It’s Mum—I hadn’t even told her that I’ve made it in one piece. I jump up and hastily snatch it off my bed.
“Emmi-Mouse, you didn’t forget me, did you?” Mum asks as her image comes into focus.
“Just for a moment,” I admit. “It’s all so exciting.” I sit on the floor and lean back against the bed. Againstmybed, inmyroom. “I’ve just arrived at the school, and I’ve met hundreds of new people.”
“You made it, then? Everything worked out? Come on, tell me all about it! Or isn’t this a good time?”
“No, it’s fine, don’t worry.” I smile. “Ms.Barnett just showed me to my room.”
“She’s still there? That’s nice. Give her my love. Maybe she’ll remember me.”
“She already asked after you.” And Dad. But I’ll keep that part to myself.
“Really?” Mum sighs. “I do wish I could be there with you, Emmi. What’s it like? Have you got a nice room?”
“Yes, it’s much bigger than I expected.” I switch the camera around so that I can show her.
“It looks so much like mine back in the day,” Mum says. “I miss that view.”
“Yes, it’s gorgeous,” I say, flipping back to the front camera.
“How was the flight?”
I pause. “It all went fine.”
“Really?” Mum asks in the tone that means she’s busted me. “Emma?”
“Really. I onlynearlymissed the plane.”
“You what?”
“My alarm didn’t go off.”
“Emma Charlotte Wiley, I hope you’re not serious.”
“Yeah, sorry. But I’m here now, so it’s all good.” And if I hadn’t been running so late, I probably wouldn’t have met Henry like that.
“I knew I couldn’t leave you to your own devices.” Mum sighs, but I hear the amusement in her voice.
“Ha, too late,” I say, making an effort to sound unconcerned. It’s not a hundred percent successful, and she seems to notice.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t come with you.”
She has to stop sounding regretful if she doesn’t want me to burst into tears. “I really didn’t mind,” I repeat, the way I did on the phone yesterday evening.
“I do, though. I’m such a bad mother.”
“You’re not,” I retort. “Anyway, flying on my own was way cooler. I felt mysterious and independent at the airport, not like some little kid being taken to school by her mum.”
Mum laughs, and somehow that just makes everything worse. “Of course, I ought to have kept my distance and never even dared to call you, Emmi-Mouse.”
“We both know that’s a lie,” I reply, blinking so my eyes don’t even think of welling up.
“You’re probably right.” When Mum speaks again, she sounds more serious. “I’ll come for a visit in a couple of weekends at the latest.”
“You’re invited to dinner with the Herrmanns in a couple of weekends.”
“Exactly. Now I’ve got the perfect excuse—I have to take an urgent flight to Edinburgh.”
