Page 3 of Never Too Late
Shut up, Kitty!
I heard Sasha snigger and cough. I looked down at the water. Don’t they say you can drown in two inches of water? This was at least a foot. Plenty surely and right now I was willing to try it rather than slowly dying of embarrassment.
‘That’s very good to hear,’ the man continued.
I risked a look back up and saw the kind, open smile that extended to dark-brown eyes, framed by thick lashes. ‘My name is Ashok.’ He held out his hand and I shook it as I replied.
‘Katherine. This is my daughter, Sasha.’
‘Hi,’ she said, shaking his hand much more confidently than I had. ‘Are you eating alone?’
‘I am. But it’s not something I mind.’
‘You should join us!’
‘Sash…’ Ashok looked about my age and I had no doubt what my daughter was up to.
‘Do say you will! Mum’s had a shit year and all she’s got for company is me on her fiftieth birthday!’
I looked down at the water.
Make way! I’m going in!
‘That’s very kind, but you appear to have already eaten. Plus, I’m not sure your mother shares your enthusiasm.’ Ashok spoke with easy humour, and no offence in his tone.
‘Oh, no. Please don’t think that. I just… I didn’t want you to feel obligated.’
He appeared to study me for a moment. ‘If you don’t mind, then I think it would be very nice. But only if you are sure. The last thing I would want is to ruin your birthday dinner.’
‘Great!’ Sash replied, sliding off into the water. ‘I’ll grab another chair.’
‘Let me do that,’ Ashok said, turning and wading across to the table he was originally being led to. He lifted a chair and brought it back and Sasha and I scooted ours closer together so it was cosy but not unpleasant.
‘I’m just going to find the waitress and ask to make it three glasses. Back in a sec!’ With that, she scooted off through the water and disappeared round the corner.
‘I—’
‘I—’
We both started at the same time.
‘Please, you go,’ Ashok said, that easy smile loosening a few of the knots in my stomach.
Frankly, since Sasha had invited him to dine with us, it felt like a whole scout troop had started practising for their badges in there.
‘No, it’s fine. What were you going to say?’
‘Please. You first, I insist.’
‘Oh. Well, I was just going to apologise really. My daughter enjoys being spontaneous. I never know what she’s going to do next.’
‘She’s a delight from what I’ve seen but if you would prefer it to be just her and you, I completely understand and we can say I had to take a call which lets us both off the hook without it affecting your daughter’s generous offer.’
‘Oh, no, please. It’s not that.’
He did that head tilt again and the cordless light in the centre of the table highlighted the warmth in the deep brown eyes.
I dropped my head into my hands momentarily. ‘I’m afraid I’m very much out of practice with socialising. The fact that I already gave you far more information than you could ever possibly have needed, or wanted, probably highlighted that rather well.’
