Before I change my mind, I call his number.

He doesn’t answer.

Obviously. He thinks I am the most boring girl on the planet.

I stretch out on the woodland duvet cover that I used to hate and stare at the boats through the porthole and listen to the sounds of the Harbourside. Only two more nights of noise left, before I go home to the silence of the village.

My phone buzzes and my heart beats faster. Harrison is calling me back. I sit bolt upright, check my reflection, then swipe up to accept the video call.

‘Hey,’ he says.

‘Hey, you.’

Harrison smiles at me, but crookedly, like he’s nervous. ‘Is everything OK?’

I shrug, keeping my chin tucked under, so my face looks as slim as possible. ‘Kind of.’ Is this where I’ve been going wrong? I should be all positive and kooky and upbeat. ‘It’s great. You? How was school?’

Harrison shrugs back at me. ‘No one’s doing any work, because it’s the end of term. I don’t get why they even bother to make us go in.’

I’ve lost track of when normal school finishes: hospital school runs all year round. ‘Are you going on holiday after this?’

‘France, but not till the middle of August. I’ll be back with my dad for a bit, though.’

‘In his yurt?’

‘No. That’s temporary.’ Harrison sighs. ‘Listen, Casey, they’re not telling you the truth, and it’s really not OK.’

‘Who aren’t?’

‘Your dad. My dad. I don’t agree with it.’

I’m trying to make sense of what he’s saying. It’d be obvious, if Bob didn’t slow my brain down. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Ask your dad about the penthouse, Casey. And when you’ve asked him, call me, any time. I don’t think it’s fair that he’s lying to you, and it can’t go on for ever.’

I stare at Harrison on the screen.

He looks shocked at what he’s said. ‘I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. But I like you, and I don’t like having to be a liar too.’ And he cuts off before I can ask anything more.

Ask your dad about the penthouse? I know he doesn’t own the place – he’s never pretended he could afford it. So what else could it be? He might usually live here with another woman. But he likes Gemma. He wouldn’t cheat on her, would he?

My dad’s still at work, and last night it was after midnight before he got in. But if there’s any clue about what’s going on, it’ll be in Dad’s bedroom, the one space I’m not allowed inside.

I tiptoe out of my room and peer through the living-room door: Mum’s doing a Yoga with Adriene video on the floor. I creep backwards and try the door to my dad’s bedroom, half expecting it to be locked, but the handle moves.

Should I do this? I don’t think I’m going to like what I find. But I am so sick adults springing bad news on me and how then I have to pretend it doesn’t matter. I want to be prepared.