep some things secret. I hope that there are no hard feelings?” said Colonel Wattana with a smile.
Danny knew that these were the very same words he had said to the Chief when he finally told him the truth about Detective Bee and he could see the humour in the Chiefs words.
“No hard feelings” smiled Danny.
Chapter 40 Time to go home.
The knock on his bedroom door awoke Danny. He was greeted by a smiling Colonel Wattana.
“Good morning Khun Danny. How are you today?”
“I’m a bit sore” said Danny, rubbing his bruised face.
The Chief followed Danny through his room and onto the balcony. Danny got them both a beer from the complimentary mini bar and they sat in the shade looking down at the huge pool.
“So now the case is over Danny, what will you do?”
“I don’t know. I’m thinking about going home.”
“To Udon Thani?”
“I haven’t made my mind up about that. I was thinking about England, or maybe even going back to Ireland.”
“Why?”
Danny was surprised by the Chiefs question.
“What!”
“Why you not go back to Udon Thani?”
“It’s difficult to explain. Something happened that put terrible thoughts in my mind. I don’t know if I can get rid of them.”
“You mean the horrible man Simon Humphreys and your beautiful wife Ling.”
“How do you know?”
“I know everything. I know a lot more than you would give me credit for Khun Danny.”
Danny took a long slow swig from his bottle and said nothing.
“Let me ask you just one thing Danny. Do you love your wife?”
After another long pause Danny answered.
“Yes I love Ling, but I don’t know if that is enough.”
“Ling is a wonderful lady. What she did in the past, she had to do. She fell in love with you and, since then, the only thing that has mattered in her life is you. You have a lovely family waiting for you. It is a lot to throw away because you didn’t like a ghost from her past; a past that happened a long time before you met and fell in love with each other. You have twins now, I think. You must be very happy about that.”
“Yes I was. I mean I am, but I hardly saw them before I came back to Patong.”
“Well, maybe you should spend some time with your family before you decide to walk away from such a wonderful gift. No big decision should be made in haste.”
The Chiefs radio crackled and a message came over in Thai. The Chief answered.
“Can you excuse me for one minute please Danny?”
Danny nodded and the Chief walked back through the room to the heavy wooden carved door. He opened it and walked back out onto the balcony.
“I have to go now Danny, but I want to leave you with a surprise.”
“I don’t think I want any more of your surprises Chief.”
“This is a surprise that you need. Goodbye my friend.” The two men shook hands and Danny got up to escort the Chief out. Ling was standing in the room, with her Mama and two sisters and she held the two twins in her arms. In that instant Danny remembered all the reasons why he had fallen in love with Ling. She looked incredibly beautiful and his twin son and daughter looked so beautiful too. Ling stood in front of him. Tears trickled down her face, but she didn’t cry. The Chief wai’d to the family as he walked out and shut the door behind him.
Danny and Ling looked at each other for a long moment and feelings and emotions stirred. Ling walked over to Danny and placed his babies in his arms. He looked into their beautiful eyes. Their skin was light brown and their hair was dark, but not quite black like Ling’s. He smiled at his children without even knowing that he was doing it. A bond was taking place all by itself. Danny sat on the edge of his bed and gazed between his children and his stunning wife. He could see the love and the worry in her eyes and he could tell how difficult it was for her not to cry. He suddenly had the urge to tell her that he loved her, and that he was sorry. He wanted to tell her not to worry. That everything was going to be okay. But the words were lost somewhere inside him. Ling’s Mama and sisters looked on with concerned smiles.
“Darling they finish build bridge now. Now is safe for old people to cross road” she said trying to find a smile.
“That’s good” said Danny.
“But old people still like to race cars. They say too many steps on bridge, but maybe still good for young people.” Ling shrugged her shoulders.
“Maybe a tunnel would have been better” smiled Danny, looking into Lings soft brown eyes.
“Yes, maybe darling, but maybe flood too much when water comes.”
“Oh!”
“But the new temple and school nearly finish and very good for every person. Every person want to say thank you to you for this.”
“It’s no bother. I don’t know what to say really Ling. I just…….”
“Darling, I know you not love me sure. But I love you” stuttered Ling, trying to find the words and the confidence to continue. “You have three people love you sure. Me and two baby. We not want you to leave us alone. You have whole big family love you in Udon Thani. I very sorry for every bad thing I do before I meet you. I very sorry for make your heart sad inside. I tell Buddha if he give me one chance and make you love me again, then I never stop love you and make you happy every day for everything. I never stop love you my darling and I scare you stop love me. But I think you always love your babies. I think maybe you can find something in your heart to love me again. What you think, darling?”
“Jesus! I never stopped loving you Ling, you and the kids. I never stopped.”
“Jing jing?”(Truly)
“Yes, really.”
“I speak to Nok and police Chief first, because I scare you not want to see me and police Chief bring me to hotel, because I just want to tell you that I love you and maybe my heart break too much if you not love me anymore.”
“Ling I love you, I love you more than I have ever loved anybody in my whole life, and I’m sorry, too, for all the bad things I have done. I want you and I want my family and I think we should all go home.”
“You sure, darling?”
“I am very sure. The only thing that matters is the present and future. The past cannot be changed. I really do love you Ling.”
Ling smiled, then laughed and cried at the same time. She translated for her Mama and sisters. They all burst into a mix of laughter and tears of joy and everyone took it in turns to hug each other.
“Ling, I am sorry that I caused you to be upset. I was just a little mixed up myself.”
“No problem darling. I understand everything. I think we should be together forever. What you think darling?”
“I think you are right.”
About the author
Guy Lilburne has been a Policeman for 30 years and a Detective for the last 27 years. He has worked in CID, Murder Squads, Drugs Squad, Vice Squad, Special Enquiries, and various Crime Squads. He has also worked in a specialist Covert Unit and more recently in a Cold Case Review Squad. He has been writing for over twenty years.
Author of the Best Selling books ‘My Thai Story’ (2010) and the Detective novels ‘The Thai Dragon’ (2010) ‘The Kiss of the Dragon’(July 2011)
Guy Lilburne lives in Thailand. His last blockbuster novel was ‘Cocktails & Dreams’(Oct 2011) another Murder/Detective story set
in Thailand. It’s another outing for Ex D/Sgt Danny O’Brien. Guy Lilburne really captures a taste of Thailand and whisks you along at a breath taking pace in the land of smiles.
The author’s latest offering is another Crime thriller with a twist. ‘The Flower Girl’ is the story a murder story but it is also a story about love and hope and finding what it is that makes us happy.
Guy is currently working on three future books;
Graham, Just one shade!. One man’s trials and tribulations in his attempt to find Miss Right.
My Thai story II, is the true story about the authors journey to find a new life in Thailand.
*(Untitled) The 4th Danny O’Brien Detective Story.