Page 66 of Never Too Late to Date

Giannis waved away her words.

‘Whatever. One thing’s for sure, we’ll all have to deal with this shitshow together somehow.’

‘I know. And I’m so sorry.’

‘Stop saying you’re sorry. It’s too late for sorry. It’s going to be such a shock for Baba, knowing that the child he thinks is his was fathered by someone else. I don’t envy you the task of breaking that to him.’

Suzie wrung her hands over and over again to stop herself speaking. But it was too late. Giannis could gut a witness on a stand in minutes; in her exhausted state she was no match for him.

‘Oh, my God. He already knows, doesn’t he?’

Suzie nodded miserably.

‘I was only a few weeks pregnant when I arrived on the island. I will tell you the whole story when you’re ready to hear it⁠—’

Giannis cut her off in mid-flow. ‘I can’t imagine when that will be.’

‘All I will say for now is that I really did fall in love with Panos back then, and we agreed together that we would bring you up as our child. The moment he saw you, he loved you, and that has never changed. He is your dad in every way that counts.’

Giannis thumped his chest several times in the Greek gesture of love. The tears in his eyes started her off as well.

‘I know that, Mama. I don’t need you to tell me about my own father.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Enough! Next, you’ll be telling me that Kosta is the son of some local fisherman or a guy you met in the bar.’

Suzie bit the inside of her lip hard. The iron taste of blood in her mouth gave her something to focus on. She didn’t deserve that comment, and coming from anyone else, she wouldn’t take it. But she needed to keep calm and draw on every ounce of her severely depleted reserves. She wanted to shout and scream, but that wouldn’t help anyone, least of all the desperately sad son seated before her.

‘I can assure you that Kosta is Panos’s son. You have my word.’

Giannis lifted his head and wiped away his tears with his thumbs.

‘Now it is my turn to say I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.’

Suzie nodded her acceptance of his apology, unable to speak through her own tears. The beginning of their mother-and-son trip had been so full of excitement and hope. Now her son’s image of her had been smashed to pieces and who knew what it would look like when, or indeed if, it was glued back together.

Visible now through the windows as they approached the island were the lights of the main town, rising from the port in rows to the hills beyond. Her battered heart lifted a little as they neared the harbour. She was glad to be home.

Christian stubbed out a cigarette and headed inside as the Tannoy announced their imminent arrival. His eyebrows lifted as he looked between her and Giannis, their red eyes giving the game away, but Suzie gave a small shake of the head. They’d all had enough for one night. She lowered her voice.

‘There are taxis to the right of the port. Let’s swap numbers and talk again after we’ve both had some sleep. Everyone on the island knows who I am because of the bar, so I wouldn’t be able to hide away, even if I wanted to.’

Christian gave her the ghost of a smile.

‘Good.’

Chapter Sixteen

Suzie opened her balcony door and sat on the nearest chair for a moment, the cup of coffee she’d just brewed steaming next to her. The sun was already well up over the sea, and a ferry was making its way slowly across the horizon. She wondered for a moment where the passengers were off to. The idea of nipping on a ferry and getting away to another island, any island, was very appealing, but not going to happen any time soon.

Since it was Sunday, the streets below her were quiet; those not preparing for church would be having a much-deserved lie-in. She, on the other hand, should be going. Things started early on the farm; animals took no heed of the day of rest, and although Kostas had sounded horrified by the early hour his father had suggested for their meeting, Suzie was desperately keen to get the next bit over with.

Yesterday had been one strange day, filled with the highest of highs as she’d sung her heart out, followed by the lowest of lows as the secret she’d kept for the major part of her life was brutally revealed. It appeared as if she’d broken two people’s hearts, and there might be more casualties to come.

The world had changed in a moment, and the fall-out was far from over. She only hoped she was strong enough to cope.

Suzie’s finger hovered over the phone. Vicky was the person she most wanted to see. Her friend had said she was an early riser. She’d start with a text.