"It'll be my job to ensure there's no fuss tto distract you," she replies firmly, returning the squeeze - not too hard. But hard enough that he knows she means business. Don't test her grip if you don't can't deal with being tested back.

"I'll see you at the rehersal." Perhaps D's concerns were unfounded - but she didn't think so.

And as long as things went off without a hitch....they could worry about telling him, properly, about things during his 'hiatus'.