Page 67 of Never Too Late to Date

Are you up? Sx

Sure. Vx

Suzie’s hand trembled as she pressed the number and Vicky answered.

‘Suzie! You’re back. I’ve got so much to tell you.’

‘Not as much as I’ve got to tell you, I’ll bet.’ Suzie tried to keep her voice steady. ‘Are you in later this morning? I’ve got something to do first, but I really need a friend.’

The waver in her voice was clearly audible, even to her.

‘Absolutely. Here for you. Unfortunately, it will have to be at the sanctuary, for reasons that will become clear, but you’re very welcome anytime.’

‘Thank you. I’ll pick us up some coffees and pastries on the way. Wish me strength.’

‘Strength, and lots of hugs.’

‘I need them, believe me. See you later.’

Usually, the journey up to Panos and Lydia’s farm in the hills gladdened her heart, but today all she felt was anxious. The scenery that flashed by ‒ green fields, groves of olive trees, towering rocks with blue sky above on her left, and tiny golden hidden beaches and azure sea on the right ‒ was showing itself off in its Sunday finest, but she barely took in anything.

The entrance to their place appeared in no time, and a reception committee of three was already waiting, standing by the big outdoor table with its canopy of faded blue cotton. Kostas looked like he’d been up all night, his hair wild and tangled around his shoulders.

She barely had time to close the car door before he started.

‘What’s this all about, Mama? Gianni won’t tell me.’

Panos put a hand on his son’s arm.

‘Shhh, Kosta mou. Let your mama sit down first.’

Her former husband’s calm demeanour had always been a huge plus. At times he’d been too calm, almost comatose, and she’d wanted to poke him into reacting, but here and now, it was very welcome.

His partner Lydia offered coffee and some delicious homemade biscuits. At least he’d found a woman who could cook, thought Suzie, and was also Greek, which would have pleased his late mother, who’d never been Suzie’s biggest fan. She genuinely didn’t feel any animosity towards Panos’s girlfriend. They’d been divorced for years when he found her, and she made her ex-husband happy. Once they’d all been served, it was Panos who took the lead.

‘So, what is this all about, Suzie?’

Lydia got up from the table, holding the empty coffee pot.

‘Shall I go?’

Suzie shook her head.

‘No. Please stay. You need to hear this too.’

There was fear in Panos’s eyes as she looked between him and Kostas, who tapped his fingers on the table in double time. Suzie reached over to still her son’s hand and hold onto it.

‘This is going to be hardest for you to hear, Kosta mou.’

‘What? What is it? The suspense is killing me. I’ve had five hours’ sleep, and my hangover is thumping me in the head.’

‘Your father already knows part of this story. And it was never supposed to come out, especially not like this. But going to Athens has forced me to tell Gianni the truth about the past.’

Panos put his head in his hands.

‘Oh no, my poor boy. My poor, poor boy.’

Seeing his distress, Suzie cursed herself. Why couldn’t she have stayed in love with this gentle, kind man? Been satisfied with their sons and the simple life? Panos’s touch had never aroused in her a fraction of the white-hot heat she’d felt when Christian was around, but they’d had a lot of fun.