‘They will be fine. I will see they are protected.’ But he was so flippant with it – he didn’t really care. And I don’t think I could force him to. Sometimes he could be a real prick.

‘Come on, we have to go.’ I didn’t move until he looked at me. ‘I give you my word, Celestina and her kids will be all right. I’ll keep Paco away from them.’

As we reached the car in a parking lot at the back of an electrical store, a stray dog puttered over to us, sniffing the air for the macarons Tenoch had bought for supper. It was in my nature to fuss it and want to take it home but the dog didn’t want to be held for long. Most of the shopkeepers left out water bowls and he lapped greedily at one at the front of the store.

‘I miss having a dog,’ I said as I got in the car, watching it pad away in the wing mirror as the engine started. I was so focused on him and reminiscing about the way Tink used to snuggle up under my armpit in the mornings, I nearly didn’t see it – the black BMW that turned out of the side street and sped off in the opposite direction. The unmistakable arm dripping in gold bracelets and rings, resting on the driver’s open window.

‘That was him,’ I said, just as a large van clattered past. ‘That was Paco.’ I don’t think Tenoch had heard me, but I didn’t say it again.

Monday, 29 April – Hacienda Santuario

1. Vapists
2. Rapists
3. Pedestrians who have no concept of the word ‘car’
4. Fitness freaks who take protein supplements when they’re already getting all the protein they need – we get it, you’re special, now fuck off
5. People who can’t construct a sentence and/or tell a joke – e.g. Paco when he’s pissed and/or drugged up to the eyeballs
6. People who shove my face into a cold pie at seven in the morning

‘Happy birthday, gatita!’ Tenoch announced as I came down the stairs. He was leaning against the kitchen counter and staring at his laptop screen, surrounded by the aforementioned jollity and decorations.

‘How did you know it was my birthday?’

‘I know everything about you. And I wanted to get you some things to celebrate. Everyone should have a birthday. Though this will have to be your last 29 April birthday. Your new birthday is 25 September.’

‘Oh. Right.’

‘And I got you a cheesecake from our favourite bakery. They just delivered it.’ He scuffed over to the fridge and brought out a flat white box, lifting the lid to show me a creamy yellow cheesecake with Happy Birthday scrawled over the top in red sauce. ‘It is vanilla and coconut and they use real vanilla pods and organic coconuts and fresh cream cheese. Smell it.’