Page 81 of Never Too Late to Date

She vividly recalled the pub toilet where she’d done the test. She could still see the grubby turquoise tiles and smell the bleach they’d cleaned the floor with. When the blue line emerged, strong and true, she’d sunk to the floor and wept, prompting the woman in the next cubicle to ask her if she was all right.

‘When I found out, I just wanted to escape, from you, from my parents, my friends, bloody Frank, you name it. I had to get away and think. I got on the next plane to the sun, which happened to be heading for Greece, took the first ferry out of Piraeus port and got off at this island. And I never left.’

Christian leant forward on his elbows.

‘This may be a rude question. But did you think about not going ahead with the pregnancy at any point?’

‘Again, total honesty. Absolutely. I thought about having a nice long holiday on the island, then nipping off to a clinic in Athens, and going back home with no one any the wiser.’

‘And why didn’t you?’

His eyes bored into her. The reasons were many and complicated, but she had to give him something.

‘I had my first scan in the local hospital here, and as soon as I saw the little figure moving on the screen, I knew I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t give up on my baby. Every woman has to do what’s best for her, and I would never dream of judging another person’s decision. But for me, it was game over. And then a couple of weeks later, I met Panos.’

His name seemed to provoke some sort of reaction as Christian’s eyes went blank.

‘So, you’d already made the decision? It was nothing to do with him?’

‘No, and I didn’t hide anything from him either. He’s always loved Gianni as his own. And the son we made together, Kosta, was born less than a year afterwards. So, they’ve always been close, more like twins than brothers. They argue and fight like any siblings, but no one will come between them.’

‘But you couldn’t make it work with this Panos guy?’

They were straying into deeply personal territory. But she’d never been able to keep anything from Christian if he was there in front of her. They’d always known what each other was thinking or feeling, whatever their mouths were saying, which also had its downside. There was nowhere to hide.

‘We made it work for a long time. But not forever. What about you?’

His laugh was brief and filled with regret.

‘Two failed marriages and no kids. Not exactly a success on the relationship front.’

‘Yes, I saw your last marriage had broken down. I’m sorry.’

‘Tracking me, were you?’

The glint was back in his eye.

‘No. Frank told me.’

It was a little white lie, but she’d hate him to think she was bothered either way.

‘Sounds like Frank.’

‘The evening before he told you I had something to show you … he’d already been in my dressing room and asked me if there could ever be a chance of anything romantic.’

‘What, between me and him?’

‘Funny.’

Suzie’s attempt to punch him on the arm was foiled when he grabbed her hand and held it tight.

‘Frank’s a creep. He always had a thing about you. Poor sod. I could have told him you weren’t interested.’

‘Oh, could you now.’

He hadn’t let go of her hand, and his skin was warm against hers.

‘Suze, all I’m asking for is a chance to at least speak to Gianni. Please. Knowing I’ve got a child out there in the world has been the biggest shock of my life. A good shock. But still a shock.’