“It is, because you can’t cross your heart. Your heart is inside your body, how do you cross it?”

“You’re right.” I put my head down and attached another two batteries until my mother stuck her head around the door.

“Lori, you’re up?” she said in a strange tone.

“Mom.” Zac jumped up. “I need one of your bangles.”

She looked at him curiously but slipped one off and handed it to him. “Don’t lose it.”

He shook his head and stared at the bangle with such intensity that I knew he was about to go into one of his happy creation bubbles.

“Can I talk to you downstairs?” my mom asked, forcing a big, white, veneered smile.

“Sure.” We walked downstairs and as soon as we had, she jumped straight into it.

“About last night,” she started. “I’m sorry you didn’t get into Blackwell, I know how much it meant to you. But there’s an excellent art degree at the University of Cape Town, and then you would be able to see Zac more.”

I nodded, even though I didn’t want to go there. I wanted to go to Blackwell.

“Anyway, I know I’ve been very busy lately with the move and my business, and now also trying to build my online personal brand.”

If I had to hear the words personal brand again, as if my mom was Kim Kardashian, I thought I might get sick.

“So why don’t you go out today, go out for the whole day and tonight, do whatever you like. Go to a party, stay out late. Whatever. I’ll look after Zac. And also, I wanted to tell you that I think we should start looking for a nanny to help on some afternoons, because all the responsibility is falling to you at the moment, which isn’t fair. I’m sure you have lots of other things you need to do.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “That’s a good idea. We’ll have to interview them very carefully, though.”

“Of course.”

“They need to have experience with kids like Zac.”

“Of course,” she repeated. “I’ve already contacted a very reputable agency that deals specifically with that.”