14 BATTLING GRANNIESThe week between Christmas and New Year was low-key for Craig and Ross, but not for Lek, Soom and Mike. Ever-increasing pressure was being exerted on Mike by his parents to bring Soom back to Bangkok before the New Year, but the more he pushed and cajoled the more determined Soom became not to be bullied into doing something she didn’t want.
“That’s it, Mike,” she said with three days to go, “if you want to see your parents, you go and I’ll see you again when you can get more time off. I am not going with you. I didn’t want to go in the first place, although I was considering doing it just for you, but you have made my mind up for me now.
“I don’t trust them anyway. They’ll probably force me to stay there somehow.”
“But, telak, I wouldn’t allow them to do that, you k
