‘I’m sure you two want time to talk,’ Melody says as Adam hands her a cup. ‘I’ll take this to my room. What’s your wi-fi password, mate? I need to check the details of the festival, see if I can get a ride with someone.’

After getting the password Melody retreats upstairs, and my father passes me a mug from the opposite side of the kitchen island before spooning coffee into his own cup.

I take a sip of the hot tea. ‘How did you know I’m vegan?’

Since I got his letter, months after he’d sent it, we’ve only exchanged a few brief emails and still don’t know much about each other.

‘Paula emailed, said she didn’t know at first when you moved in with her and didn’t want us getting off on the wrong foot.’ He smiles, sitting down across from me.

That was nice of Paula, to prepare him and all. After I lost Mum to cancer, Paula tried her best to be a substitute and my uncle Dave, too—he even showed up uninvited at father–daughter day at school, something that made me angry at the time, but I now know was really a sign he was trying to be there for me. Uncle Dave is not only supportive, but he’s also hilarious, and our banter keeps me laughing.

At first, as much as Aunt Paula tried, her house felt like the opposite of home, I missed Mum so much. And it didn’t help that Paula had forgotten what I’d told her the Christmas before Mum died. That I loved animals, and when I found out how they were being treated in factory farms, and the horrible things that happen to baby chicks—even in the free-range egg industry—and baby calves in dairy farms, I cried for two days straight and decided to stop eating meat. I was too angry to tell Paula again, to go over the whole story only days after the funeral; I was disintegrating from grief, and being a vegan is a super personal and sensitive subject for me. Sometimes I have no energy to deal with haters at school, let alone adults with their countless questions and concerns. So, I hid it and refused her offerings and secretly threw away food. Which I’m not proud of now. Especially because Paula let me keep my dog Bella, despite her financial struggles. We found Bella when I first moved to West Creek—well, Paula nearly ran her over. Bella was skinny, scared and filthy.

I only told Paula recently about being vegan and, big relief, she was totally onboard. She’s also fallen in love with Bella, but I mean, who wouldn’t? Bella’s a little plump due to the endless scraps Paula feeds her while we’re cooking together.