‘That’s why I’m doing my course, Mam. The council office is hard work, but I only have to stay there for another year or so. Besides, the pay’s better than I’d get in most places and let’s face it, we need every penny I can get.’

Cat eyed the witch’s hat sitting on the corner of the breakfast bar with its labels still attached and felt her face heat up with shame.

‘You could save some money if you left Mikey with me rather than with the childminder,’ Granny said.

‘I can’t keep having the same argument with you, Mam. Karen is a trained childminder, and besides, it’s good for him to be around other boys and girls. They’re his friends.’

For a long time they sat in silence eating dinner while Mikey babbled to himself.

Finally, her mam broke the tension. ‘How was your day, Cat? What did you do in school?’

‘Not much,’ Cat said. ‘Mr Brennan went easy on us because it’s nearly Halloween. We did art and at break we told scary stories.’

‘I hope you didn’t fill your friends’ heads with the nonsense your Granny tells you,’ her mam said, only half joking. Granny clearly didn’t find it funny. She sat with her lips pursed and made a small huffing sound.

When they finished eating, her mam brought Mikey upstairs to give him a bath and get him ready for bed. Cat found Granny lingering by the front door with a pensive look on her face.

‘Is everything OK?’ she asked cautiously.

‘Fine,’ said Granny, snapping out of her trance. ‘Now, you remember what I told you earlier?

Cat nodded.

‘Well come on, out with it.’

‘Don’t go outside when it’s dark, and ignore any music or strange sounds I might hear,’ Cat said, humouring the old woman.

‘This is serious, Caitriona. You’re in more danger than most. You have the Sight and that will make you a target. You need to protect yourself.’ She pressed something into Cat’s hand. It was a small charm made of the leaves and twigs Granny had pilfered from the neighbour’s garden.

‘Ash tree cuttings wrapped around an iron nail. Put it under your pillow tonight and it should keep you safe,’ Granny said. ‘I’ve hidden one under Mikey’s crib as well. They’re a bit basic, but they’ll do until I can make you something more powerful to protect yourself with. You’ll only have to carry the charm until Halloween’s over, but until then you have to promise me you’ll be smart and be careful.’

‘OK, Granny, I will.’

‘Good girl.’ Granny wrapped Cat in one of her surprisingly powerful hugs. ‘Right then, I’ll be off. I have all my soaps to catch up on before bed.’

Cat watched from the doorway as Granny set off down the garden path. For a moment she seemed to hesitate, and Cat fought back the urge to yell at her to come back inside where she was safe. But just like that, the moment passed, and Granny squared her shoulders and marched off into the night.