‘Everything’s fine,’ Amelia said without a huge amount of conviction, then hesitated. ‘I mean . . . they’re all right. No one’s been horrible to me or anything, but . . .’ You could practically hear her pulling a face. ‘But the kids are doing my head in,’ she went on, lowering her voice. Then she gave a snort. ‘I am so glad I don’t have little brothers or sisters, you know. Man, they are a nightmare. And Celeste is . . . well, she’s getting on my nerves too. She acts like she’s this total earth mother, but do you know what I saw in her car when we went out earlier? Big Mac wrappers. I’m not kidding. Big Mac wrappers!’

‘No!’ cried Maggie, and then they were both laughing. ‘Really?’

‘Yep. Really. But even so, you’ve got to get me out of here. Please? She does all this drumming and shit, with bongos and whatever, it’s driving me nuts. Oh yeah, and get this, she “doesn’t believe” in washing-up liquid. She says it’s unhygienic. I’m like . . . Right. Yeah. Whatever you say, love. But I’m kind of not wanting to eat off your plates any more.’

Well, she was her mother’s daughter on that front at least, Maggie thought, remembering how she too had blanched at the filthy kitchen. ‘You should get her to take you with her next time she goes to McDonald’s,’ she joked and then they both started giggling again.

‘I might – you know, her cooking is absolutely rank. Dad’s is even worse. They basically just serve up mush. I haven’t actually chewed anything in, like, the whole time I’ve been here.’ There was a loud groan down the phone. ‘I’m like, hello, have these people never heard of pizza?’

‘What about . . .’ Maggie stumbled over the unfamiliar construction, ‘your dad? How are you getting on with him?’ She thought about the photos she’d seen the day before, Amelia’s breathless comments and enthusiasm. Having an amazing time with my famous dad!!!

The reply was somewhat less gushing. ‘He’s all right. But I don’t think he’s met many teenagers. You know? He either talks to me like I’m about five or like I’m twenty-five. I’m educating him, basically.’

Maggie couldn’t resist smirking as she sipped her tea. Teenagers were so brutal. ‘Well . . . It’ll take you a while to get to know each other, I guess,’ she said.

‘Mmm,’ said Amelia.

‘It’s good that you’ve met, though, isn’t it? And you can build things up?’ Maggie went on. Check out Lady Magnanimous, she thought, unused to feeling so gracious.