Physically, I had dropped my daughter off, mentally, I had not.
I came home to breakfast after dumping Laura and her hangover. Husband and I ate in silence.
We were due to fly abroad the next day. Neither us had the heart, the stomach for a holiday.
We had an all singing, all dancing, insurance policy – I telephoned the broker.
No. We were not covered for this eventuality: our daughter losing her mind.
‘That’s that then,’ I said to Husband, ‘Money down the grid.’
‘I think its drugs.’
‘What’s drugs? What are you talking about?’
‘Laura, she’s on drugs.’
‘No … No.’ I could not get my head around what he was saying. I had no knowledge of drug abuse. I was naive to how widespread their use was. ‘No, she doesn’t take drugs.’
‘I’m telling you she is. That behaviour last night did not come out of a wine bottle, she is on drugs.’
I had no concept of how she would get drugs, pay for drugs, use drugs. I had no idea what drugs they would be, or the effect they would have.
‘No. You’re wrong, not drugs.’ I said.
‘What did the insurance say about the holiday, can we cancel?’ Husband changed the subject he could see he was upsetting me.
‘They won’t refund.’
‘Pack the bags, we’re going.’