Another deep sigh. ‘Yeah, you say that, but … I’m your mum. I worry about you. I don’t want you taken advantage of. She does that, you know. She’s a leech. Living for nothing all these years and—’

‘Mum, I’ve gotta go. There’s a lot to do here and I’ve still got uni and work and everything.’

‘Do you want me to come down? I can ask at work. They owe me some time.’

The day her mother saw what Nic had done to the place was the day the only bit of property owned by anyone in their broken, fucked-up family would be burnt to the ground. Better at least wait to find out if it’s insured before letting that happen.

‘Nah, don’t. It’s really not that bad. It’s good, actually, having my own space for a bit. No housemates.’

A pause. ‘Yeah, okay. But I’m serious, Leen. If it gets too much, if she starts asking you for, I don’t know, anything else, you say no and call me and I’ll handle her. You’ve got your own life to live—you can’t be—’

‘Okay, Mum. See ya.’ She hung up.

Four texts had arrived while she’d been talking. Two dicks, a Mum said Aunty Nic’s got you cleaning her house? from Will, and a Can you do 4–12 tonight? from her manager. She deleted the dicks, sent an eye-roll to Will and a thumbs-up to work.

Seven hours until she’d have to leave. Six-and-a-half before she’d need to be in the shower. She could get heaps done in that time. The whole kitchen would be good. That way she could at least make coffee tomorrow before she started.