‘I’ll pick you up about five thirty,’ said Raf as he saw me out of the hotel after breakfast and walked me back to my bike along the beachfront. He gripped my hand. ‘I’m real glad you’re coming back with us.’

‘Yeah, so am I.’

‘You got something on your mind?’

‘How did you know? I didn’t even know something was on my mind until you said it.’

‘I can tell with you. You go all quiet and you sort of do this staring thing. It’s, like, momentary but I see it.’

‘I’m gonna miss my uncle, that’s all. He’s been good to me.’

‘It’s not forever. You can come back whenever you want.’

‘I don’t think I can,’ I said and fell against him into a hug.

‘Why not?’

‘He’s not going to be… with us much longer,’ I said.

‘Oh baby, I’m sorry,’ said Raf, rubbing his hand up and down my back in long strokes, which was so soothing I almost fell asleep against him as he held me there. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘I’ve been trying to block it out. Pretend it wasn’t happening.’

He didn’t seem to want any further explanation. Must have thought I meant cancer. ‘Do you want me to come back with you and get your stuff?’

‘No, I’ll be OK.’ I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him. ‘Go have a good day with your fam. Say bye to Salomé for me. I’ll see you later.’

‘Five thirty,’ he said, not letting go of my hand. He pulled me back in as I tried to leave.

‘What’s up?’

‘Are you gonna be all right?’

‘Yeah. I got my bike.’

‘I can take you up there in the car. It won’t take ten minutes.’ I gave him the eyebrows. ‘I know. We gotta survive apart to be better together.’

‘Something like that.’

I gave him one final lingering kiss and unchained my bike from the racks near the ice cream shop. He waved me goodbye and I rode away.

When I got to the Hacienda, I suppose it was around 11 a.m. My plan was to pack my bag, say my goodbyes, and be back down with him for a one o’clock lunch. That isn’t what happened.

For a start, when I got inside, the house was silent. I ran upstairs to tell Tenoch I was leaving but he wasn’t there – his bedroom was empty. All the medical equipment had gone, there was no Dr Gonzales, the bed was neatly made, and the little yarn gatita I’d bought him sat alone in the centre. I picked it up and called out to him again, louder.

‘Tenoch?’

No answer, came the reply.