Day 57 - You Can't Hide

Text to Olivia:

If you don't answer my calls I'm gonna have to come round to your flat!

Hopefully that would do the trick. I'd keep it between me and Olivia for now. Antonio didn't need to know the extent of the problem. I hadn't even confided in John. He already thought that I was unfair when it came to Olivia.

Home-schooling was particularly trying today. Maths involved compasses and protractors. I'd never understood all that when I was at school, so thirty years on, I didn't stand a hope in hell of deciphering any of it.  It was the usual scenario - John rode in to the rescue and caused a family crisis. BOTH twins were crying and to be perfectly honest, I nearly joined in.
       "I need to pop out to Tesco Express to get a few things," I told John.
     If Olivia hadn't got back to me by the time I'd finished shopping, I knew I'd have to check in on her. Her words had haunted me since yesterday - 'You were right. There's no point to anything.'  If, God forbid, she'd …...done anything stupid, it'd be down to me and my thoughtless words.
     "Well I hope you've got plenty of time on your hands Daisy, as I think it's pretty much one in, one out system, down there."
     "Well, as you've got the geometry so …… under control," I said, indicating to where Molly was lying face down on the rug, pounding it with her fists," I'll be in no big rush to get back, will I?"
     "Wear your mask and some latex gloves," he said.
     A few months ago, those instructions would have sounded way more kinky.

I'd just parked, when Olivia called. "I've been worried sick about you, Olivia."
     "Really?"
     "Of course. Are you alright?"
     "Like I said, Daisy.  I just need some time to myself right now.  I'm so absolutely exhausted. I just want to …… stay in bed and watch the Disney channel."
     "The Disney channel? Look …… I'm just going to the shops now.  Do you want me to bring you anything? I could come over and ……"
     "No! Don't come over!"
     "Ok. Well ….. I'm gonna face-time you again in the next couple of days, ok?  Promise me you'll call if you need me."
     I felt a bit sick as I hung up. Christ! When did I start caring about Olivia?
     And when did I start actually finding queuing along the pavement in the sunshine to be a pleasurable activity? Almost a treat. Certainly preferable to being in my house with maths exercises. I smirked as I thought of John.  He'd have almost certainly given up by now. I'd put ten quid on the fact that when I got home, they'd be sitting in front of the X Box, eating crisps.