Page 110 of Never Too Late to Date

‘Hi, guys. Can I have a word, please?’

Maeve’s eyes, when they turned to her, were tired.

‘Is it OK if we do it later? We’ve just been into town for a long and very boring meeting.’

After building up the courage all morning, it was better not to let it drag on. The couple were sure to notice at some point that Bruce was missing and not following Dolly round like a lamb.

‘I’m sorry, but it’s urgent.’

Maeve let out a big sigh, and Seamus put his hand on his wife’s arm.

‘OK, let’s all go inside and have a cup of tea. You and Maeve go into the office, and I’ll meet you there with a brew.’

Vicky followed the older woman into the room and watched her sink into a chair with what looked like the weight of the world on her shoulders. She didn’t want to add to her worries, but there was no avoiding it. They sat in a companionable silence for a couple of minutes, while Maeve stared out of the window at the sea.

Seamus’s arrival with the tea tray and biscuits at least raised a smile from his wife. Vicky had noticed that the Greeks found the concept of tea with milk a little unusual. They were on board with straight black tea, and green tea very occasionally, although coffee would always be their drug of choice. But adding milk to the mix was seen as peculiar. Seamus poured them all a cup and sat down himself.

‘What’s all this about then?’

Vicky clasped her hands together.

‘I’m sorry to have to tell you that Alex and I…’ She paused to catch her breath. ‘There’s no easy way to say this… We found Bruce dead last night in the grounds, most likely poisoned.’

Maeve’s gasp bounced off the walls.

‘No! Not another one. I can’t take much more.’

Seamus went to stand behind his wife and massaged her shoulders with his big, strong hands. The tears in Maeve’s eyes were hard to ignore.

‘I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you.’

Seamus looked up from his task.

‘It’s not your fault, love. It’s just been one hell of a morning.’ He turned to his wife. ‘Can I tell her?’

Maeve nodded.

‘We’ve been at the bank, trying to find a way to keep the sanctuary, and not sell out to one of these bloody developers. But we’ve extended our line of credit for the last time. There’s no more money after this.’

He paused to reach down and squeeze the hand his wife held up to him.

‘And now poor old Bruce has been killed. It’s relentless. Someone wants us out. And maybe it’s time. Time to pack up and go back to Ireland.’

Vicky couldn’t stop herself speaking. ‘No! Please don’t go.’

Seamus’s shoulders dropped, and it was Maeve’s turn to comfort him, standing and pulling her husband into a hug. After a few moments, they both sat down again, and Maeve leant forward.

‘It’s not what we want either. We thought we’d end our days here, surrounded by the animals we love, but we’ve got a month left at most. We just can’t see a way out.’

Vicky’s brain whirred away as the thoughts flew around her head and solidified into an idea. She’d thought that planning the next phase of her life would take weeks if not months, but it had arrived in her head fully formed with a certainty that shocked her.

‘I can. I can see a way out.’

Both Maeve and Seamus stared at her in astonishment.

‘Please, just hear me out.’

‘Of course. Go ahead.’