Chapter 28 #3
‘Once they get into the water they stay there for up to three years before they come back to shore. But the ones who survive, and it’s a risky business, can live for up to a hundred years.’
‘That’s incredible.’
They spent a peaceful half hour, still hand in hand, watching the turtles emerge and waddle down the beach, before returning to their blanket.
Alex poured her more wine, and himself some water. For some reason, he seemed a little nervous. Eventually, he broke the silence.
‘About the night we spent together… I just wanted to let you know that I have never experienced anything like that before in my life.’ His eyes were shining in the moonlight. ‘It was wonderful, and I hope you felt the same.’
She needed to be honest with him.
‘I did. It was very special to me too.’
‘Good.’ He reached for her hand. ‘And although I was a little shocked that you hadn’t mentioned investing in the sanctuary, I’m so pleased you did, as it means it will keep you here on the island.’
Vicky was glad the low light hid her blush.
‘I was hoping that you could possibly’—his usual confidence was definitely dimmed—‘think that there might be a future for us, as a couple.’
‘But I’m too old for you.’ She had blurted it out without thinking.
‘I think I’ll be the judge of that.’
‘And I can’t give you children. That’s all behind me.’
‘I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I’ve never wanted children. It may sound, how you say, soppy, but the animals have always been my children, and I want to love and protect as many as I can.’
Vicky’s heart was full.
‘That’s not soppy at all, it’s beautiful.’
‘Thank you.’ His hand had moved to her hair, which he was gently stroking. ‘I know you’ve had a bad time of it, and I saw with my own eyes today quite how bad. You find it hard to trust people.’
She nodded. He didn’t know the half of it.
‘But I promise you, you can trust me. I’ll never hurt you, and I’ll never let you down. I have to ask. Can you see a future for us?’
Vicky thought about his question. The word ‘yes’ leapt into her mind unbidden. She did implicitly trust this passionate man, a man who showed rare kindness to animals and humans alike. She fancied him like mad, too.
‘Yes. My answer is yes.’
Alex leant over for a very long and involved kiss, which Vicky eventually broke off, albeit reluctantly, to look him in the face.
‘I have a couple of things of my own to say too.’
‘Of course.’
It was important that she put everything out there now, at the start of something, rather than go along with what someone else wanted, which she’d been all too ready to do in the past with Ian; subduing and shrinking herself, scared to take up too much space in her own life, until she’d virtually disappeared.
Alex wanted her for the real Vicky, the woman he’d met in Greece, the woman she’d not been for so many years.
But however easily she could drown in those melting brown eyes, her heart was urging caution.
She’d only just found herself again, and she mustn’t jump too far too soon.
‘As you know, I have been badly hurt in the past, and I only stayed in my unhappy marriage for the sake of my daughter, who’s now grown up and gone.’
Alex nodded slowly.
‘But as part of my investment in the sanctuary, I now own a little house here, and I’m going to enjoy renovating it and living there with Dolly.’ Vicky took a deep breath. ‘I’m probably leaping far too far ahead, but I never want to live with anyone again, ever.’
Alex shrugged. ‘Is that all? Suits me. I prefer my own space too. As long as there’s the possibility of regular sleepovers…’
Vicky tried to hide a smile.
‘I’m sure that can be arranged.’
‘Good.’
‘There’s one other thing. We’ve started in quite an unusual way…’
She could see his smiling face in the moonlight.
‘You mean having mind-blowing sex when we don’t really know each other that well.’
‘Exactly. So … I’d like to go back to basics, and actually go out on dates, to get to know each other properly.’
‘Sounds good to me. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a real date in my life.’ Alex put up his hands. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not saying I haven’t had other relationships.’
The way he’d made her feel that night, she had no doubts on that score.
‘But my past girlfriends were either introduced to me by friends, or I met them at work.’
‘You met me at work, remember.’
‘That’s true. But I like the idea of this dating thing.’
Vicky raised her plastic cup.
‘Let’s drink to it being never too late to date.’
Alex touched his cup to hers.
‘Never too late to date it is. Now, as there’s no one around except a few sea turtles, and the moonlight is inspiring me no end, can we please continue what we started the other night?’
Vicky reached over and gave her answer in the form of a kiss.
A vision of her dear departed dog racing across the beach to greet her flashed into her mind as Alex pulled her down onto the sand. She crossed her fingers on both hands for a moment. It had seemed like an impossible dream, but all the signs were there. She’d finally found her Scout.