He father stood up and began to pace. ‘I know this must be a bit of a shock,’ he said quietly.

‘You haven’t so much as mentioned Eileen’s name in nearly fifteen years after she totally vanished, and now you tell me you’re marrying her?’

‘She was there for this family when no one else was.’

‘She dropped off the face of the earth when her husband got upset that she was spending so much time at our house. We, like, practically never saw her again.’

Her father sighed. ‘It’s hard … no, it’s impossible, to understand what goes on in someone else’s marriage. Eileen gave her time and energy for this family when we needed her most. She did it selflessly and out of love for your mother. Who, by the way, would have done exactly the same thing for her. But she still had two young daughters at home and a husband who needed her. Now, clearly there were problems already – I don’t know if you remember they were divorced a couple of years later – but I don’t think we can fault her for hearing Bruce’s dissatisfaction and trying to be more present for her own family.’

‘Is that the story now?’ Charlie hated how nasty she sounded, especially after the kindness and understanding he’d just shown her. But she couldn’t help herself.

Her father looked at her and squinted. ‘I’m sure I could have handled this better. You know I’m not great at these conversations. But I think you could have, too.’ He stood up and took his keys from the little mounted hook by the door. ‘I won’t be too late. Good night, Charlie.’

He closed the door quietly behind him, and Charlie must have stared at it for nearly five uninterrupted minutes, tears rolling down her face, before an email beeped on her phone. Her heart beat a little faster when she saw it was from Todd.

Charlotte,

Let’s consider this incident your first fuck-up and your last, at least if you wish to retain my services. Your brother has explained in depth to me the series of events. I most certainly understand that you did not intend to smoke marijuana, and I am also aware that merely missing a testing window with the doping officials results in a failed test, nothing more. That’s the good news. The shit news is that no one else understands either of these two points. Jake and I have been in touch with Meredith to get to work on the optics of this situation. For your part, you will:

1. Issue an approved apology via Instagram, Facebook, and your website to your fans.

2. Explain the doping test ‘failure.’ Again, this will be approved first by all of us.

3. Convince me that you will never again attend ‘room parties’ or any other such nonsense at any point during a tournament.

4. Commit to training and practicing an additional extra hour per day to prepare for Wimbledon.

I’ll pick you up at Heathrow so we can review this. I’m assuming I need not remind you how to conduct yourself on Bono’s yacht this weekend. If I catch even a whiff of pot smoke or scandal, you and I are over. Happy travels.

Todd

Charlie read it once more before clicking it closed. She’d had more than enough for one night.

19

bono on a boat

MEGA-YACHT IN THE MED, JUNE 2016

Todd was waiting in baggage claim for her after she cleared customs. He had arranged for all of them to stay in a flat in central Wimbledon Village for two weeks before the tournament began. She would train on the courts, get herself reacquainted with grass courts, and acclimate her body to the time change and food differences. It was almost impossible to believe it had been an entire year since the injury, and she still didn’t have a Grand Slam to show for another twelve months of training and traveling. But first there was the yacht.

‘Hey,’ Charlie said awkwardly, unsure whether to extend a hand or offer a hug.

Todd barely glanced at her. ‘You got everything? Only one racket bag? Where’s the rest of your crap?’

‘I brought six rackets as carry-on and checked the clothes I’ll need for the boat, but I sent the rest of my rackets and gear directly to the address you gave me in the Village. Has Nike delivered the outfits yet?’

Todd grunted. ‘They’re with Monique.’

‘Monique?’

‘Yes. She’s going over every lousy sock and sweatband with a fine-tooth comb to make sure it conforms to all Wimbledon standards. There will not be another wardrobe malfunction this year. Not on my watch.’

‘That’s great, thanks. I appreciate it,’ Charlie said, nearly racing to follow him out to the sidewalk after he grabbed her bags.

‘That’s about the only thing you don’t have to worry about. Everything else is definitely your problem.’

Charlie was silent as they walked out to the curb. A driver would be taking her from Heathrow to Luton, one of the smaller airports on the outskirts of London, for her flight to Naples, and Todd was along for the ride. The charity event was a last-minute invitation after Venus Williams had come down with the flu. But to pull out would be effectively admitting a drug problem. Or, as Meredith said, ‘Might as well head to Hazelden.’

Todd held the door open for Charlie and motioned for her to climb into the back of a waiting Audi station wagon. She didn’t even notice Dan sitting beside the driver until he turned around to say hello.

‘What are you doing here? You know I won’t be back to hit until Monday,’ Charlie said, not intending to sound quite as rude as she had.

Dan shot a look at Todd, who cleared his throat.

‘What’s going on?’ Charlie asked.

Todd climbed in next to her. The driver shifted into gear.

‘Dan is accompanying you to Italy,’ Todd said.

‘Pardon?’

‘You heard me.’

‘You’re sending me with a babysitter?’

Dan averted his eyes.

‘What, isn’t that what you are? My minder? So I don’t humiliate myself and—?’

Todd interrupted. ‘Call it whatever you want, Silver. Now, I understand why this trip is necessary from a public relations standpoint – Meredith was insistent you accept this invitation – and because of that I won’t fight your attending. But don’t think for a single fucking minute that you’re there to do anything except pose for cameras, look happy and sober, and wave to your adoring fans. Because that would be a huge mistake.’

‘I’m not some degenerate teenager, Todd.’