Our Lives
Was 60 too old to have a baby? We were determined to prove any doubters wrong.
As I snipped away, the sound of chatter filled the hair salon. Then, suddenly the door flew open and a big voice boomed out: ‘Did you see the football last night?’
I rolled my eyes at my client.
‘What is it about men and football!’ I said.
The man then had an animated chat with his barber — all at full volume — and I couldn’t help glancing across at him.
I had to admit, he was attractive and there was something about the way he seemed so full of life that drew my attention.
But I was in a relationship, so I carried on cutting my client’s hair and thought no more about it.
Six years went by, and then my partner Robert died from congestive heart failure, aged 37. We’d been together for eight and a half years and it took me a long time to recover.
I’d been single four years, when one day, I was scrolling Facebook during a work break, and saw a friend request from someone named Phillip Smith.
His face looked really familiar, and I thought: Who is he?
Then the penny dropped.
It was the man with the big voice se who’d walked into an the hair salon all sh those years ago.
What a coincidence! I thought.
Before I could change my a mind, I accepted the request and s waited for Phillip to message me.
But he didn’t.
He didn’t appear to be in a relationship, and as I was curious to get to know him, I took the plunge myself and sent him a message.
Hello you! he replied. Can I ask how old you are?
I’m 35. How about you? I typed.
I’m 55, he responded. It was a big age gap, but it didn’t put me off.
I’d once briefly dated someone 10 years older than me and had instantly felt a sense of security. Although that relationship hadn’t worked out, it convinced me I’d be better off with someone older.
And the difference in our ages didn’t seem to bother Phillip either, as he asked me out.
That following evening, I watched as his car pulled up at the place we’d agreed, and I climbed into the
I ow ou ?’ passenger seat. ‘Lovely to see you again,’ he said.
We headed to a seafood restaurant and spent the evening sharing stories about our lives and families.
Phillip worked as a builder, and he had three grown-up sons, aged 38, 37 and 35.
I thought: I’m the same age as his youngest!
But as the night wore on, I just didn’t want it to end. ‘Fancy coming over for dinner tomorrow?’ Phillip asked.
‘I’d love to,’ I said.
After that, things between us moved at lightning speed.
Just a few days later, Phillip picked me up and as we sat in his car he turned to me with
