Chapter 36
Henry
It’s my second day of suspension, and I’m running out of things to do.
Yesterday evening I ate with Theo and Harriett, but I haven’t seen either of them yet today, because I haven’t got out of bed.
Why would I? To do prep, or revise? What for?
I haven’t the faintest idea when or if I’ll be allowed to set foot back at school again.
I groan quietly and roll onto my side. Emma isn’t answering my texts, and I’m starting to get worried. I’m about to start searching for my phone, which went down between the cushions during my Outer Banks Netflix binge, when I hear a muffled buzz.
Great. That could be her, and I can’t find the bloody telephone. I dig through the bedding until I find it and pause as I see an unknown number. Then I take the call.
“Hello?” I say, stifling a cough.
“Henry, this is Mr. Harper from the school office.” I’m unable to speak, but fortunately, he carries on. “I’m calling on behalf of Mrs. Sinclair to let you know that from tomorrow, you are welcome to take part in classes again.”
“What?” I sit up. “Tomorrow?”
“Exactly.”
“But what about—”
“Mrs. Sinclair will speak to you as soon as you get back, but you’re no longer suspended. Everything else can be explained once you get here.”
Emma . . .
What has she done?
I guess I should be relieved, but my only question is whether she’s been thrown out of the school instead of me. I have to find out, but I’m pretty sure that Mr. Harper wouldn’t tell me.
“Great, I . . . Thank you. I’ll be there.”
“Glad to hear it. See you tomorrow, Henry!” And he’s gone. Surely Mr. Harper wouldn’t have sounded so cheerful if someone else had been suspended in my place. Or doesn’t he care either way?
I immediately open WhatsApp and see Emma’s messages.
E: Sorry for not answering sooner. It’s been total chaos. My mum’s here and we went to see Mrs. Sinclair. It’s all sorted, Henry. You’re not suspended anymore!
H: Mr. Harper just rang me! What did you tell them?
E: The truth, H.
H: Emma . . .
E: Everything’s fine.
H: What about you? Did Mrs. Sinclair believe you?
E: Yes, but I’m suspended for a week. I’m flying back to Frankfurt with Mum in a bit.
I shiver as I realize what that means. Even if she’s only going for a week, I don’t know how I can go another day without seeing Emma. I’m about to text back when another message comes in from her.
E: Can you meet me before I go?
H: Where are you?
E: In my room, packing. The flight’s at five
H: Let’s meet at the airport?
E: But only if I can run into you
I smile. She’s joking, so things really can’t be as bad as all that.
H: Maybe I can run into you—I’m quite fast now
E: Weirdo
H: I’ll ask Theo if he can drive me
E: Sounds good
H: Are you all right?
E: No. Miss you. You OK?
H: You have to tell me everything. I love you
E: Say you miss me too
H: Thought that was obvious
E: ? Love you too
I drop back into the cushions and stare at the ceiling. I can go back; I don’t have to leave the school. And neither does Emma. No idea how she managed it, but hopefully I can hear that today.
I jump up and run out of the room. I have to ask Theo for a lift to Edinburgh.
“Theo?”
There’s no one in the kitchen either. Is he out?
I cast my mind back over our last conversation and try to remember if he’d mentioned going to a lecture or similar.
Then I catch sight of someone through the window.
Theo’s sitting out in the garden, in the cold.
Smoking, maybe. His only vice, and one that Maeve never missed a chance to comment on.
He lifts his head as I open the back door and walk toward him.
“Another five minutes off your life,” I say, because that’s what Maeve always said. The words taste stale on my tongue. Theo wipes his face with his sleeve. Just for a moment. But his eyes are red.
I stop. Has he been crying?
“I guess so,” he mumbles, stubbing out the cigarette, but his voice is rough.
“Are you OK?” I ask, cautiously.
“Fine.” He straightens up and tries to smile. “Hay fever,” he says, gesturing vaguely at the garden.
I don’t nod. It’s December. And this is the moment when I understand that Theo’s grieving. I knew it in my head. But it’s only now that it seems real.
In the hospital in Nairobi, at Maeve’s funeral, through all the weeks after her death—maybe I was just too busy with my own pain to get that it wasn’t any easier for him, even if it looked that way from the outside. But now I do.
“Whoa, that excuse is so lame, it could be one of Maeve’s memes.”
Theo’s lips twitch, but his eyes are glistening again. “Yeah, I guess so.” He clears his throat. “Let’s go indoors.” Once we’re back in the house, he asks, “Did you want something?” and I suddenly remember why I’d been looking for him.
“I’m allowed back to school tomorrow,” I say.
Theo’s face brightens. “Seriously?”
I nod. “Yeah. And I have to get to the airport. Emma’s flying back to Germany later and I was hoping—”
“When’s her flight?” Theo interrupts.
“Five,” I say.
“Good.” He nods toward my joggers. “Get dressed properly and I’ll drive you.”