“‘The green looked fit.’” Mum’s voice was shaking with laughter, and we were only four words in. “‘We’ve never had so much snow—and just before the big day! Radness! Even better than my new trainers with the zips in! (Best pressie EVA!).’” I tried not to react, although I wanted to on SO many levels. “‘Jess had been crashing at mine when it started. That’s when we had the idea! We set our alarms mega early and went out and did it. We stomped for ages. Probs three hours! In the pitch black too. Jess had Docs on, but my feet went numb in minutes. Absolutely minging! But we did it. A “HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!” big enough to see from the houses. We were dead proud of ourselves—until Mr. Phillips yelled out of his window to ask why we’d written Happy Chritmas. He woke up the whole street. We totally creased! Absolute classic though. Jess said the spelling made it even better (yes, my best mate is a total dude) and never blamed me although it was totally my fault. When the news people came (yes, they came here!), they did their whole report in front of it. Actual FAME.’”

Wow—it was weird to think about Mum growing up here too. And saying the word minging. Apparently it meant gross.

“Honestly, Hol, it felt like we’d made Hollywood when the TV crew turned up.” Mum was wiping tears from under her eyes. “I kept asking them if they’d film me walking past in my new trainers.”

“Speaking of that year…” I got my phone out. “You know that girl I love? @OneElleOfATime? Did you see what she posted?”

When Mum saw it, her brow furrowed.

“Weird…” She leaned closer. “Can you make it any bigger?” She clicked on Elle’s profile picture, and when it opened, she kept repeating the name Elle a lot, until she snapped her fingers.

“I think you’re going to like this.” She got her iPad and opened Facebook. “You know the Jess I was just talking about? Jess Miller?” I nodded. Mum went to her profile. It was picture upon picture of Jess…and Elle. @OneElleOfATime. On a beach. Putting up decorations. Smiling with a cute old grandma. “I reckon that Elle…or Noëlle, as I think it could be, might be Jess’s daughter.” She tilted the screen toward me. “I mean, they’re identical, right?”

How could she nod calmly like this wasn’t on a level with finding out Lizzo was your second cousin?!

“You can close your mouth, Hol—Noëlle’s just like you.” Erm, nope. “In fact, Jess was telling me she’s been struggling to make friends.”

Actual splutter. Parents could be so clueless.

“I think not, Mother?! She’s an actual goddess!” I couldn’t stop clicking through the family pictures of her. It was like getting behind the scenes. “And… You. Know. Her?”