“Sure.” Thomas had told him about the weekly staff meeting being held that afternoon, but he’d been so focused on the washing machine, he’d clean forgotten about it. Thinking it best to stay out of the way to avoid meeting any other children, he wandered into the staff room and poured himself a glass of cold water from the fridge and sat at one of the tables. His first day hadn’t quite been what he’d expected, but to be honest, he hadn’t known what to expect. It was a far cry from his office on the forty-fifth floor of Barrington Towers, but yet, in many ways, being here seemed more real. Managing a multi-million-dollar company was thrilling and exciting, but it was also ruthless. Here, compassion ruled and people mattered more than anything else. He liked that.
Just before five o’clock, members of the staff began filtering into the room. He’d met some that morning when he arrived, but he’d been told that he’d be formally introduced that afternoon to everybody else. They all nodded and smiled as they entered. There were about twenty in total, several Thai women, a married English couple he’d met that morning, and a number of other westerners. Two young men and three women, including the two he’d noticed sitting together at lunch. For a moment, his gaze connected with the shorter of the two, an attractive brunette who quickly averted her gaze and took a seat beside her taller, blonde friend. His gaze lingered on her a while longer. Not that he was looking for a love interest while he was here, but there was something alluring about her, and he found it hard to take his eyes off her.
Finally, Thomas arrived and everyone grew quiet. He sipped a glass of water and set it on the table before turning his attention to the group. Nick wondered how the talk with Maya and the little girl had gone.
Thomas cleared his throat. “Hi everyone. Before we start, I’d like to welcome our newest volunteer, Nick, who’s joined us from Sydney. He’s here for a month, and I’d like you to make him feel welcome.”
Everyone smiled warmly at him. Shifting in his seat, he nodded and returned their smiles. It was weird. He’d chaired countless meetings over the years, but he’d never felt as welcome in any of those meetings as he did now.
Thomas turned his attention to the two young women Nick had seen at lunch. “Two of our volunteers, Holly and Phoebe, are finishing up their second week. We’d love to hear how you’re finding things before we start our discussion. Would you like to share for a few minutes?”
The two women looked at one another awkwardly. After some nervous laughter, the shorter one stood and began speaking.
Her brown hair, tied back in a ponytail, was slightly frizzy. It suited her, and the natural style was attractive. Her skin was tanned, and long, dark lashes framed her blue-grey eyes. She was beautiful, but he sensed her beauty was more than skin deep. He couldn’t help but draw comparisons between her and his sister, or Kailey, for that matter.
He listened intently as she spoke, her voice, soft and gentle. “Hello everyone. Well, after two weeks, Holly and I are still here, and we’re loving every moment of it, although I don’t think it’s gotten any easier. Some of the things the children say still break our hearts, but I think the art therapy class the younger children attend is helping them deal with some of their pain.”
“Agreed.” The other woman rose, standing head and shoulders above her friend. “My students are older than Phoebe’s, but it’s still heartbreaking to know what they’ve been through. I think the music classes have been more productive than art for us. Kohsoom plays the guitar and sings with such emotion, it’s amazing. Anyway, Phoebe and I are really enjoying our time here, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to help in whatever way we can. We feel very blessed.”
Nick was touched by their sincerity, and once again couldn’t help but draw comparisons between these two women and his sister.
The meeting continued and several important issues were discussed. The mission was seeking to expand their preventative efforts as well as their outreach to the perpetrators. Financial issues were mentioned briefly, but mostly in terms of praying for funding.
Again, Nick listened with interest, wishing he could reassure Thomas there and then that he would help, but he remained silent, not wishing to divulge his identity. However, he did begin making plans. When he returned to his hotel, he’d go online and significantly increase his regular, anonymous donation, but he’d also make a large one-off gift. It was the least he could do.
Thomas continued with a discussion about improving child safety. All volunteers and employees underwent background checks, and foreigners, like Nick, had immigration history checks to see if they’d travelled to Thailand before, which could trigger alarm bells if they had. They couldn’t be too careful when it came to keeping the children safe from predators. As he’d undergone this process, Nick had wondered if his identity had been discovered, although he’d stated his occupation simply as manager. He’d be surprised if it hadn’t, although no one, not even Thomas, had said anything to indicate they knew who he was.
At the end of the meeting, Nick felt immediately awkward when Thomas suggested they take a few minutes to pray silently before anyone who wanted to could pray aloud. Other than muttering a few quick requests for help, like today with the washing machine, he’d never done this before. The times he’d been to church, the minister had always prayed, so when he closed his eyes, nothing came. His mind was a blank.
He opened his eyes again. Around him, everyone else had bowed their heads and were seemingly absorbed in a conversation with God, but what were they saying? He honestly had no idea, but guessed he should try. Bowing his head again, he closed his eyes. And took a slow breath.
God, I don’t know how to do this. I don’t even know if You’re real, and if You are, who You are. But the others seem to know You, and know what to say, so I’ll give it a go. I’m sorry if I say the wrong things. First off, thank You that I’m here. I’ve already seen how badly damaged these children are, but I’ve also seen the love that the staff have for them. I pray for that little girl I frightened. I feel so bad about that. I pray for her, God. Help her to know that not all men are dangerous, and if You can, help her to forget the horrible experiences she’s been through.
He paused for a moment. What should he pray for next? It seemed that praying was like a shopping list, except he’d left his list at home. It was confusing. What should he be asking God to do? What were the others asking for? And how were they so confident that they could just close their eyes and talk to God and know that He was listening?
He understood how pastors did it. It was their job. They had to sound confident praying in front of their congregations. But for regular men and women like the ones here? Like himself? It seemed weird.
Stumbling his way through a few more phrases, Nick waded through his thoughts until Thomas cleared his throat and began praying aloud. His voice was sincere and gentle, and the way he talked to God was as if they shared a personal relationship. It was the same when a few others prayed. And then Judy finished with words that brought a lump to Nick’s throat. “Lord God, bless these little children You’ve brought into our care. Our hearts break for them, and yet, we know that You’re the great healer, and You can turn their lives around and give them a future and a hope, and fill their lives with meaning and purpose. We’re Your humble servants, dear Lord. Let us keep our eyes on You and not on ourselves. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.”
Nick brushed his eyes quickly, hoping no one had seen the tears gathering, and then he stood while the team began to disperse. When Phoebe and Holly were amongst the first to leave, a twinge of disappointment flowed through him. He’d kind of hoped they might have stopped and spoken with him, especially Phoebe, but he quickly reminded himself that getting romantically involved was not the reason for being here. A few of the other staff chatted with him before they left the room, taking his mind off the women.
Reaching the front door, he bumped into Thomas, who clapped him on the back. Again. He liked the guy, but why did he have to do that?
“Hey
Nick, I spoke with Maya, and she said the little girl is okay. She’s only recently started in rehab, so talking about her reaction to men is part of her healing process.”
Nick blew out a breath and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m relieved to hear that, although I still feel badly.”
“Not the best thing to happen on your first day, I agree. I hope it hasn’t discouraged you.”
“No. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Good to hear. Enjoy your evening, Nick.”
He smiled. “Thanks. You too.”
Stepping outside, the humid air enveloped him like a damp blanket. Tuk-tuks, cars, motorbikes and bicycles jostled for space on the crowded road. Horns blasted and motorbike engines revved. Although not yet dark, neon lights flashed along both sides of the street as far as the eye could see. It was an exciting place, but also a dangerous one if you were a vulnerable child.
Nick had planned to return to his hotel to eat, but the aroma of freshly cooked Thai food wafting from the restaurants and street carts he passed quickly changed his mind.
He pulled out the pocket guide he’d picked up at the hotel that morning, and selecting a restaurant at random, made his way there.
Chapter 8
Arriving at the ‘Foreign Affairs Café’, Phoebe and Holly grabbed a booth in one of the quieter parts of the bustling restaurant. It was their third time there, and they loved the atmosphere emanating from the backpackers, tour groups, and tourists like themselves.
Thomas and Judy had recommended the place early on, saying that as good as it was to dive into the local culture, it was also healthy to be around other expats now and then. It was a way of not burying themselves too much into the mission work and feeling isolated.
The restaurant was large and offered a range of foods to suit every taste, although Phoebe had quickly decided that she preferred the local cuisine to any other. She’d eaten Thai food only twice before the trip, but now she couldn’t get enough of it.
“So, what do you think about the concert idea?” Holly asked as she perused the menu. “I’m hoping that at least five of the girls in my class will perform, but it’d be great if some of the other classes got involved, too.” Holly had been talking of hosting a musical evening after discovering how talented some of her students were.
“What did Thomas say?” Phoebe was cautious. She wanted to support Holly and her plan, but wondered if it would be beneficial for the girls, or if performing in public would be simply too traumatic.
“He seemed positive. I was a little nervous since we’re new, and it’s not like I know much about the culture, but he said we could advertise the evening in the local churches and perhaps charge a small entry fee so it would be a fundraiser as well. He seemed to think the local churches would support it.”
“Then I think it’s a great idea.” Phoebe smiled at her friend. “If Thomas approves, then he must believe it would be good for the girls.”
Holly nodded. “That’s why he suggested only inviting the local churches instead of opening it to the general public. He said they’d be more understanding of the girls’ backgrounds and wouldn’t judge them for their pasts. Not that it was their fault they got caught up in trafficking, but there’s still a lot of stigma they have to fight.”
“I’m sure it’ll be rewarding for them.” Phoebe closed her menu and placed it on the table.
“Exactly. You should see the way they spark up during music therapy. I can only imagine how much it would mean to them to have the community behind them.” Holly’s own face lit up as she spoke. Like Phoebe, she’d already grown attached to the girls in her class and longed for them to live a life free of the trauma that had haunted them for so long.
A waitress, a beautiful young Thai girl wearing a traditional silk outfit arrived and took their orders. As she was leaving their table, Holly nudged Phoebe. “He’s here!”
“Who?” Phoebe frowned, but when she turned to see who Holly was referring to, her breath hitched. It was Nick, the new volunteer. Once again, she was taken by his mischievous eyes. He was drop-dead gorgeous.
Phoebe glanced around the restaurant and chuckled. She and Holly weren’t the only women whose gazes were fixed on him. A playful grin spread over Holly’s face. “He seems a little lost.” Phoebe’s eyes widened when Holly stood and invited him to join them.
Her heart beat faster as he approached with Holly. Looking up, she forced herself to smile. “Hi.” Her voice squeaked as she pushed the word from her lips. Why was she acting like a giddy teenager? It certainly wasn’t how she normally behaved.
“Hi.” His easy smile disarmed her further. She had to get a grip.
When he slid in beside Holly, Phoebe knew it would be impossible not to make eye contact with him.
“Phoebe and Holly, right?” he asked, looking from one to the other.
Phoebe gulped and nodded. “Yes. I’m…I’m Phoebe. And she’s Holly.” She groaned inwardly. Why had Holly asked him to sit with them? There were plenty of others he could have joined.
“I’m Nick. It’s nice to meet you. How long have you been in Bangkok?”
Phoebe glanced at Holly, but Holly just shrugged and lifted her brows. Phoebe drew a breath. It was just a conversation, nothing more, nothing less. The fact that it was with a man who had already managed to unsettle her composure was neither here nor there. There was no reason why she couldn’t converse with him normally. She smiled. “We’ve been here two weeks, but we were in Cambodia before then.”
“Wow. Cambodia? What was that like?” He leaned forward and she got a whiff of his cologne.
She gulped. “Amazing. I guess it’s similar to here, but not as developed. I haven’t travelled much, so anything I see is new.”
“It’s my first time here, too. I can’t get over how many people there are.”
“And the traffic is mind blowing,” Phoebe added.
“I could watch it all day. How they fit so much onto a motorcycle is beyond me.” He leaned back against the seat and let out a small chuckle.
Phoebe laughed, relaxing a little. “Me too.”
“So, what have you been doing in both places?” He met her gaze across the table, and once again, totally disarmed her. Thankfully, the waitress returned to take Nick’s order, promising to deliver his meal at the same time as hers and Holly’s. As he thanked her politely, Phoebe pulled herself together.
“While we were in Cambodia, we did some touristy things and visited some of the sights, but we also volunteered there as well. We’ve spent most of our time so far in Bangkok at the mission.”
“Wow. You must have a real passion for helping others if you’ve given up your holidays to do that.”
An image of Reed crossed her mind and the old familiar ache tore through her. Nick had no idea why she’d come, and it was a reasonable assumption he’d made, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. Instead, she stumbled through her response. “It’s…it’s been good seeing new places as well as volunteering. Everything’s been amazing. The architecture, the culture, and of course, the food.” She wriggled across the seat, needing to get out of there. She flashed an annoyed look at Holly. Why hadn’t she helped her out? Holly must have known how uncomfortable she felt. Phoebe drew a breath and apologised to Nick. “You know, I really need to wash my hands. I just remembered that one of the kids was sick and sneezed all over the toys I put away. Please excuse me.”
He nodded. “Of course.”
She made her way to the bathroom and released her breath. Until now, she’d been doing so well, but talking with Nick had somehow felt like a betrayal to Reed. She knew it was foolish to think of it that way. She’d spoken with plenty of men back home and hadn’t thought anything of it, but none of them had affected her like Nick had. Was it wrong to find him attractive? Was it a betrayal to Reed’s memory?
Phoebe tried to figure her emotions out, knowing she shouldn’t live in the past. She’d loved Reed more than anything, but did it mean she would never noti
ce another man? Although Nick was hardly someone to be distracted by. With two months left, she and Holly hadn’t fully decided whether or not they’d continue travelling or whether they’d stay at ‘Regenerate the Nations’. They hadn’t committed to a set period, so they could be gone in a matter of days if they wanted to, and she’d never see him again.
She’d made this trip as a way to heal. Her primary focus was serving others and allowing her own pain to settle. It was no time for getting distracted by a man, regardless of how attractive he might be. With this new resolve, Phoebe washed her hands and made her way back to the table to find Holly and Nick were talking about her concert idea. He seemed supportive.
By the end of the evening, Phoebe felt more comfortable, having decided not to allow herself to be distracted by Nick. She still knew little about him as he’d been the one driving the questions and conversation. In many ways, it was better that way. She didn’t need to know anything about him. But it seemed Holly did.
“How long are you planning to be here?” she asked as he reached for and insisted on paying the bill.
“A month. That seemed the most reasonable amount of time I could come for,” he replied as he passed his credit card to the waitress.
“I guess you had to take time off work? Were they good about it?” she asked. Phoebe cringed. They didn’t need to know his personal business. Why wouldn’t Holly stop?
“Yes. My boss is pretty generous about time off.” He sounded hesitant, almost as if he was avoiding a direct answer. Maybe he was unemployed? Of course, he wouldn’t want to admit that to the two of them when they’d only just met. Especially if the circumstances were something that could have prevented him from working at the mission.
Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series Page 5
