Page 83 of Old Girls Go Greek
He laughed. ‘I promise it isn’t.’
‘So what is it?’
‘A surprise,’ he said.
‘It’s not a mouse in a box?’
‘Definitely not. Why, has Ivan been up to his old tricks?’
I was rather touched that he would remember my irascible cat.
‘There’s one under the fridge at the moment. I’m going to have to lure it out somehow.’
‘Try peanut butter,’ he said, ‘or chocolate.’
‘Not cheese?’
‘Chocolate is better.’
Why are we having such a ridiculous conversation?
I realised I was hanging on to my phone so tightly that my knuckles were white. I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax.
‘I’m more likely to eat the chocolate myself than waste it on a mouse,’ I said, and he laughed.
There was a bit of a pause then and I wondered what to say to keep the conversation going. Which of course meant that we both spoke at once.
‘Would you like…’
‘I really think…’
And then there was a bit of, ‘Sorry, what did you say? No, after you,’ which made us both sound like a couple of teenagers. And it was very exciting.
‘Look, I’d really like to see you again,’ he said.
‘When are you free?’ There was the hint of a smile in his voice then, and it made me smile too.
‘Any time but Tuesday mornings, when of course I go to the painting group. You could always come along to that if you felt like it?’
He laughed. ‘No, I don’t think I’m quite up to that just yet. What day is it today?’
‘You’re like me, I never quite know what day it is. Tuesday. I was at the painting group this morning.’
‘What about tomorrow? Or Thursday? I have to be here for my builders on Friday I’m afraid, although I could move that if necessary.’
‘I’ll just consult my diary,’ I said, chuckling.
‘Oh dear,’ he said, sounding genuinely worried, ‘should I have given you more notice?’
‘Don’t be daft, I’m joking. Tomorrow would be perfect. Where and when?’
‘I’ve been researching your area on Google and there’s a place that sounds good. The Dog and Bonnet.’
I laughed out loud at that point, which I think confused him for a moment and then he joined in.
‘That is a daft name, isn’t it?’
‘I’m told they do exotic spicy nibbles.’ I giggled.
