Page 3 of Never Too Late to Date

‘No, please don’t.’

Suzie swallowed a big mouthful of wine.

‘Look, I get it. I’m divorced myself.’

‘Sorry to hear that.’

Suzie laughed.

‘I’m not. You know the phrase, marry in haste, repent at leisure. It could have been written to describe me. He’s a nice bloke, Greek, as you’ve probably guessed by the surname, but we had very little in common once the initial attraction had worn off, other than our two lovely sons.’

Vicky nodded several times.

‘Happily, we’re still friends.’

‘That’s a real achievement. I’m not sure Ian and I were ever friends, not really.’

It was like she’d taken some truth drug. She was never normally this open with strangers. Maybe the ouzo shots earlier had something to do with it.

Suzie clocked the other woman’s stricken look at her own outburst. A change of subject was definitely needed. There was obviously a lot more to unravel about her marriage, but now wasn’t the time or place.

‘Do you have children?’

Suzie had a gut feeling the woman’s answer would be a yes. It wasn’t a given, and you had to be careful even asking the question, but the way Vicky had nodded and smiled when she’d mentioned her own sons gave her the encouragement to ask.

The light came back into Vicky’s eyes, turning the dull hazel into a bright green.

‘Yes, one daughter, Tasha. She’s a vet.’

The last few words tumbled out in a rush. Suzie waited for more.

‘She was completely inspired by her Greek godmother…’ Vicky pointed at one of the dancing couples. ‘Our mutual friend Angeliki. They’re like two peas in a pod, even though they’re not related.’

‘Aw, lovely. Angeliki can be pretty passionate about all things animal. Will Tasha be coming over to visit?’

The light dimmed again.

‘Sadly not. She’s taken a two-year posting in New Zealand with her Kiwi boyfriend, Rob, also a vet. It’s a fabulous opportunity…’

Vicky seemed unable to say more.

‘But a hell of a long way away.’ Suzie finished off the sentence for the woman she’d known for all of five minutes, and Vicky nodded with her eyes closed.

The sadness oozed out of her. Suzie really hoped that Greece could start to heal this woman’s broken heart, however many ways it had been shattered. She guessed they were a similar age, after her comment about her brother. Hitting sixty a few months ago had freaked her out way more than she’d thought it would. It was only a number, but it had forced her to think about the future. It was like she was standing at a crossroads, looking for a sign about which road to take. It was a fanciful notion and not something she usually indulged in, but she couldn’t stop the image coming into her head whenever she had a quiet moment.

Glancing up at Vicky, she realised they were also a ready-made comedy sketch. The small dark one and the tall blonde one. They’d certainly attract different types of men. Not that she was looking for a man, and Vicky had made it abundantly clear that men were off the menu completely for her.

But they were both single, unlike nearly all her friends here. The new arrival was potentially someone she could spend time with on her precious days off from the bar. Her grown-up sons had their own lives to lead, and she’d hate anyone to know that sometimes she was lonely. Her ex-husband was now happily coupled up with another woman, running a farm in the hills. Not that it hurt her heart, but it was one less person to spend time with.

It was early days, but she liked the look of Vicky. Acting on instinct had always been her thing. Sometimes it had led her into terrible trouble, but most times it had been worth it. Coming to Greece as a twenty-two-year-old with the weight of the world on her shoulders had been an impulse she would never regret.

A big ginger cat had strolled up to Vicky while she’d been lost in her thoughts and brushed itself against her legs. She watched the woman bend down and stroke the cat behind the ears, breaking into a smile at the loud purr which burst out of its body.

‘It looks like you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got plenty of those.’

Vicky came back from somewhere far away and straightened up.

‘I hope so. I absolutely adore all animals, particularly cats and … dogs.’