‘That was Will’s drink, remember? Thought he was Mr Slick getting his takeaway cappuccino on his way into college, sipping it with all his little girlfriends tagging behind. Nicole loved her cappuccinos, too—might have even been her that got him on to them—but she said she couldn’t drink them from the day he went to prison because all she could think about was Will not being able to do what she was doing, sitting in the sun before work, licking the chocolate and froth off the top. She couldn’t bear that she was doing something he’d like to be doing. And it spun me out, because—I mean, not to be harsh, Lena—but there are worse things about jail than not being able to drink a bloody Italian coffee! But that’s what she’s like, you know? Obsesses over this stupid drink, as if not having it was a tragedy beyond the telling of it. As if her having or not having it made the slightest bit of difference to that poor kid.’

‘Bloody hell.’

‘My whole life, she’s stumped me. Not you, though. You always seemed to get her. Which also stumped me.’

‘I thought I did. I didn’t know her, though. All this time she’s been …’ Lena had been going to say she’d been living a double life, but she hadn’t, had she? She’d never lied or pretended to be someone different. It was just that Lena didn’t really bother to learn who she was. As though Aunty Nic—as though anyone—was simple enough to understand through sharing a boozy lunch once a week.

Lena had made the call with the intention of asking if Mum could pay her fare back home, but in the end she held off. Said she’d think about coming up for Christmas. Said she’d let her know once exams were finished.

Another missed call from Will. She moved to the bed, lay on her side and tucked her knees to her chest. Hit ‘return call’ before she lost her nerve.

‘Will, the thing you saw—I don’t want to talk about it.’

A breath. ‘Okay.’

‘I think we really fucked up with Nic’s place. I fucked up. Threw out her whole life without even trying to understand.’

‘Don’t know if we can understand, Leen. I mean, up to a point we can. I definitely get not wanting to let certain things go.’

‘Like Dad’s vice grips.’

‘Like Dad’s vice grips. And don’t think you can have a change of heart on them now by the way. They’re mine.’

Lena wanted to hug her brother very, very much in this moment. ‘I don’t know how to make it better.’

‘Come back here and we’ll figure it out.’

‘She hates me.’