I run to Charlie and take his hand so that we can bow, but he takes a step to the side and begins to applaud himself. Because this is my moment. And I know I’ll never forget it.
I bow. As I straighten, I see for the first time how many people there actually are, because the auditorium lights are on.
Emma and Henry are jumping up and down, cheering; Charlie’s parents in the front row; Will and Kit a little further back, next to Mum and Dad. I knew they’d come, but to see them now, from up here, after I’ve played Juliet and not screwed up, is indescribable.
My heart is racing again, but with joy this time.
We leave the stage to come on again with the whole cast. Charlie and I take Mr Acevedo by the hands. It’s incredible and it doesn’t stop.
I want it never to stop.
34
TORI
We raised glasses to each other backstage, hugged each other and constantly reminded each other of how great we’d been. I answered Eleanor’s message, which she must have sent at some point shortly before the performance, telling me I’d rock, and apologizing for it being such short notice.
I’m genuinely sorry for Eleanor because she deserved to have everyone cheering her today. I can only start to feel moderately less guilty once she texts me that she’s got a place to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London – the most famous stage school in the country – and will be duly celebrating with Sophia as soon as she’s well enough. She’ll be the star of the RADA stage, I’m sure of that.
The foyer is rammed with parents and pupils, who all turn to look as Charlie and I walk through the throng. His mother comes towards us and hugs first me, then him. So does his dad, who can’t stop gushing.
I didn’t see Will coming, and there’s such force in his hug that it almost sweeps me off my feet. It takes ages for him and Kit, Emma and Henry to finish congratulating us. Now I finally see Mum and Dad, who are standing a little to one side. Will and Kit have gone back to them, and I hesitate for a wee while. Charlie slips his hand into mine and pulls me to see them. It’s no secretthat my parents love him, he knows that, and he’s beaming as they greet us, and shower first him and then me with praise. Dad looks like he might burst with pride at any minute and Mum’s not much different. To my shame, though, as she hugs me, I look first to her eyes. She’s sober, I’m pretty sure of that when she gives me a squeeze and I don’t smell booze. I should be glad, but the night is still young. Who knows what’ll happen later? But I can’t think about that now. I want a bit longer of being happy and carefree – that’s not too much to ask, is it?
In the end, Dad looks at Mum once Charlie’s gone back to talk to his own parents.
‘We’d love to go out for a meal with you and William,’ he says.
‘Kit and I wanted . . .’ Will begins, and I talk over him.
‘Charlie and I thought . . .’
We laugh. ‘There’s the summer festival in Ebrington,’ I explain. ‘We’re planning to catch up with our friends there.’
‘I see.’ Dad nods. ‘We’ve booked a table in Edinburgh. I promise we’ll keep it quick, but there’s something we have to talk to you about.’
‘OK, I’ll tell Kit,’ Will says, vanishing into the crowd.
‘Can Charlie come too?’ I ask.
‘I think it would be better just the four of us, darling,’ says Mum. My stomach cramps, but I say nothing.
Charlie looks concerned when I tell him, promising I’ll join him and the others in Ebrington later.
Mum and Dad try to fill the drive to Edinburgh with small-talk, but it’s never felt longer. Once we’re sitting in the restaurant, I wish they’d just get to the point, and I think they can sense our impatience because there’s a tense silence at our table once the starters are out of the way. Mum asked for water, not wine.
I can suddenly hardly breathe because all I can think of is Olive, crying in the costume store because her mum’s cheating on her dad and she’s afraid they’ll split up.
Is that it? Do they want to tell us they’re separating? Did they carefully choose to do so in public so that we won’t show awkward emotions or make a scene?
My pulse calms a little as Dad lays his hand on Mum’s fingers for a second. He wouldn’t do that if they were about to tell us they’re getting a divorce, would he?
‘Your mother has something to tell you,’ Dad begins.
He sounds gentle but determined. Like he has to use his words to give her a little push in the right direction.
‘You might have noticed that we haven’t said any more about how we’ll be spending the summer holidays this year,’ Mum says.
‘France?’ asks Will. ‘I thought it might be OK for Kit to come too, if you don’t mind.’
