‘Let’s not bother with the buggy, she can walk, can’t you Bon Bon?’ Liam says.

‘Yes, I’m a big girl.’

Liam and I take one hand each.

One of my earliest memories is of a family picnic. I was around five, we sat on a red tartan rug and the fluff kept sticking to my food. My mother had made sandwiches and had various salads and dips in Tupperware boxes. I’m sure she did this a lot, but I only remember it the once. My recollections of my early years are hazy, but I do have some happy memories to refer back to.

My father was very proud of his wicker picnic hamper and kept mentioning the joys of drinking wine out of an actual wine glass in the middle of a beach. I remember Mum telling him to stop going on about it, but laughing at him at the same time. He leaned over and kissed her. She told him to get off. This was a common dynamic for them. Believe it or not, it was a sign of affection. They were flirtatious back then. I remember hints of it.

My dad had brought a skipping rope with us that day, and while they both took an end each, I jumped over it.

‘Faster, faster,’ I would shout, and they would oblige, speeding up until my little legs couldn’t take it. I’d crash to the sand laughing and exhausted, and they would laugh too.

Funny to think of me being a happy little girl. I had no idea what cards life had decided to deal me at that point. I was innocent. My relationship with my parents was all that mattered, really.

‘Can I have chocolate?’ Bonnie asks in Pret a Manger, as Liam gathers far too much food for us to eat in the park. He winks at Bonnie and puts a Rocky Road bar into his basket.

‘Rubes, anything particular you would like?’ he asks me. I shake my head, then pick up an apple and pop it in the basket.

‘That is far too much food, you two will never eat it all. Waste of money,’ I tell him, as he loads it onto the counter so the cashier can ring it up.

‘Oh, I bet we will, right Bon Bon?’

Bonnie nods enthusiastically.

‘There wasn’t much point in us calling her Bonnie if you insist on only calling her Bon Bon, was there?’ I say, taking my apple and putting it into my bag. Liam mimics what I said in a silly voice and makes Bonnie laugh. I huff off and wait outside.

‘If she eats all that she will feel sick,’ I say, when he comes out. He stands in front of me and looks me directly in the eye.