‘You used to care about one thing only: Ashleigh Delatour. Favourite subject. Only subject. The centre of the universe with everything revolving around you.’

The car doors slid open noiselessly, but we stayed where we were.

‘Hey, Aiden,’ I said. ‘Tell me like it is. Don’t spare my feelings.’

‘That’s what I was talking about before, Ash. I’m done with sparing your feelings, because although that seems like protecting you, it really isn’t. Not many people liked you because you weren’t interested in them. Do you remember that old gag? But enough talking about me. Let’s talk about you. What do you think about me? It was made for you.’

I knew Aiden was right, but I was close to tears anyway. Again. I sat in the car, head bowed. Deep down, I felt I deserved this.

‘The old Ash would have spat the dummy hearing this,’ said Aiden. ‘Tantrums. Tears. Throwing the toys out of the pram. But you’ve changed. You came with me to see Xena because you wanted to protect me. Dad told me about the gift they sent to that camp assistant’s son on our behalf. You’ve cared for me while I’ve been ill. You even let me have Z stay in my room, when I know you were desperate to have him in yours. Hate to break it to you, sis, but you’re becoming … kind.’

‘Now you are being horrible,’ I said and we both laughed. ‘Maybe that accident knocked some sense into both of us.’

‘Or maybe we’re both going through puberty.’

‘Not the hair and the pimples!’ I yelled.

We got out of the car. The doors closed behind us and the car drove itself off to the garage. Aiden took my hand once more and nodded towards the front door of our house.

‘Ready for Disneyland, Ash? The Happiest Place on Earth?’

‘What the hell is Disneyland, Aiden?’

‘Never mind, Minnie Mouse,’ he said. ‘Ancient history.’

Mum was back from India and was bustling around the kitchen, preparing a vegetable curry. She hugged us both and then went back to chopping onions and grinding spices in a mortar and pestle.

‘India is the place to go for vegetarian food, Ashleigh,’ said Mum. ‘Mind you, they’ve been specialising in it for thousands of years, but … my God, delicious. I brought back all these spices with me. Things you can’t get over here. Cumin, fenugreek, coriander seeds, black cardamom, garam masala. You’re going to love this.’

‘Good conference?’ asked Aiden.

Mum threw the spices into a frying pan and added a touch of vegetable oil. Almost immediately, the most amazing smell filled the kitchen.

‘Very productive, thank you.’

‘Did you find the poverty confronting?’