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would surely hook up! But even though he used to flirt with her at first, he didn’t seem that interested now, and shepresumed that like everyone else he felt sorry for Mel’s little single over-the-hill sister. But she could forget all about Tom if this Ross guy came up trumps. Ring, ring, please ring. Oh God, she started laughing, most girls want an engagement ring, while I’ll settle for even a phone ring!
    Just then her mother walked in the door dressed in her cream Karen Millen trouser suit, and Avoca Hand-weavers long green woollen cardigan. At sixty-two she might be getting older, but she still dressed as stylishly as most twenty-seven-year-olds.
    â€˜It’s great to see you laughing, Sarah, better than that worried look you’ve had stuck to your face the last few days, staring at that phone like it held the answer to the Da Vinci Code. Must be a great man to make you want it to ring so badly. I hope he is worth it.’
    â€˜I’ve told you, Mum, it’s not a guy. You think I’m obsessed with finding a man, but don’t get me confused with what everyone else wants for me. I’m just expecting a very important call from a client.’
    â€˜A client! Well, I won’t hold the Art World up then. I just came round to tell you I’ll not be home for dinner tonight. I’ll be late.’
    â€˜Why? Where are you going?’ Sarah asked, presuming her mum was out on another theatre night with her girlfriends.
    â€˜Well, actually, I’ve a date.’
    Sarah dropped the gallery schedules on the ground, sending them flying everywhere. ‘What do you mean, a date?’ she almost shouted.
    Sarah’s dad had died almost seven years ago. After a long battle with cancer he had finally slipped away in his sleep one morning, surrounded by his whole family. They had all known he was nearing his end, and persuaded the hospital to let him die at home. It had been so sad, but he had been happy to be back overlooking his green garden full of all the plants and trees he had spent years growing. And even though Sarah knew her mum was still young, and that plenty of men were attracted to her looks and sense of fun, and even though there had been the odd mention of meeting ‘a friend’ for a drink, she had never thought her mum would be ‘dating’.
    â€˜Now, Sarah, I know this must be hard for you, seeing as you are still unmarried, unlike your sister, but someone in the house has to date, and if not you, then me. You know I still love your beloved father, but he would want me to be happy. So when Bill Macken from the bridge club asked me out, I thought why not? Anyway, we are going for dinner and drinks in Blackrock, so do not wait up for me. Have a good night, pet, and don’t worry: one day your prince will come.’ And with that she walked out of the gallery door and left Sarah shocked.
    How come her mum was getting dates and Sarah wasn’t? It was mortifying. And as happy as she was for her mum, she suddenly had visions of her getting married and leaving home and herself being left all alone with the cat.
    Suddenly her mobile started ringing, and even though she would usually have waited a few ringsbefore answering a call from a new guy, she picked it up immediately.
    â€˜Sarah, this is Ross, we met the other night with Tom. I’m sorry I didn’t ring you sooner. How are you?’
    How am I? she thought. I just found out my mum is dating and getting more interest from men than me, and that if something doesn’t change soon I’m going to have to marry that creepy old man from the sandwich shop down the road just so I don’t turn into Dublin’s gloomiest spinster.
    â€˜I’m fine, Ross, just busy in work. What’s up?’
    â€˜Well, I was wondering if you would like to go out some night this weekend for a drink?’ As Sarah sat there she thought of her sister Mel, who always told her to play by ‘The