Page 25 of Never Too Late to Date

‘They’re some of the Trumpton firemen!’

His face was still blank.

‘It’s a British children’s TV show from way back.’

‘OK. It obviously didn’t make it as far as Greece. Tell me again quickly.’

Vicky repeated the names twice and explained which kitten was which seconds before the farmer drew up on the quad bike and killed the engine.

Once the two men had sped off in a cloud of fumes, Alex holding the cats tight to his chest, a curious flat feeling descended on her. It was the comedown after the adrenaline of the rescue. A feeling she was all too familiar with from her days working in intensive care. If she thought she’d left lifesaving drama well behind her when she retired, she was mistaken. She’d found it again in spades on a tiny Greek island.

Vicky carefully packed up the supplies, heaved the rucksack onto her back and stopped for a moment to give the house a proper once-over. The stained and cracked brickwork framed gaping holes where windows had been, and triumphal arches led nowhere. This was no typical Cycladic cube-shaped house. It was an enormous old mansion built around a central paved area, which had once contained a large fountain, now full of brackish rainwater.

To one side was the remains of what looked like a private family chapel, the delicate struts between the windows still standing, with a couple even retaining tiny sections of stained glass they didn’t want to let go of. A faded mural was etched into the plaster on the back wall of the chapel. If Alex had played there as a child, it sounded like it had been abandoned for well over forty years.

The whole place had an air of melancholy, although strangely it didn’t feel menacing. What had happened here for the whole place to be so forgotten? It had obviously once been a loved family home. She must ask Maeve what she knew. A shiver ran through her at the thought of the past being erased so easily. Giving the ruins one last backward glance, Vicky climbed over the barbed wire and into the sun on the other side, desperate to dump the gear at the medical centre.

Without stopping to say hi to Maeve, Vicky put everything back in its right place and marched down to the beach. Wearing a bikini rather than underwear beneath her work clothes had become second nature now after only a few days. She’d lost any self-consciousness about her own body. Stripping off and going for a swim after lunch was her new favourite thing, something she’d have thought impossible only a few weeks ago.

Stepping out of her clothes, Vicky strode past the shallows and moved into a fast front crawl, the crisp slice of her arms cutting through the water with assured strokes.

Sometimes she worried that she only did things she was good at and wasn’t brave enough to put herself out there and attempt the unknown, although coming to Greece was a start no one could argue with, not even her tough-on-her conscience.

Ian had constantly criticised her for playing it safe in all areas of their life, including the bedroom, which had preyed on her mind over the years. Not that he’d ever understood that most of the reason for her love of security and routine was him and his unpredictable behaviour. But she wasn’t going to let him pollute her mind, today of all days.

This had been a really positive day. She’d helped to save the lives of some defenceless animals and worked together alongside Alex without thinking he was a total arse. And it would get even better when she told Suzie she’d found the perfect place for her to practise.

Chapter Six

‘Are you sure I’ve got to do the stretches too? It’s flipping hot out here.’

Vicky flopped down on the grass and let the sun play on her face a moment while Suzie carried on with her star jumps and lunges.

‘Yes. Get back at it, madam.’

Pulling herself to her feet, Vicky made a feeble attempt at a star jump, stubbing her toe on a piece of stone embedded in the grass.

‘Ouch. It’s dangerous! And what does it do, exactly?’

An out-of-breath Suzie paused a moment.

‘It increases blood flow to the vocal cords, releases tension and prepares the breathing mechanism.’

‘But I’m not planning to burst into song any minute, unlike you!’

Suzie wagged her finger.

‘It’s still good for you.’

Vicky pointed towards the beach in the distance.

‘That’s what’s good for me: swimming in the sea.’

Suzie stopped leaping about and bent over double, breathing deeply for a few seconds before she could speak.

‘OK, you’re off the hook. I’m ready to start my vocal exercises now anyway.’

Vicky sighed as she sat down on the edge of the ruined fountain.