I'm Trying To Find True Love… Again

Lucy Davis, 35, had found her soulmate, but now she’s having to start over

- Emma Rossiter, Kim Willis

Sliding into my seat, I stared at the man sitting opposite me. He was conventionally good-looking, had good manners and was treating the waiter with respect – all qualities that I said I was looking for in a man. And yet, while I should have felt excited, what with this being my first date in 16 years, I couldn’t help but ache for someone else – my husband, Gary.

Our love story started somewhat unexpectedly. We’d been friends for just over a year, after meeting on several nights out in town. He had a big personality, could always make me laugh, and, despite a 30-year age gap, I’d be lying if I said we didn’t flirt with each other. Yet I never thought we’d be anything more than friends.

Dinner date

That was until one night in November 2003, when I asked him round for dinner. ‘I’ve been stood up. Fancy coming over?’ I wrote, and I got a response almost immediately. ‘I’ll be there in 10,’ he said.

As we tucked into a roast dinner, something just shifted between us. I couldn’t explain what, but suddenly it felt like we were more than friends. As he kissed me goodbye at the end of the night, I felt happier than ever.

From then on, we were inseparable. Gary treated me to date nights two or three times a week in restaurants or bars. At weekends, we rarely stayed home, always booking a city break somewhere. As we both loved to travel, we saved up for exciting holidays abroad and went to places like Egypt, where we learned to scuba dive.

‘Suddenly, it felt like we were more than friends’