Something had shifted in the air between them. Their trust had been replaced by a suspicion that thickened the air like mucus. They pasted on smiles and acted upbeat, trying to make Johnny’s last few days at home the best they could.

Piles of stationery, socks, paperwork, jeans and T-shirts appeared around the house like strange molehills as Johnny gathered his belongings together for university.

It only seemed like minutes ago he was a baby, sucking his own toes and nestling into Liv’s neck. She’d spent hundreds of sleepless nights with her cheek pressed to his scalp while he fed. She could get drunk off his milky, powdery smell, and exhaustion left her functioning like a zombie during daylight.

The era of petting puppies at the school gates, devouring jam sandwiches with other mums at soft play centers and dousing Johnny’s broccoli in ketchup so he’d eat it, had whizzed by in a flash.

The thought of not seeing his flock of scruffy hair each day, not hearing his chatter about TikTok or straightening his crumpled bed sheets, filled her with a dread she couldn’t explain or share. Even scooping up his socks off the bathroom floor made her feel sad. Liv felt like the house was burning down around her, the flames singeing her eyelashes, and no one had any water to put it out.

Mack left for uni a couple of days before his brother. When the day arrived for Johnny to leave, too, Liv stood beside him in the hallway, trying to disguise her fear and sense of loss.

As he stuffed yet another T-shirt into his huge bag, she couldn’t stop a stream of mum-talk jettisoning from her lips. He was to be careful on the train, and to pack his belongings away neatly when he arrived. He should have a decent breakfast each day, and phone home each week. Even she was exhausted by the sound of it.

Johnny unzipped his bag and moved some stuff around, not looking up at her. He’d been acting as if leaving home wasn’t a big deal, but she saw his bottom lip quiver.

You leaving is like having my right arm sawn off, and I’m going to miss you more than you’ll ever know, Liv wanted to tell him. Instead, her words came out as, “Have you remembered your phone and your wallet?”

He nodded. “Yep, and my keys, and my deodorant.”

“Make sure you keep your new place clean and tidy.”

He grinned at her. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

She was just about to touch Johnny’s hair when Jake joined them in the hallway, stealing the precious moment away.

“You sure you’ve got enough stuff there, mate?” Jake said. “Shall I get the kitchen sink for you?”

“Nah, I’ve got one already.” Johnny grinned. “This is cozy. Are you two escorting me off the premises?”