Page 9 of The One That Got Away

‘Maybe. But let’s focus on the positive. Trust the process. You’re almost there now, so just make the most of it. What time’s your dinner date?’

‘Nine.’

‘Cool. So you’ll have loads of time to chill and get ready.’

‘I’d rather just meet her straight away, get the silly date over and done with, then get on the next plane to London.’

‘No! You agreed. Hold on one sec.’ The phone went silent for a few seconds before a request to switch to a video call popped up. I tapped the screen to accept.

‘Hello, Uncle Maxey!’ Betty’s cute face filled the screen.

That clever son of a bitch had drafted in my goddaughter again. And he’d switched to FaceTime. The man had no shame.

‘Hello, Betty-Boo!’ I smiled. ‘What you up to?’

‘Just painting. Daddy said you’ve gone to the sunny hotel to meet your new girlfriend. Are you getting married?’

‘No, sweetheart,’ I said, trying not to show my frustration. I’d be having words with him later for filling her head with this nonsense. ‘I’m just going there as an experiment. It’s like a little test.’

‘Like a spelling test?’

‘Sort of, but it’s more like a speaking test. I have to talk to someone about different things and if we both pass, we’ll meet again and do another test.’

‘Oh,’ she said. I wasn’t sure she understood but it was the best way I could think to describe it to a child. ‘I hope you do well. Sometimes tests are hard, but my teacher said you have to keep trying and don’t give up until you get to the end. That’s what I did for my spelling test and I got eight out of ten!’

‘That’s brilliant! I’m so proud of you!’

‘Thank you! Are you going to do your best, Uncle Maxey?’

‘I will.’

‘Do you pinky promise?’

‘I do,’ I agreed before I could stop myself. I was putty in her hands.

‘Yay! Daddy wants to talk to you again. And can you bring me back some sweets,please?’

‘If Mummy and Daddy say it’s okay, I will. See you soon.’

‘Well, that’s settled then.’ Colton came back on the phone.

‘What, bringing your adorable daughter back some sweets?’ I joked.

‘You can bring her a lollipop, but that wasn’t what I was talking about and you know it. You’ve just promised Betty you’ll see it through until the end, so there’s no going back now.’

‘So manipulative.’ I rolled my eyes.

‘Mr Moore,’ the driver called out in his thick Spanish accent. ‘We have arrived.’

‘Gracias,’ I replied. ‘Better go, Col. We’re here.’

‘Okay. Think positive and enjoy. This is going to be so great for you.’

‘Talk soon,’ I replied, beads of sweat trickling down my back.

As the driver pulled up outside a striking white building and a smartly dressed porter opened the door, the enormity of everything dawned on me.

This was it.

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