‘I don’t know …’ I try to remember if I’ve seen Mum give her any. ‘I guess so.’

‘I’ll go and get some.’ Rose passes Elsa back to me. ‘What do you want?’

I scan through the prices on the menu. ‘I’ll have a glass of milk,’ I say, ignoring the Oreo milkshake and caramel hot chocolate.

‘Is that all?’

‘Yes, thanks.’ I hand her the money.

While Rose is inside, Elsa and I take in the view. The sea is calm, barely rippling, and the sky’s a hazy blue. It must be the warmest day we’ve had this year and the sun is almost hot on my face. There are even some children screaming as they run in and out of the sea. Suddenly, I think, Suncream, and I take out the bottle that I grabbed before I left the house. I squirt a blob in my hands and try to rub it into Elsa’s face. She starts to wriggle and scream and I have to trap her between my legs to keep her still.

‘What are you rubbing on her?’ I look up to see Annie coming over in her wheelchair. ‘Acid?’

‘Factor fifty,’ I say, holding up the bottle. ‘I don’t think she likes it.’

‘You don’t say.’ She pulls herself in close to the table, rests her chin in her hands and watches as I attempt to rub the cream into a squealing Elsa. ‘I didn’t think you’d come,’ she says after a moment.

I look up at her. ‘I didn’t think you’d come either.’ I finish with the suntan lotion and drop it back in my bag. My hands are all greasy so I rub them on Elsa’s chubby arms.

She shrugs. ‘I was down here anyway.’ She’s wearing black dungarees and a tight purple top. Hanging round her neck is a necklace that says, ‘POW!’

‘So is this the half-sister?’ she says.

‘Her name’s Elsa.’

‘And that revolting object is?’

‘Pongo, my dog.’

‘He looks evil,’ she says, running her hands through his coat. ‘I love him.’

At this moment, Rose returns with a heaving tray. ‘I got you both ice cream too,’ she says shyly, ‘and milkshakes.’ Annie and I stare as she places elaborate sundaes in front of us.

Annie takes a cocktail umbrella out of hers and licks chocolate sauce off it. ‘God, Rose. This must have cost a bomb!’

Just as I’m wondering how I can possibly afford to pay Rose back, she says, ‘It doesn’t matter. I used my birthday money.’

‘When was your birthday?’ I say.

‘Oh,’ she shrugs, ‘today.’

Annie and I glance at each other. I am so glad I decided to come.

‘Thanks, Rose.’ Annie takes her long spoon and plunges it into the layers of chocolate sauce, ice cream and brownie. ‘That was a really kind thing to do.’ Then she looks up and smiles at Rose. It’s quite a shy smile, and with the sun shining on her dark hair and her pale eyes glittering, she suddenly looks like a beautiful alien.