‘I know,’ I say, looking over at the stage. My stomach is a flutter with butterflies. I actually did it.

Never in my wildest dreams this morning did I think I’d be performing improv in front of an audience of strangers late at night, or that it could have been as much fun. I’m almost looking forward to another email to see what it’s going to challenge me to do next.

Chapter 11

Some days at work pass by in a blink of an eye, but today is not one of them. I can’t seem to focus on any of the items on my to-do list.

I look over at Dad’s desk, which is empty. I scan the internal calendar to see if he’s got any external meetings or any explanation why he wouldn’t be here at nearly ten o’clock. I notice that my Big Little Readers session is marked up as I’m leaving early, but there’s nothing about Dad.

I pick up my phone to call him. Still after all these years whenever he’s late I fear that he’s been drinking again. I put the phone back down. There’s probably a more logical explanation; he and Julie are getting close and maybe the traffic’s worse coming from her house. I’ll give him another half an hour.

I ping Layla a message on our internal messaging app in the hope of keeping me distracted and we meet in the kitchen.

‘How was sports day yesterday?’ I ask, flicking the kettle on before I notice the bloody scab on her arm.

‘It was brutal. I tell you, we spend the day watching our kids, who aren’t allowed to be seen as winners and losers, and then when they let the parents race, all those rules go out of the window and it’s a fight to the finish line.’

‘Sounds vicious.’

‘It was. Luckily that’s over for another year. Much like the school term, can you believe the kids break up today?’

‘That’s come round quickly. Have you got everything sorted?’

‘I hope so. But enough about me, rumour has it that you were the star of the show with the improv team. How did that happen? Please tell me it was because of your emails.’

Trust the work rumour mill to have kicked in. The kettle boils and Layla takes over the tea-making duties.

‘They might have played some part in getting me up on the stage, especially since I received a new email just before, telling me to try something new. But to tell you the truth, it was more down to the looks of disappointment on everyone’s faces when Hayley couldn’t make it; I didn’t want to let them down.’

‘I’m still in shock. Especially as I hear you’re doing it again.’

‘I didn’t technically agree … ‘