Second Chance in Sri Lanka by Nina Milne

Author:Nina Milne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-02-02T19:22:51+00:00

* * *

Two hours later Matt walked slowly down the corridor, trying to school his expression into one of neutrality, wanting to hide the effect of the past few hours. He was used to meeting kids who’d been through a lot, but it didn’t really get easier. Each story harrowed him, even as he took a deep satisfaction in being able to help. But sometimes even that couldn’t erase the sadness or the pain he felt for each child for what they had gone through.

Of course, some stories affected him more than others, triggered memories of his own and highlighted his own past. Chaneth’s was one of those. So too was Prisha’s. When he’d seen her with her two children, something had twisted inside him. Once he and his brother would have been like those two, endangered by a parent. Or, in their case, both parents. And in their case there had been no rescue for Peter, just for Matt.

He pushed the door open and paused on the threshold. Zoe was sitting at the desk, notebook open, pen in hand.

‘Did you find Chaneth?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is he OK?’ She shook her head. ‘Stupid question. He obviously wasn’t. But did you talk to him?’

‘Yes.’

‘You look upset. Do you want to talk about it?’

For a moment he almost did. But that wasn’t the way he worked. Better to lock the emotion down, focus on work, focus on anything other than feelings. Plus, talking to Zoe was pointless—in a few days they would part ways. He didn’t want to get used to having her around, could still remember the sheer depth, the dark ravine of pain of missing her the first time round. So distance was important.

‘I’m good. I need to look at the books and records now and then we can head back.’

Hurt flitted across her face before she nodded. ‘I’ll go and see if I can help Prisha with dinner. Let me know when you’re ready to leave.’

‘Sure.’

To his relief all the paperwork showed that the orphanage was run well, with the residents’ well-being clearly being the priority. Once done, he locked everything away and went in search of Zoe, halting on the threshold to the kitchen.

Zoe was holding the baby, looking down at him with such an expression of tenderness that something twisted in Matt’s chest. This was how she would have looked at their baby. This was how his own mother had never looked at him.

Zoe looked up. ‘Isn’t he beautiful?’ she said softly. ‘Why don’t you hold him?’

His heart hammered his ribcage even as he told himself not to be foolish. Forcing himself forward, he managed a smile, looked down at Adam and a memory zinged across his mind. Someone, some fuzzy figure, holding a baby out to him. ‘Would you like to hold him?’ The voice harsh, abrasive, with a mocking tone to it.

He stepped backwards, tried not to flinch. Was it a real memory or a fabrication of his imagination? ‘He’s gorgeous.’ He forced the words out. ‘But now we need to leave.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.