Page 21 of Never Too Late to Date

‘OK, I’m not holding out much hope for these.’

Suzie turned away so that Vicky couldn’t see her face. She’d started off trying on the clothes in her bedroom next door but had given up any attempt at modesty after a few minutes and was now perfectly happy in just her underwear. She’d made sure she had on a newish, clean, matching set in black just in case. She wouldn’t have wanted Vicky to see some of the faded specimens that had definitely reached retirement age.

Teaming the pair of leather trousers she’d been given with a black and white striped T-shirt and a denim jacket, Suzie froze at the sight of herself in the mirror. Vicky stopped riffling through the stuff on the bed for a moment and turned to look.

‘Oh, I think those trousers can definitely go, can’t they? Keep the denim jacket.’

Suzie couldn’t help her eyes filling with tears. The reflection in the mirror took her back more than forty years. It was the exact outfit she’d worn that night in Christian’s dressing room. The night she’d learnt what sex was really all about. It hadn’t been her first time by a long way, but it had been the best time. Ever. She blinked to get rid of the image of the two of them locked together.

‘Hey, what’s the matter?’

Vicky’s arms were round her in seconds.

‘It’s nothing. Just memories…’

‘Shhhh. Don’t cry. It’s OK, if the trousers mean so much to you, we can keep them.’

Suzie could hear the alarm in Vicky’s voice at her extreme reaction. Vicky hugged her tighter for a moment.

‘I can probably mend the zip and buff up the leather. I’m not saying they’ll be perfect, but good enough to wear.’

‘Thank you. As well as not being a great cook, I can’t sew either.’

‘Well, thankfully I can.’

Suzie forced a smile.

‘Will you marry me?’

Chapter Five

At the sanctuary’s medical centre, Vicky had finished clearing out the last litter tray, not her favourite task, and moved swiftly onto helping Ilias, a black and white bruiser of a cat with an eye infection.

There’d be no spectacular lunch overlooking the harbour at Suzie’s pad today, even though her stomach was telling her it was ready and willing. She’d left Suzie with a more than serviceable stage wardrobe that was stuffed with leather and denim, but could also be dressed up with flowing silk shirts, little striped neckties and biker boots, stuff she herself would never wear in a million years.

Her clothes were all pastels or printed with different fruits. It had started years ago as a pathetic attempt to cheer herself up from the outside in, and it had stuck. Maybe, she thought, she should think about getting a few bits of leather herself.

The trousers she’d hastily repaired for Suzie, which seemed special to her in some way, were definitely still in the mix. They didn’t know each other well enough yet for her to press her new friend into revealing why they meant so much, but she hoped they’d get there one day.

It wasn’t just Suzie keeping her secrets close. The questions about her marriage had thrown Vicky a little. She wasn’t ready to talk about the gory details of her life with Ian just yet, but her new friend was someone she thought she could confide in when the time was right.

She had no idea at all as to where Suzie could discreetly practise her singing skills, but she was hoping to go for her lunchtime walk in – she glanced at her phone– precisely five minutes and scout out the surrounding area after she’d eaten.

Thankfully, one potential problem had already been solved. Suzie had messaged to let her know she’d persuaded her elder son, Giannis, to go with her as her temporary manager, as everyone else was bringing an entourage. A job as Suzie’s manager was something Vicky would have loved, but she couldn’t just abandon her work at the sanctuary and swan off for a week, although she was determined to make it to one of the gigs and see some of Athens as well.

Ilias the cat yelped briefly as she carefully squeezed the drops into his eyes. The infection was definitely clearing up. At this rate, he’d only need a couple more days of treatment.

‘Good boy, well done.’

Angeliki had been on duty yesterday and had shown her how to administer the drops in a calm and helpful way, rather than shouting at her for doing something wrong, like Alex.

They’d had a quick catch-up. It was more than thirty years since she and Angeliki had been housemates, but they always snapped right back into it. Memories of the two of them sitting at the kitchen table with cups of coffee or large glasses of wine and talking about everything from poorly animals to potential boyfriends could still make her smile. It was only her meeting Ian that broke up their happy little home. And look where that had got her.

Both she and Suzie had been invited to Angeliki and Nick’s new place for the Easter feast the following week, which sounded like it would be epic.

Her heart had sunk this morning when she’d spotted Alex fiddling about in the staff kitchen. It had even stopped her going in there and making her usual mid-morning coffee, for fear of bumping into him. Going without her coffee always put her in a bad mood, and he was the one to blame.

A phone was ringing somewhere inside the main building. It was even louder than the sound of running water from the tap where she stood washing her hands.