‘Becky.’ He cuts me off gently. ‘Listen. I have to tell you something. Suze is here.’
‘What?’ I turn my head, puzzled. ‘What do you mean? Where?’
‘I left the car a few streets away. She’s parked there right now. She wants to drive into the desert after your father and she wants you to come too.’
‘What?’ I stare at him. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Absolutely. When I told her where I was going, she begged to come along with me. If I didn’t succeed, she was going to come and drag you out of the premiere herself.’
‘But …’ I can’t process this. ‘Into the desert?’
Luke sighs. ‘Suzie is in a real state. We think your father and Tarquin are heading to Las Vegas. Suze is worried about Tarquin, and, to be fair, I think she has good reason to be.’
‘Right.’ My head is spinning. ‘So … where are the children?’
‘Mitchell is babysitting right now. Obviously we’ll have to decide what the best plan is. We need to get home, work out what we know, put together a route … And you need to think hard, Becky. I mean, he’s your father. If anyone can figure out where he’s gone …’
‘I’ve got that old map of my dad’s.’ My mind starts to whir. ‘We might be able to work out something from that, maybe?’
‘Becky!’ A voice hails us, and I whip round to see Jeff a few yards away, leaning out of the driver’s window and waving. ‘I can’t get any closer!’
‘Jeff!’ I hurry towards his friendly face. Within a minute, both Luke and I are in the back seat of the SUV, and Luke is instructing him on where to go.
‘Movie finished early?’ says Jeff, as he manoeuvres the car out.
‘I just decided I’d had enough.’
‘Smart.’ Jeff nods.
‘I did everything I needed to. Except … wait.’ I turn to Luke, stricken. ‘The autographs! I never got any!’
‘Becky, it doesn’t matter—’
‘It does! I promised Dad I’d get him some autographs, and I haven’t got a single one.’ I stare at Luke miserably. ‘I’m so crap.’
‘Sweetheart, it’s not the priority right now—’
‘But I promised. And I let him down again.’ Remorse is pouring through me. ‘He wanted Dix Donahue’s autograph, and I never got it, and now I’ve forgotten again, and—’
‘You want some signatures? I’ll fill your dad’s book.’ Jeff’s voice comes from the front of the car, and I blink in astonishment.
‘You will?’ I say, stupidly.
‘You name a celebrity, I’ve worked for them. They all owe me one. I’ll get your autographs.’
‘Really?’ I say, agog. ‘Like who?’
‘Name a celebrity,’ repeats Jeff.
‘John Travolta.’
‘I couldn’t say.’
‘Brad Pitt!’
‘I couldn’t say.’
His face is blank but his eyes are twinkling in the rear-view mirror. I think I love Jeff.
‘That would be amazing. Thank you so much.’ I carefully take out Dad’s precious autograph book and put it on the front passenger seat. What seems like thirty seconds later, Jeff is pulling up in a side street and Luke is saying, ‘We’re parked just here. Thank you, Jeff.’
‘Bye, Jeff.’ I lean over and give him a hug. ‘You’ve been so wonderful.’
‘You’re a nice family,’ says Jeff gruffly. ‘I’ll see you again with those autographs.’
We get out of the SUV and a breeze ruffles my dress. I glance at my reflection in the car window, and my own eyes stare back at me, huge and over-made-up, and a bit wired. I suddenly feel really nervous at the idea of seeing Suze. I feel as if I’ve been in some other, alternate universe. But I can’t run. I can’t dodge this. The car door is opening and she’s getting out.
For a moment we just stand there, staring at each other through the evening air. I’ve known Suze for many years, and she hasn’t changed a bit. Same blonde hair; same endlessly long legs; same huge, irreverent laugh; same way of nibbling her thumb when she’s stressed. I can only imagine the state of her skin right now.
‘Bex, I know you’re really busy.’ Her voice is husky. ‘I know you’ve got all these big chances and everything. But I need you. Please. I need you.’
I’m so taken aback that she isn’t shouting at me, tears spring to my eyes again.
‘I need you too.’ I skitter to her on my heels, and envelop her in a huge hug. When’s the last time I hugged Suze? Ages ago.