Page 72 of Never Too Late to Date

It was back to business. No more talk of different words for attraction or super comfy beds. Every now and then there were glimpses of the person behind the white coat, but then they’d slip away again, and she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined them.

‘So…’

He paused while he put Bruce back on the floor.

What was he going to suggest next? That they compare washing powders?

‘I think we should start up our patrols again. It’s been quiet these last few days, but you never know what these people could be planning.’

Vicky nodded several times. ‘Definitely up for that.’ She glanced up at the clock. ‘But I’ve got to go now. I’m meeting someone in a minute.’

She gave Dolly a last stroke through the bars and bent to ruffle the fur on Bruce’s head.

‘Come on, Bruce, out! You know you’re not supposed to be in here.’

Bruce gave her a disgusted look and stalked out of the open door.

‘I’m off too.’

Alex walked towards the door as well, his bearing not dissimilar to the cat’s.

Vicky gave them both a small wave goodbye.

‘One last wash of the hands, and I’ll be straight after you. Planning to eat pastries in a minute.’

‘Of course you are.’

Alex smiled as he went out. He really could be infuriating at times.

Chapter Seventeen

One glance at Suzie as she got out of the car, and Vicky knew there was something seriously wrong. This was no girly chat. Her friend looked broken somehow. She wouldn’t take her to see Dolly just yet. She didn’t look in the mood for cute dogs or anything much at all.

Their hug went on for far longer than usual. Suzie was holding onto her for dear life in the clinic courtyard. There was no doubt that wine and a dark corner would have been a better setting for whatever Suzie had to say, but they’d just have to make do with the tray of coffee and bag of pastries her friend had brought with her.

Vicky gently pulled out of the embrace, picked up the goodies from the ground and linked her free arm through Suzie’s.

‘Let’s go and sit on the beach. It’s a glorious day, there’s no one around, and hopefully neither of us has to be anywhere anytime soon.

‘No, you’re right. Not until tonight, when I’m back in the bar for the first time in a week.’

‘Well then.’

They found a spot under some trees and sipped their coffees in silence. The wind gently played with Vicky’s skirt and fluttered the canopy of leaves above them, but the rustling sound barely disturbed the peace. She didn’t want to rush her friend into talking, and staring at the way the sun left silver sparkles on the sea was incredibly calming.

Eventually, the growling of her stomach prompted Vicky to pull open the paper bag, as Suzie seemed to be in some sort of trance. She couldn’t wait any longer. It revealed some of the bougatsa that Alex had introduced her to, the warm custard filling under the crunchy filo pastry delighting her all over again.

After a couple of the cigar-shaped snacks each, and more coffee, Suzie picked up a stick and started drawing shapes in the sand.

‘I’ll just say it straight.’

Vicky listened intently to the tale of woe. When she’d left Suzie in Athens after her successful performance only a few nights ago, her friend had been on a total high, full of confidence and joy. But it was like a different person had come to sit beside her, although it was easy to understand why. She took her friend’s hand.

‘I’m so sorry to hear what you’ve been through. It’s a hell of a lot to deal with at once.’

Vicky had noticed that Suzie’s sons looked nothing like each other but hadn’t given it a second thought. Her own daughter didn’t look a lot like her; she was Ian’s side of the family through and through, being dark and petite. Maybe if she’d had another child, it would have been blonde and rangy like her. But that ship had well and truly sailed, and it was Suzie they were focusing on here.

A sniffle escaped into the still air, and Suzie took up her stick again and poked it into the sand with some force.