Page 107 of Never Too Late to Date

‘Ridiculous, am I?’

It was going from bad to worse. Christian wouldn’t be the only parent not involved in their son’s life, if she didn’t manage to catch this runaway horse.

‘Of course I’m not expecting you to call him Daddy.’

‘Thank God for that!’

Their voices had got louder and louder, as Lydia’s concerned appearance in the doorway brought home to her.

Suzie shook her head in the woman’s direction and watched her retreat.

‘I was just hoping that you could maybe spend some time with Christian while he’s on the island and get to know him a little. He’s a qualified ship’s captain⁠—’

‘Bully for him.’

‘And a big fisherman. He’d love to take you sea fishing.’

It was like she was writing a Tinder profile for the man.

‘It would mean so much to him.’

Gianni was looking less like a nine-year-old boy trapped in a man’s body than he had at the start of their talk.

‘And what would me giving him a chance mean to you, Mama?’

‘What are you driving at?’

‘Are you planning to get back with him after all these years? Is that what this is all about?’

A gulp of coffee went down the wrong way, and Suzie’s coughing and streaming eyes brought Giannis rushing round from the other side of the table. He passed her a glass of water and rubbed her back gently until her breathing returned to normal and she could speak.

‘Absolutely not. Christian won’t stay that long. He never does. All I’m asking is for you to go out with him a few times, to see if you even like each other.’

Giannis’s sigh was long and loud.

‘OK, Mama. I’ll do it. Mainly for you, but I will admit to some curiosity about the man who gave life to me.’

Suzie took several small sips of water as Giannis returned to his seat.

‘Thank you, I don’t think you’ll regret it.’

His smile was back.

‘On your head be it.’

‘Fine. It’s a deal.’

Suzie looked down into her coffee cup.

‘We were just silly kids; it was all a thousand years ago, and it’s done, dusted and never to be revisited. I want you to know there’s no way I’d get back together with Christian even if he were the last man on earth.’

The expression of mild horror on Giannis’s face confused her for a moment.

‘Oh God, he’s standing right behind me, isn’t he?’

Giannis nodded, and Suzie felt a hand grip her shoulder.

‘Good to know where I stand, Suze.’