Unexpected Delivery

Preparing for her return to the dating scene, first Clare has to track down her missing parcel...

- LUCY DIAMOND

Clare hurried downstairs at the doorbell's ring. She was expecting an important delivery: a new dress for tomorrow's blind date.

Despite her having given up on romance after divorcing two years ago, her friends had encouraged her to try again. "There's someone who's perfect for you out there," they kept saying. "And you won't meet him if you stay in for the rest of your life, will you?"

Martha, her fourteen-year-old daughter, was similarly supportive, although her first question had been a sceptical, "OK, but what are you going to wear? It's been a while since you dressed up, Mum. Like, properly dressed up."

This had thrown Clare into a spin.

"I thought I'd wear jeans and a nice top, like I usually do," she'd replied.

They were in the kitchen at the time, with Clare peeling carrots while Martha perched on the table, legs dangling.

"What? When this date could be the absolute love of your life?" Martha cried. "You need to look and feel a million dollars." She swung down from the table. "Don't move, I'm getting my laptop," she ordered. "And then we'll find you a sensational outfit."

Truth be told, Clare wasn't sure that love of her life existed - there seemed to be a lot of frogs on the dating site she'd signed up to. Was it too much to ask for someone kind, funny, taller than her and not a bigot? Someone with whom she could share her favourite things: a long walk on a frosty day ending at a cosy pub, swimming in the sea throughout the summer, a great film at the cinema, nights out with a bunch of friends. Most of all, someone she could be her real self with.