We saw Dad’s shadow before we saw him. It was tall and thin and his head of dark bouncy curls made a nice curly shape on top. He came and sat down next to Caleb. The four of us were a sad, little row. Dad stretched his arm out so it went around all three of us. His hand was on my shoulder. It felt heavy.

After a while, he said, ‘I have something to tell you, and I need you to be very brave.’

We waited. I don’t think I was breathing.

‘Your mum has left for Scotland today. She needs to visit your grandma. You know she has been missing her mum very much, and although I wanted Grandma to come to visit us, she is not very well and can’t travel, so Mum is going to see her.’

‘But can we go with her?’ asked Caleb.

‘No, we have to stay here and keep going to work and school and the meetings. That’s what she would want us to do. And she will come back and tell you stories and bring you presents, and she will probably be wearing a kilt like everyone does in Scotland and she will be very happy because she’s seen her family again.’

‘Will she be able to play the bagpipes?’ asked Caleb.

‘Possibly. Who knows,’ said Dad.

‘Why didn’t she come with us today, Dad?’ I asked.

‘She is leaving this morning and she thought it would be a bit sad for us to see her get on the plane so Mr Driver is going to take her to the Adelaide Airport. She wanted you to be having a lovely time somewhere when she got on the plane so she could remember you all happy and excited,’ said Dad.

‘But she won’t remember us all happy and excited because she didn’t even get out of bed to see us and she didn’t say goodbye,’ I said. Ruthy started to bawl now.

‘She didn’t say goodbye to you when you were awake, but last night when you were asleep she sat next to each one of you and stroked your hair and told you she loved you very much and that it would break her heart not to see you every single morning and every single night,’ said Dad.

‘Did … did she mean that? Even for me?’ I asked.

‘She did mean that, and she meant it just as much for you as for Ruthy and Caleb. She loves you very much, Dorcas. Sometimes her sadness just gets in the way of her showing it,’ said Dad.

‘Will she be home by next Friday for tellie and chocolate?’ asked Caleb.

‘No,’ said Dad.

‘Will she be home to wash my school shirts for next week?’ asked Caleb.

‘No,’ said Dad.

‘Will she be home for the Sunday school prize night?’ asked Ruthy.

‘No, Ruthy. But she’s finished your frocks and they are waiting for you in her wardrobe. They are very beautiful yellow dresses with white dots on them, so you will be very happy, Dorcas.’