Page 72 of Lessons in Life

‘I haven’t got bloody Covid.’ Sorrel stared at me through her tears. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘I rang the Susan Yates at lunchtime, told them you’d had Covid and needed to rest. So, the audition is postponed…’

‘Why the hell didn’t you say postponed instead of cancelled, Robyn?’ Jess was cross. ‘For heaven’s sake.’

‘Oh, really?’ Sorrel took my hand again while wiping her tears with the other. ‘Honestly?’

‘It’s on the Monday after now.’ I smiled. ‘The last audition of this round, apparently. You get yourself up and about, have a chance to get your hormones calmed down, and then we’ve a few days when we’ll really go for it, putting you through your paces.’

‘Thank you, thank you.’ Sorrel grabbed hold of Roger Rabbit, burying her face in his fur.

‘Right, I’m off,’ I said, bending to kiss my little sister. ‘I’ll see you back at school later on in the week, Sorrel. Make sure you have your dance stuff with you all the time and we’ll take it from there.’

Jess followed me out to the car. ‘You OK?’

‘OK?’

‘Something’s up. I know it is. I know you, Robyn.’

‘A couple of things.’ I sighed. ‘This whole thing with Sorrel and Joel is getting to me, but with Sorrel convinced she was following Mum down the porphyria road, that’s got me worried as well. Am I going to end up with the condition? Are you?’

‘Pointless us worrying about it.’ Jess was matter-of-fact. ‘You’ll worry your life away.’

‘So, I want to know more about Mum’s past.’

‘Good luck with that.’

‘She’s agreed, for our sakes, that we can find out what we can.’

‘Our sakes?’

‘Try to find out if there’s a history of the porphyria in her birth parents’ families.’

‘And how are you going to do that?’ Jess shook her head.

‘I always fancied being a detective.’ I gave a little smile. ‘Anyway, when I should have been at an English and drama planning meeting at lunchtime, I was ringing the Susan Yates school to plead on Sorrel’s behalf.’

‘What’s that got to do with Mum’s birth parents?’

‘Absolutely nothing. Once I’d done that, I thought, sod it, I’m in enough trouble with Mason, might as well be hung for the proverbial?—’

‘Will you get on with it?’ Jess looked at her watch. ‘Is it because you’re an actor, Robyn, you like to spin a tale out? Hold an audience?’

‘Very likely.’ I grinned. ‘So, I spent the rest of lunchtime chatting with Jo Cooper, who’s Head of History.’

‘Right?’

‘She has a little sideline business.’

‘Oh?’ Jess threw up her hands in frustration. ‘What? Street walker? Another village drug dealer?’

‘She traces people’s family history.’

‘Really?’ That was enough to spark Jess’s interest.

‘Hmm, I told Jo what we already know, that Mum was born in Surrey. Gave her the birth date, adopted family name, that Mum’s been told her mum was Indian – that should be a good clue.’

‘Why don’t we see if we can find the Foleys?’ Jess’s interest was really revving up now. ‘I’ve always wanted to, but Mum was adamant we shouldn’t.’

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