‘He’d be very welcome, darling.’ Mum smiles, but it looks slightly forced. ‘But you’ll have to go without me.’
‘What?’ Will darts a look at Dad, then me. ‘Why?’
‘I got a cancellation at a clinic in London. I’ll be travelling down next week.’
Silence.
Clinic . . .
‘Really?’
I only realize that it’s my voice asking the question when Mum nods.
‘I’ll probably be there for eight weeks, but it might be longer. I’m sorry you’re only hearing about it now. I got the call this week. But you’ll be able to visit me any time, and we can talk on the phone.’ Mum’s voice catches as I reach for her hand. It just happens.
‘We’ll visit,’ Will states.
‘Course we will,’ I add.
Mum smiles, and there’s a telltale glitter in her eyes. ‘That would make me very happy.’
‘So you’re trying again?’ I manage to ask. ‘You’re talking about rehab, right?’
My voice dropped with every word, but Mum heard. ‘I can’t go on like this,’ she says. ‘And I can’t do it on my own. I want to be there for you both . . .’ She pauses. ‘I want you to be happy to come home again.’
Her voice breaks and my throat clenches. ‘We’ll always be happy to come home, Mum,’ I whisper. ‘Whatever happens. Always.’
Will gulps hard.
Mum lowers her head. Dad’s eyes meet mine. I see the relief on his face, and the hope. He didn’t force her: this time, she wanted it herself, I’m sure of that. And that’s the best starting point for things actually getting better.
‘I’m so proud of you two,’ Mum says. ‘And I’m going to make sure you can be proud of me again too.’
SINCLAIR
Tori joins us just as I’m starting to worry. It’s already half past ten, but the Ebrington summer festival is just getting going. The whole town is full of tents and long tables, occupied by a mish-mash of locals, tourists and Dunbridge pupils. The sun’s gone down but there are still kids running around the streets.
‘Hey.’ I jump as I feel hands on my shoulders. The others wave to Tori. As I turn around, she looks happy, but I think she’s been crying. Or is that just exhaustion? After all, it’s been a long and dramatic day. I can’t be sure, so I stand up.
‘Are you OK?’ I ask, stepping a few feet aside with Tori. ‘How was dinner?’
‘She’s going into rehab again.’ Tori’s voice sounds choked and it takes me a moment to process.
‘Your mum?’
She nods.
‘That’s good. Thatisgood, right?’
‘Yes, it’s good. I think.’ She gives me an uncertain smile and I pull her closer. Tori throws her arms around me and presses her face into my shoulder. ‘What kind of a crazy day has this been?’ she murmurs.
‘I don’t know what you mean, Juliet.’
‘That really happened, didn’t it?’ She shifts away from me slightly. ‘We actually performedRomeo and Juliet?’
‘And we rocked.’
‘So now you can never accuse me of being inflexible and non-spontaneous.’
