‘I’m having great fun, as you can see. I’m doing a bit of tidying up in this pigsty. I reckoned that you must have let yourself go, but this goes beyond my worst fears. I was on the verge of calling those two girls on the TV who come and clean up the place, in desperate cases.’

I glanced around the room. She was right. I couldn’t bring myself to say, You’re right, which would have choked me, so I said nothing and slumped on the sofa, grabbing a plaid blanket and wrapping it snugly around me.

‘Oh, and, by the way, don’t look for your plonk; I’ve chucked it all away.’

‘You’ve what?’

‘I’ve chucked it all away.’

‘For fuck’s sake, Mum, it’s not plonk. You’ve just thrown away several hundred euros’ worth of wine.’

‘Watch your language, my girl. Forget the price, look at you. You can’t carry on like this. I’m taking things in hand.’

‘No, you’re not taking things in hand. You’re going to leave me alone. If I want to have a little drink from time to time, that’s my business, and you’re not my cleaner either. Go away, please, Mother.’

‘No way. I’m staying.’

‘Are you kidding?’

‘Do I look as if I’m joking? Do you know what could have happened to you yesterday? You were so drunk that anyone could have taken advantage of you. When that taxi driver dropped you and you passed out, you had your keys on you. If some pervert had come along, God knows what he could have done to you. I waited for you all evening on the steps. Like a beggar. Luckily, your neighbours recognized me and didn’t boot me out. I saw you slumped in the entrance and that was painful. It hurts me to see you like this, Thelma. I’ve been following you for several days. I’m afraid for you; I’m watching you go downhill, drinking wine by the litre and getting thinner in front of my eyes. I know you’re spending your days at the hospital. At first, I thought what you were doing for your son was wonderful, but you’re becoming a wreck for all to see. It’s not going to help if you slowly kill yourself. If you let yourself go, you won’t be able to fight for your son, and, if you can’t do it, how is Louis going to find the strength to fight?’