“And do you feel you’ve been having problems with your memory?” The doctor gave her mother a kind but direct look.

“I think I may have been. Of course, it’s difficult to say. It’s so easy to excuse little lapses, blame it on age.”

“And how old are you?”

“Seventy-three.” Her mother’s chin tilted upwards a notch. “Seventy-four in March.”

“Memory loss or confusion is not actually a normal part of ageing,” the doctor said kindly. “So if you are experiencing those symptoms, it is important to get tested.”

“Which is why we’re here.” A steely note entered Tina’s voice. “To determine if I am in fact, losing my mind.”

The doctor looked as if he wanted to argue with her choice of phrasing, but then he smiled and inclined his head. “Part of the testing process is to rule out other options. Why don’t we go through your health history?”

Olivia tried to relax as he took Tina through her medical history, and then finally turned away from his computer. “Shall we get started, then?”

Tina gave a rather regal nod, and Olivia had to keep from clenching her fists and gritting her teeth as the doctor went through a test similar to the one she’d found online, asking her mum to recall today’s date, which she could, and then draw a clock face on the pad of paper he pushed towards her.

Olivia watched, holding her breath, as her mother carefully drew a wavering circle, and then hesitated before filling in the numbers.

“Sorry, sorry,” she muttered as she scratched out the nine, which had been in the place of the six, and put it where it belonged. The doctor watched impassively and Olivia had to bite her lips to keep from saying something pointless and unhelpful.

Anyone could mix up a six and a nine. It was normal. She’d done it on occasion. Then the doctor asked Tina to recall the address he’d told her at the beginning of the test, and Olivia watched with a sinking heart as her mother’s brow crinkled.

“Yes, of course I remember that...it was...let me see, it was...” She paused, pursing her lips, her eyes scrunched up with the effort.

It was fifty-one Woodford Close, Mum, Olivia wanted to shout. You said it after him, twice! Come on!

“Something to do with...” Her mother trailed off and then shook her head, her expression turning resolute and rather stony. “I’m sorry. I can’t remember.”

“That’s all right.” The doctor spoke easily, as if this wasn’t a big deal, but Olivia knew it was. It had to be. “It was fifty-one Woodford Close. Does that ring a bell?”

“Oh, yes, of course.” Tina nodded. “Fifty-one Woodford Close. Now I remember.” Except Olivia didn’t think she did.

“Well.” The doctor sat back, his hands folded. “As you probably realise, you had a few issues with some parts of the test.”

“Yes.” Tina pressed her lips together.

“I think the best thing to do is leave it for a few weeks, and then take you through another test, perhaps after Christmas, to see how you’re getting on. In the meantime I’ll schedule you for a blood test so we can rule out any other options.” He gestured to her arm. “The nurse will change the dressing on your arm before you go.”