The promise

Ruth Beaman, 44, Doncaster

Waving over the fence, my friend Nichola beckoned her neighbour as we sat in her back garden.

‘I just wondered if you’d like to go on a date with one of my friends?’ Nichola asked, playing the matchmaker.

Her handsome neighbour grinned over.

‘With who?’ he laughed.

‘Ruth,’ she said, pointing to me.

My cheeks flushed crimson.

We’d been celebrating Nichola’s 30th birthday and I’d spotted her next door neighbour, Pete.

‘He seems lovely,’ I had whispered to Nichola.

‘I’ll set you up,’ she told me and before I could stop her she’d arranged for us to go out on a date.

Pete was funny, handsome and charming and as we sat across the table from each other in a pub, his warm smile put me at ease.

Pete explained he was single, had his own business and was dad to a 10-year-old boy