Thank you so much for your amazing support! Let's see how the date goes :)

"So what did dad say?" Bill asked through the speaker phone. "Did he look nervous or was he excited?"

Max chuckled as he read through a past paper he was working on. "He was nervous."

"That's it?" she said. "What's with the simple answer?"

"I thought you were calling because you wanted to discuss question four."

Max set down the paper on the coffee table before swinging his long legs over the armrest of the sofa, getting into a comfortable position. He decided to take a break since Bill had phoned him for a different reason.

"I've done question four and no, I called because I wanted to know how it's going to go," Bill answered.

"You do realise you could have just popped in, right?" the young man stated. "You literally live next door."

"Can't be bothered – too lazy to leave my room," she replied, laughing.

"Thought so," he grumbled under his breath, but it was loud enough for his best friend to hear through the phone.

"I heard that, Scottish boy."

Max reached for the glass of water. "Glad you did."

"Anyway, are you really fine with your dad dating Miss Oswald?"

He took a sip of his drink first. "Yeah, I am, Bill – why do you keep asking?"

"Well, if things get serious, you'll probably end up having her as your step-mum," Bill teased.

Strangely enough, Max didn't find the idea daunting at all. Sure, it sounded a bit weird that there is a possibility his English teacher might become his step-mum if it gets that serious but as far as he was concerned, that's a future matter and for now, he likes just the way things are.

Miss Oswald had been treating him nicely since she began teaching at his school. She understood him better than any of his other teachers and there was just something 'motherly' about her as he would put it.

"I like her – she's nice, besides, you're thinking too far ahead," he explained, switching on the TV and lowering the volume.

"Oh, so you're on board with the idea, then?"

He arched a brow. "What idea?"

"Dad and Miss Oswald, duh."

"Yes, for as long as they're happy and once dad tells her about mum, then I'll be completely on board with them dating or getting married – whatever."

The young man could hear Bill smiling. "I find it cute how protective you are of dad."

He was silent for a moment. They only had each other after all. His father had always been very protective of him and tried giving him a good life. Max could see that he tried very hard to raise him all by himself.

"I guess so," he mumbled.

"Anyway, want to carry on with question five or are you about to fall asleep?" Bill asked, changing the subject.

Max sat upright. "I'm good but I'm probably going to stop after this."

John and Clara were seated opposite of each other, behind a circular table. They had ordered their food and were now waiting for their meals to be served.

The school teacher had expected her date to take her to a modest, yet nice Italian restaurant and she wasn't disappointed, to say the least. She liked the atmosphere and the food smelt good. Somehow, she could imagine John eating her regularly.

"Do you always come here?" she asked.

John smiled. "Yes, the food is delicious, and Max loves the ice-cream that they serve – I think it's homemade."

They started chatting about their respective lives with John talking about taking Max on a trip to Singapore the previous year and how his son complained about the heat. Clara, on the other hand, told him that the last time she was on vacation was after she graduated from uni.

She hadn't had much time to travel as she received a job offer to teach English in Germany for two years before working as an au pair for the Maitlands and then a teacher at Coal Hill until she ended up Max's school.

John's smile only grew bigger the more his date started talking more about her life.

"I've always wanted to travel the world," Clara said. "But with a full-time job and the salary, I just decided to shelf the idea until I've saved up enough money – I'll probably go to Italy first."

His smile dropped when Italy was mentioned as he remembered Oswin telling him she had wanted to visit the country. That was a month before they had found out she was pregnant again. They never made that trip because it was too pricey.

"John, are you alright?" he heard Clara ask as she placed her hand gently on his.

He snapped out of his thoughts. "Sorry, just remembering something," he said, avoiding her gaze.

"Are you sure?" she asked with concern. "You seemed a bit zoned out just now."

Clara found it odd that he had completely lost touch with reality when she mentioned Italy. It was as if there was some sort of significance to it, but she didn't want to push him.

"Yeah, just remembering the time I planned to travel to Milan with my family."

That was odd. He had never used that term before. Family. He would always refer to Max. Maybe it's connected to his late wife but it wasn't her place to ask, so Clara changed the subject.

"Alright, anyway, the dessert, you said it's one of the best ice-creams you've ever tasted."

The smile returned. "It's probably the best."

"What would you recommend?" she asked when she felt him caress her hand with his thumb.

"Everything."

The school teacher giggled. "I can't just try every single flavour."

"I have," he replied, grinning. "But not in one sitting, obviously."

She felt butterflies in her stomach when he flashed her that boyish grin. "Seriously, I'm a bit indecisive here – either vanilla or chocolate chip."

"I'd say vanilla because that's what I'll be having but chocolate chip is good too – Max's favourite."

"I'll go with your choice this time."

They placed their order for dessert and before the waiter left their table, John asked, "This may be a bit of a strange request, but can I take away ice-cream?"

The waiter stared at him with a confused expression for a moment before he pulled out his notepad and pen again. "Sure, we'll place in a box with dry ice - what flavour?"

Clara smirked at him once the waiter went away.

"What?"

"Takeaway ice-cream?" she said in a teasing tone.

John laughed quietly. "It's for Max."

"Are you sure it's not for you?"

"Maybe it is," he answered, grinning.

They both had a feeling the night was only going to get better.

An hour later, the couple were in the car, on their way back to Clara's flat.

John killed the engine and exchanged awkward glances with his date. He cleared his throat. "We're here."

"Yep," Clara replied before stepping out of the vehicle.

He mimicked her move and went over to the other side.

"Thank you so much for a wonderful dinner," she said, biting her bottom lip.

John smiled, hiding his hands in the pockets of his trousers. "Thank you too, for being a great company."

Clara waited for him to make his move. She had been wondering what it was like to kiss him since she had asked him out and she was hoping to find that out tonight.

"So, when will I see you again?"

"When I see you," she joked, earning a confused and nervous look. "I'm free next Saturday."

Her date smiled. "Great, I'll pick you up at the same time then?"

"Yes," she answered, nodding.

John cleared his throat again. "I better go," he murmured and turned around.

Clara rolled her eyes and shook her head, unable to stop herself from smiling. "Aren't you forgetting something, Mr Smith?"

He looked back at her anxiously before turning around once more and stepping closer to her. He looked as if he was about to kiss her, but to the school teacher's disappointment, he kissed her on the cheek. They did say beggars can't be choosers.

He placed a hand gently on the left side of her face before planting a soft kiss on her right cheek.

"Good night, Clara."

"Good night, John."

John stood by the side of the pavement as he watched her enter the building before he went around the car and stepping inside. He glanced back at her flat, making sure she was inside and bumped his head against the steering wheel.

He had wanted to kiss her but chickened out in the final second and opted for the safe move. He wanted to know if it was the same. Clara and Oswin literally look the same. More than anything else, he needed to know if he was in love with Clara or not. Too bad it wasn't going to be tonight.

With a sigh, John started the car and drove his way home. When he reached his destination half-an-hour later, the lights in the living room were switched off so he had assumed Max was already asleep.

To his surprise when he stepped inside, his son was sleeping on the sofa, still holding a pen in one hand.

The father beamed before he quietly and gently pulled the pen away and set it on the table. He stared at his boy for a moment. A lot of people say that Max was the spitting image of him and no doubt he was, but John could definitely see some of Oswin's traits in him.

All those years ago when he had to bring Max along to his work-related trips, he would always find his son asleep in bed, that Nintendo device thing still switched on beside him while he clutched a blue-police box plushie Oswin had bought for him.

John went to the kitchen to store the ice-cream in the freezer before he tiptoed upstairs to retrieve a blanket. He didn't have the heart to wake up his son and so, when he returned to the living room, he draped the duvet over Max.

The teenager stirred in his sleep before rolling over.

The father smiled once more before he gently caressed the boy's curly hair. He then turned around and quietly went to his bedroom.

Max was woken up by the smell of fresh croissants, toast and coffee. It smelt so good that he sat up with his eyes closed, scratching his head while yawning.

"Mr A-level is finally up," John commented as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

When the teenager was fully awake, he realised he was wrapped in a blanket and smiled before tossing it aside. "What time is it?"

"Ten."

He wasn't sleepy, but he was definitely hungry, so he trod into the kitchen where he found his father sitting behind the table full of food.

"It smells really good," Max commented and sat down before he reached for a piece of toast. "I'm guessing the date went really well?"

John grinned before he said, "Have you brushed your teeth?"

The teenager blinked a couple of times before he raced upstairs. Less than five minutes later, he returned to the kitchen wide awake and looking a lot fresher.

"How did the date go?" the young man asked casually as he took a bite of his toast.

His father leaned back against the chair. "I think it went really well – we had a great time during dinner."

Max smiled. His father looked really happy. Extremely happy. He couldn't remember the last time his old man was grinning non-stop.

"By the way, your ice-cream is in the freezer," John said as he returned to the newspaper. "And don't even think about eating it for breakfast," he warned, not looking up as his son quietly rose from his seat. He knew his son too well.

"What's wrong with having ice-cream for breakfast?" he grumbled jokingly.

The older Smith looked up. "I think you answered your own question."

Max chuckled. "So does this mean you have another date?"

"Yep," John answered. "Next Saturday."

The boy nodded, and he continued to eat his breakfast in silence. It was too early to tell if things were getting serious between his dad and teacher so there was no reason for him to bring up the promise just yet.

"By the way, Bill is going to be here after twelve, so I'd advise you to get ready for an interrogation," the teenager said. "She wanted to know more about the date, but I only know so much."

John folded the newspaper and put it away. "I'm sure I can handle it," he replied and smiled. Bill was like a daughter to him. She and her mother had moved into the house next door about 11 years ago and Bill quickly became the best of friends with Max. She was like the daughter he never had. "No big deal."

He didn't care if people were going to ask him the same question over and over again. He just felt happy despite the slight bump he made after the date.

John could only hope he would have the courage to kiss Clara on their second date, which he is very much looking forward to.