Shug has sown the seeds of doubt in my mind. Has Mum really dumped Oliver? Or NOT? She’s been very quiet about the whole thing. In fact, she hasn’t mentioned his name in days. This usually means she’s up to something.
So I’ve popped up to her suite to see if there’s any evidence lying around. Oliver’s photo in her bedside drawer, love letters in her mail tray, shaving foam in the bathroom, that kind of thing. There’s nothing. There’s not so much as the negative imprint of a biro on a Post-it slip.
I’ve still got Mum and Oliver on my mind when Rupert arrives for our lesson.
I guess I’m not concentrating as much as I should. Rupert has actually started to lose his cool.
‘Holly, are you listening to me?’
‘Yes, sure I am. What was it you said?’
‘Look at you. You look grey. When did you last get outside?’
‘Thanks, you’ve really made me feel better.’
‘No, but seriously. When did you last go out?’
I shrug. ‘I don’t know. Sid and Abdul are always with Mum. I’m not allowed out alone.’
‘Well, I don’t think that’s fair on someone your age. I mean, here you are living in the very centre of London and you’ve hardly been anywhere.’
‘No, I guess not.’
‘Tell you what. Why don’t we plan an educational outing. I bet you’ve never visited the Globe.’
‘The Globe?’
‘It’s a full-size replica of Shakespeare’s original theatre. You must’ve heard of it.’
‘Well, yes. I guess.’
‘They do a tour of the theatre. We should give classes a miss one afternoon and go on one. You know, to feel the atmosphere of the theatre Shakespeare actually wrote for.’
A trip out to a theatre with Rupert! I mean, wow! It’ll feel like a date. Except it won’t. Not if we take Sid or Abdul with us. But Sid and Abdul are like totally busy right now. And if I’m with Rupert I won’t really need a bodyguard, will I? And it’s only in the afternoon. I mean, it’s a lesson really. Essential study.
‘Yep, I’d like that. When?’
‘How’s about tomorrow?’
‘Brilliant!’