‘Thanks.’ I take out my phone and check for texts. There’s one from Jeff telling me he’s waiting outside, but nothing from Luke. Not that I was really expecting it, but still my heart drops in disappointment. ‘I’ll have my phone on the whole time,’ I add. ‘In case you … you know. Hear anything.’

‘Well, enjoy yourself.’ She hoists Minnie to the other hip and I glare at her resentfully. She’s only carrying Minnie to make me feel bad. She could easily put her down on the floor.

‘Here are the details of where I am.’ I hand her a printed sheet. ‘Thanks for looking after Minnie.’

‘Oh, any time.’ Her voice is so sarcastic I wince. She doesn’t mean it, I tell myself. She’s just stressed out about Dad and Tarkie.

I mean, I’m stressed out, too. But there’s a bigger emotion overriding the stress. It’s excitement. NBC … red carpet … exclusive designer outfit … How could I not be excited? How can Suze not understand?

‘Well, I hope you have the time of your life,’ she says as I open the door.

‘I will,’ I say mutinously. ‘See you later.’

I step outside and hear a roar from outside the gates. I stop dead and blink in astonishment. Oh my God. Lon must have brought his entire class to see the dress. There’s a whole crowd of them, clustered together, pointing cameras and phones at me through the iron bars of the gates.

‘Open the gates,’ I instruct Jeff, and I approach the throng, waving graciously, feeling like a princess.

‘Becky!’ Lon is calling.

‘Beckeeeee!’ shouts a girl in a black shift dress. ‘Over here!’

‘You look amazing!’

‘How does the dress feel?’

‘Can we get a back view?’

‘Did Danny tell you anything special about the dress? What was his inspiration?’

As I pose, looking this way and that, I keep darting glances back at the house. I hope Suze is watching out of the window and can hear all the yelling. Then maybe she’ll understand.


TWENTY-TWO