Page 2 of Never Too Late to Date

‘So, it really is true about the islanders knowing everything about each other within seconds?’

‘’Fraid so. You can’t keep any secrets here.’

Vicky couldn’t stop a frown.

‘I’ll bear that in mind.’

Not that anyone would be in the least fascinated by her age-old story of an unhappy marriage to a man somewhat too ready with his fists and a fancy for younger women. But she’d learnt the hard way to keep herself to herself. It was easier all round.

Suzie’s gaze was directly on her now.

‘Believe me, there’s nothing you could tell me I’ve not heard before. Nothing surprises me these days. The bartender cliché is real. You hear it all when you’re behind a bar.’

Vicky forced her mouth to smile. The idea that this sparky woman in front of her would have to listen to and comment on the sordid details of her marriage to Ian made her feel a little sick. She could barely acknowledge her own role in the sorry tale, let alone discuss it with someone else.

‘I don’t think my secrets are going to rock the world.’

Suzie grinned.

‘Probably not. I don’t get paid for the part-time therapy side, sadly, otherwise I’d be a rich woman by now.’

From the way she was speaking, it didn’t seem Suzie had a fortune stashed away from her singing days, but people always made assumptions if you’d tasted even the tiniest bit of fame. Anyway, it was none of her business.

Vicky had been more than happy to retire at sixty and leave work behind for good. With the long-awaited divorce finally through, plus a decent pension, she’d finally got some control over her life, and she wasn’t going to relinquish it without a fight. Not that anyone was challenging her to one, but making her own decisions was an alien concept after thirty years of being at the mercy of someone else’s whims.

Suzie was obviously still working hard, putting in the hours to keep her business afloat, and the town’s Star Bar was a definite on her list of places to visit.

Now halfway down the glass of wine, Suzie craned her elf-like face to smile up at her, not that she had much choice, as Vicky had a good eight inches on her.

‘I will admit, I did have a bit of a heads-up from Angeliki about you coming. She’s an old mate.’

‘Ah! So, it’s not all through the jungle drums then. She’s an old mate of mine, too, although she’s a few years younger.’

Why was she thinking about age all the time? The fact that they were friends was the important takeaway in that sentence.

‘Angeliki and I trained together back in Liverpool, her as a vet, obviously, and me as a nurse.’

‘Ah! Another job where you’re paid to listen to other people’s problems…’

There was a little more to it than that, but having worked all through the pandemic, she’d been desperate to retire. Seeing Ian, and his latest squeeze, Gemma, around town a few too many times hadn’t helped. Not that she wasn’t relieved to be rid of him, but she didn’t want her nose rubbed in it on a daily basis.

But it had been Scout’s death that had truly pushed her over the edge and driven her to accept Angeliki’s offer to volunteer at the animal sanctuary. Just the thought of Scout’s little nose rubbing up against hers and she’d be right back there, reliving those awful last days, when he was too weak even to bark, just letting out a pitiful yelp or two.

Her eyes were about to go all over again, so Vicky shook her head to get rid of the images. She needed to respond to what Suzie was saying, rather than come over as an emotional wreck.

‘Yes, you certainly get to see all sides of life in a busy hospital.’

It was a feeble response; she sounded like a job advert for a medical manager. Suzie seemed to sense her lightning change in mood and indicated the entwined couples on the dance floor, moving as single units in the fading light.

‘You don’t fancy a slow dance yourself?’

Vicky couldn’t stop the shudder.

‘God, no. I’m completely off men. For good. Single and planning to stay that way.’

Suzie’s expressive brown eyes, eyebrows arched in surprise, stared right at her. Maybe she’d spoken more loudly than she’d intended.

‘Okaaay. Got the message. I won’t be introducing you to any Greek hunks while you’re here then.’