Diane had been standing in front of her open wardrobe for about five minutes. For the third time she slid the hangers with blouses and tops from one side of the bar to the other, one at a time.

Nothing she owned seemed appropriate for a dinner date with a woman she had kissed and was considering seeing more of. It seemed pretty unbelievable, considering the number of clothes in her wardrobe.

She took out a dark blue blouse, with a stiff collar and long sleeves. This isn’t a work dinner, you don’t want to look like an accountant. Next was a white top with a frilly edge on the sleeves and collar. Diane considered it for a second, but then hung it back on the bar. Too grandmother-ish. Which, she reminded herself, was what she was going to become quite soon. A grandmother.

This filled her with a slight panic. What kind of grandmother starts dating a woman for the first time? And why would anyone want to date a soon-to-be grandmother?

Stop this. Diane shook herself out of the spiral of negative thoughts. She was not a grandmother, yet. And Tamsin did not appear to have any issue at all with that aspect of Diane.

She finally decided on a light blue V-neck knit top. It was cut quite deep, admittedly, but if she couldn’t show off a bit of cleavage on this date, then when could she?

Diane sat in front of the mirror and inspected her face. The slight bags under her eyes betrayed the sleepless nights she’d been having, drafting all kinds of scenarios in her head about how the evening would unfold. Should she wear some make-up? Wasn’t a date about looking one’s best and seducing the other? Tamsin never seemed to wear any, but then Tamsin had the healthy complexion of someone who spends most of their days outside.

Diane picked up her mascara, but found there was a slight tremor in her hand. She’d never be able to apply any make-up in a proper manner with her nerves acting up like this. Au naturel it was, then.

As Diane was walking down the stairs, the doorbell rang. Goodness, Tamsin was punctual.

Diane went over to the front door, her heart beating furiously in her chest. She paused for a second to take a deep breath and steady herself, and then opened the door.

Before her stood someone she assumed was Tamsin, holding up a huge potted plant with budding purple flowers in front of her face.

“Hello,” Tamsin said from behind the plant. “I wasn’t sure if you preferred flowers or plants, but I figured this would look nice in any garden.”

“It’s gorgeous,” Diane said opening the door wide and making way for Tamsin to come inside.

Tamsin immediately deposited the pot on the hallway table. “I ordered it online and picked it up on my walk over,” she said shaking out her arms, “but they didn’t say how heavy it was on the website. It weighs a ton.” She turned to Diane and a warm smile lit up her face. “It’s so lovely to see you.” She took a step closer and leaned forward to brush a kiss over Diane’s lips.

Where Diane’s heart had been beating furiously with nerves a minute ago, it was now doing a somersault at the touch of Tamsin’s kiss. She put her hands on Tamsin’s shoulders and pulled her closer, pressing her lips more firmly against Tamsin’s.

She let go after a few seconds, not wanting to get too carried away this early in the evening. “I’m so happy you’re here,” she said. “Please, come through.” She led them into the living room. She had tried sitting outside on the patio earlier, but it had been chilly, so she had set up a couple of glasses and some nibbles on the low table in front of the sofa.

Tamsin walked around the large lounge, looking at the art on the walls. “This place is amazing.” She stopped in front of the sideboard and leaned forward to look at the array of picture frames, mostly candid shots of Timothy: as a child, at his graduation, with Lucy at their wedding.

She turned around to Diane and said, “Sorry, I don’t mean to snoop around like this. I just love looking at the more personal things people display in their homes.” She had a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “Is this your son?” she asked pointing at one of the frames.

“Yes,” Diane said, “that’s Timothy.” Diane couldn’t help a smile from forming on her face at the mention of her lovely boy.

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Tamsin said, straightening her posture again.

Diane froze. She hadn’t even thought about having to introduce Tamsin to Timothy if things progressed.

“Sorry,” Tamsin said quickly and placed her hand on Diane’s arm. “I’m getting way ahead of myself.”

“What can I get you to drink?” Diane asked, steering the conversation onto more comfortable ground. “I have some white wine in the fridge.”

“White wine would be perfect.”

Diane took her time opening the bottle and placing it in an ice bucket. When she returned to the lounge Tamsin had taken a seat on the sofa, her right leg slung over her left and her arms stretched out on the back rest.

She looked so comfortable, as if she belonged in Diane’s home.

Diane put the bucket on the table and took out the bottle to pour out the drinks. As she handed Tamsin her glass, Tamsin’s index finger touched her thumb and gave it a light brush. Tamsin was looking straight into Diane’s eyes and the combination of her touch and stare sent shivers up Diane’s spine.

Diane sat down next to Tamsin on the sofa. “So,” she said.

Tamsin was still peering at her. “Here we are.”

Diane could not take the intensity of Tamsin’s stare and looked down at her glass. She took a sip, and then another. She felt like she should start things off, as it were, since they were in her home and she was the one who had run off the previous time.

She cleared her throat. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot since we had dinner at your place. As a matter of fact, if I wasn’t doing someone’s year end accounts, I was probably thinking about you.” She finally looked up at Tamsin.

Tamsin’s face was a picture of openness and attention. Her green eyes exuded kindness and sympathy. But also something else. Something that spurred Diane on.

“I thought a lot about the kiss we shared, and what it means.” Diane paused. “I, er—I talked about it with Isabelle. I hope you don’t mind.” She recalled Isabelle’s advice of a few days ago.

Tamsin took Diane’s hand in hers. “What did Isabelle have to say?” Tamsin’s fingers were softly rubbing the back of Diane’s hand.

Diane put her glass down on the table. “Isabelle said I should do this.” She took a deep breath and put her hand on Tamsin’s cheek. She pulled Tamsin’s head in towards hers and gently kissed her on the lips. After a while she opened her mouth a fraction, allowing Tamsin’s tongue to meet hers. As their kiss gained in intensity, all the worries that had occupied Diane’s mind—about her age, about how Timothy would react—seemed to disappear and the only emotions that remained were happiness, and a desire for more.

When they came up for air, Tamsin said, “I’ve always liked Isabelle.” She smiled at Diane. “Did she say anything else?”

Diane chuckled. “She did, but I’m not sure I’m ready to implement that advice just yet.” Diane had spent a lot of time going over that part of the equation in her head. She considered herself a pretty well-educated woman, who knew the mechanics of what could happen between two women. But when the time came, would she be able to overcome her fears and be intimate with Tamsin? And how would Tamsin react to having a fifty-four-year-old body in front of her, she who was used to sleeping with women thirty years younger?

“You’ve been on my mind too, Diane.” Tamsin had a solemn look on her face. “I know all of this is confusing to you. It was a long time ago, but I remember how it felt to realise that I had feelings for a girl. It was terrifying and exciting at the same time. Of course, I can’t pretend to know exactly how you’re experiencing it, but I think I have an idea.” She was still holding Diane’s hand. “I want to spend more time with you. I want to get to know you, explore this thing we have between us.”

“I want that too,” Diane said, holding on to Tamsin’s hand tightly. “After I left your place the other night, I felt so energised and alive. I haven’t felt that way in years. And I want to feel like that again.” The passion in her own voice surprised Diane. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so invigorated.

Tamsin’s face broke out into a warm smile. “You can’t imagine how happy I am to hear that.” She pulled Diane into her arms, hugging her tightly.

The feeling of Tamsin’s embrace started a fire in the pit of Diane’s stomach. Her body seemed to awaken from a long hibernation and she felt its longing for touch and intimacy in every fibre of her being.

Diane extricated herself from Tamsin’s arms and stood. She held out her hands to Tamsin and pulled her up out of the sofa. “I feel as though if I don’t do this now, I might lose my nerve.” She looked down at her feet for a moment, then moved her gaze back up to meet Tamsin’s. “I’m ready to do what Isabelle told me to do.” She pulled Tamsin closer against her and gave her a languorous kiss. “Will you come upstairs with me?”

Tamsin’s eyes were alight with a fire more intense than Diane had ever seen. They were reflecting Diane’s desire right back at her. “Are you sure?” Tamsin asked.

Diane just nodded and pulled Tamsin in for another kiss.