Page 131 of Never Too Late to Date

Vicky tried to hide a smile.

‘I’m sure that can be arranged.’

‘Good.’

‘There’s one other thing. We’ve started in quite an unusual way…’

She could see his smiling face in the moonlight.

‘You mean having mind-blowing sex when we don’t really know each other that well.’

‘Exactly. So … I’d like to go back to basics, and actually go out on dates, to get to know each other properly.’

‘Sounds good to me. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a real date in my life.’ Alex put up his hands. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not saying I haven’t had other relationships.’

The way he’d made her feel that night, she had no doubts on that score.

‘But my past girlfriends were either introduced to me by friends, or I met them at work.’

‘You met me at work, remember.’

‘That’s true. But I like the idea of this dating thing.’

Vicky raised her plastic cup.

‘Let’s drink to it being never too late to date.’

Alex touched his cup to hers.

‘Never too late to date it is. Now, as there’s no one around except a few sea turtles, and the moonlight is inspiring me no end, can we please continue what we started the other night?’

Vicky reached over and gave her answer in the form of a kiss.

A vision of her dear departed dog racing across the beach to greet her flashed into her mind as Alex pulled her down onto the sand. She crossed her fingers on both hands for a moment. It had seemed like an impossible dream, but all the signs were there. She’d finally found her Scout.

Epilogue

Six months later

The sun was still warm for early January, and Suzie’s heart burst with love when she looked at the three besotted men in front of her being photographed with the tiny baby she adored.

Christian, Panos and Kat’s father, Sebastian, took it in turns to hold their beloved granddaughter, Anastasia, passing the precious bundle on with a look of real regret on their faces at letting her go, even for a few minutes.

It would be so different watching a girl grow up, mused Suzie. She’d hardly dared to hope that the baby would be a girl, and she’d never have voiced her wish aloud, but the chance to buy pink things, and maybe sit down and sing or paint together in a few years’ time, was so exciting. Her boys had hardly sat still for five minutes, let alone completed a picture, so desperate were they to be outside or fighting each other with sticks.

A wink from Christian brought her back to the present. The photographs were endless, and Kostas, as godfather, was trying his best to hurry things up, scurrying from one group to another, and making sure everyone was ready for their big moment. Charlie’s parents were up next for their official shots; his smiling mother stepped forward with her grandson, Dimitris, in her arms, as besotted with him as they were with Anastasia, and even managing a smile for Charlie’s father, a miracle in the light of their bitter divorce. Babies really did bring people together.

Having a double christening had cut down on the organising for Kostas, as the guest lists for the two couples were virtually identical. And he’d had a stroke of luck with the post-church venue when Sofia had offered the roof terrace of her partner Adonis’s hotel for the celebration, as it was low season and they’d decided to close for a month after New Year.

Every guest had brought along a favourite dish, and the table was groaning with everything from bekrí mezé, the drunken pork stew she adored, to galaktoboúreko, the dessert made with layers of golden-brown filo pastry, sprinkled with melted butter, and filled with creamy custard. It had been the boys’ favourite when they were young, and she couldn’t wait to introduce Anastasia to it.

Vicky joined her by the table and handed her a glass of wine.

‘Yamás!’

‘Yamás! And thank you so much for making the galaktoboúreko. I’d never have managed it. My mother-in-law used to do the honours when she was alive, even though she hated me, God rest her soul, but she loved the boys deeply.’

‘It was my pleasure.’