‘Because . . .’ I struggle with my own thought process. ‘Because I shouldn’t have asked him.’

‘Why not?’ she counters. ‘So he says no. All that means is, he didn’t feel like being interviewed, or he was busy, or he’s intending to say yes another time. Or any number of things. It doesn’t mean anything about you.’

‘Of course it does!’ I say before I can stop myself.

‘Of course?’ She instantly picks me up on it. ‘Of course?’

OK, I fell into that one. Of course is the kind of phrase that makes Dr Sarah’s nose twitch like a shark scenting blood. That and I have to.

‘Audrey, do you know what Linus is thinking?’

‘No,’ I say reluctantly.

‘You don’t sound sure about that. Audrey, can you see into people’s heads?’

‘No.’

‘Are you gifted with super-powers? Is this something I should know about you?’

‘No.’ I hold up my hands. ‘OK. I get it. I was mind-reading.’

‘You were mind-reading.’ She nods. ‘You have no idea what Linus is thinking. It could be good, it could be bad. Most likely, it’s nothing at all. He’s a boy. You’d better get used to that.’ Her face crinkles in humour.

‘Right.’ I know she’s trying to make me smile, but I’m too confused. ‘So . . . I should ask him?’

‘I think you should.’ She picks up the whiteboard cloth and rubs out Linus won’t come over. In its place, she writes:

‘OK?’ she says when I’ve had a chance to read it.