NICK WANDERED ACROSS THE road, hand in hand with Myrtle. The pair were smiling and laughing. But unfortunately, the occupants of the office were neither laughing nor smiling.

'What's the matter with you lot? You look like you had the winning number but lost the ticket!' said Nick.

'Worse than that, we lost the two Karen girls, plus we hear Sombat is probably dead.'

'And God knows what Mad Mike is up to in Bangkok.'

'I'm not too worried about Mike, but what happened to the girls and Sombat?'

At this, Myrtle looked like she was about to burst into tears again. The thought of the girls and Nick caused her to become overly emotional. Skylab to the rescue again; the Thai girl was too quick, blocking Myrtle's route to the door.

'Darling, honestly, I have no feelings for the girls. They are kind of, um, our responsibility,' said Nick.

'Yes, we found them, or should I say, they found us. We are worried about them.' Skylab is jumping to assist again.

'Let's forget that for now. How was your first night in Hua Hin?' Kev said, changing the subject.

'I came here to tell Nick something, but my short stay has been, uh, not what I expected.'

'But she is expecting. She's expecting my baby!' blurted out Nick.

The shocked yelp of congratulations from Kev. The outburst of cheers all around. It made everybody feel better. Backs slapped, hands shook.

'Myrtle's mother and father are old-fashioned. They donʼt know about the pregnancy, but as soon as they do, they will expect us to get married,' explained Nick.

'Fantastic! Great news,' said Skylab.

'Are you rushing things? Sorry, I'll shut my trap,' said Kev. He took Skylab aside and whispered in her ear, 'The last time I spoke out of turn, I got him in this mess.'

'I donʼt know why you have to say things like that. Why canʼt you be happy for them? At least they are getting married. Which is more than us!'

With that, Skylab stormed off.

Nick did not need to say a word. The look on Kevʼs face was enough.

'She is excited,' said Kev.

Dam returned to the guest house. Skylab's overnight bag in hand passed him in the doorway, and without a word, she caught the next bus to Bangkok.

Nick asked Kev if it was okay for Myrtle to move into his room. Out of courtesy, he did not need to ask at all. But with Kev's mood, it was like walking on cracked ice. Difficult being the size of the happy father to be was.

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Kev tried to take his mind off Skylab, and it was as if someone had turned off the sun. So he tackled Pi Meow instead. He did not care what happened; it was at least something else to think about.

Two days had gone without a call or any sign of Skylab. Forget her. Get on with life, starting with Pi Meow.

'Pi Meow, how are you? I have not seen you for a while.'

'Hello, Kev, I am busy as ever. How are things with you? I heard you had an unexpected visit?'

'Yes, strange how people get things all mixed up.'

Then he went into lying mode. Mr Black would be proud of him.

'Mike has another group interested in the tour to Kaeng Krachan. Can I offer him a date?'

'Oh, let me see what I have planned, maybe in about five days, okay?'

'I am sure around then will be fine. Thanks.'

'Wow, you two get later and later each day to come downstairs.' Kev smiled for the first time in two days.

'I'm off to Bangkok, and I will ask Skylab to come back.'

'Thank God for that. Make sure you buy her a present!' said Myrtle.

Mike was travelling down to Hua Hin as Kev was going in the other direction. Their buses passed each other in the neighbouring town of Cha-Am.

Mike thought he must remember to have a good look at his passport. Black also wants to see it. Maybe he'll get a new one?

Kev jumped off the bus, got into a taxi and directed the driver straight to Central Department Store, Chidlom. He hoped they still had a sale on.

The following taxi took him to the house where they stayed on his last visit. Luckily Kev remembered precisely where it was. It is not always easy in Bangkok to find places you have only visited once. He was determined not to get lost.

Skylab was waiting by the door.

'You took your time!'

A big smile spread across Kevʼs face. 'Then you won't want this.' He held a small carrier bag with the Central logo printed tastefully but noticeably on the side. But, like the Harrods bag, sometimes it can be worth more than its contents.

She did not even look at the bag, let alone the gift inside; she grabbed Kev and kissed him in a very non-Thai manner. Then, clutching his hand, and pulled him into the house.

'There is no one in,' she whispered in a hoarse voice. Later, a fair bit later, she opened her present. She was keeping the carrier bag for later use.

They caught the last bus back to Hua Hin. In between kisses and cuddles, Kev updated Skylab on what had happened at the office. Myrtle's moving into Nick's room and his talk with Pi Meow. That was all, but both topics interested Skylab. She had done nothing, reading magazines and watching an appalling soap opera.

'How can we Thais repeatedly watch a rich boy-poor girl or poor boy-rich girl dramas? At least life with Kev is exciting,' she thought to herself.

On arrival at Hua Hin's clock tower, the little miss prim and proper was back. Kev walked Skylab to the guest house, and with a quick peck on the cheek, he crossed to his bed; he needed his forty winks.

Nick and Myrtle were thrilled to hear Kevʼs trip had worked out well and that all was back to normal. In addition, Nick had mentioned that Mike was also back.

When Mike was walking up the road to the bar, he wondered what mood Pat would be in. He feared the worst until he heard music blaring through the open sliding doors. Customers spill in through the same doors. All were struggling to get served, and Pat shouted to the delivery man for another beer box. Pat was coping well and enjoying every minute of her work.

Mike quickly took his place behind the bar and helped by cracking open bottles. Pat was in her element. When they eventually closed at 2 am, she slapped a considerable wad of notes in front of Mike. If the amount of money astonished him. Her statement stunned him, 'It has been like that every day since you left.'

Pat grabbed back the pile of Baht notes, saying, 'The money stays with me. Until we have restocked the bar and paid the electricity, water, and other debts, you can have whatever remains. Where have you been?'

'So, they didn't give you my message?'