Page 5 of Sunsets and Happy Ever Afters

“I can?” Chloe’s thunderous expression cleared instantly.

“Yes. You can go this once. I can’t always say yes, but we’ve no plans this weekend.” He watched Chloe try some of the creamy peppercorn sauce and not screw her face up. “Is it a special occasion?”

“No, silly,” Chloe replied. “It’s just because we’re best friends.”

“I know you are.” Sam smiled. He was relieved his daughter enjoyed her new school. Making the decision to move to Portishead to live nearer to Heather and Tom had been a difficult one at the time, but with the engineering project manager job coming up in Bristol, leaving Swindon had seemed the right thing to do. The job was stressful and demanding at times, but the balance of an easier home life and the easier commute outweighed the stress. “And in future, can you ask me before getting yourself into a state?”

“Yes, Dad.”

Sam shook his head as he concentrated on his dinner, trying to understand why Chloe had been unable to ask him and instead decided the answer would be no, putting her into a foul mood.

The night time routine went without a hitch, and Chloe read for a while before turning her light out at eight-thirty.

With his own chores done, Sam walked into his study and switched on his PC. He looked up the couple of online dating sites Daryl had mentioned: Find My HEA (short for Happy Ever After) or Soul Mate Search. Daryl had said these two had proved successful for him, although he was still single. But then Daryl was the kind of guy who liked being single. He argued he hadn’t found ‘the one’ yet. Sam believed he was more of a player with his good looks and charm. His idea of ‘success’ was very different to what Sam wanted.

What the hell, he’d take a look. However, he soon realised he couldn’t actually take a look unless he created a profile.

Sam’s heart sped with trepidation. From his previous disastrous online dating experience, he remembered that he did already have an account on Find My HEA — but could he remember the password? His laptop remembered the username… But could he be bothered to look tonight?

No, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Not yet.

He logged off and picked up the photo of Jade on his desk.

He’d do it tomorrow.