Esther’s head buzzed. She rounded a bend at speed, the T-junction arriving out of nowhere. The car bucked when she braked, the tyres shrieking as she skidded across the centre of the road, coming to a halt at the foot of a sign on the opposite verge. Blurred traffic shot past, just feet from her front bumper. But none were turning into her road and the way behind her remained clear. Shaking, checking her mirrors over and over, Esther reversed and manoeuvred back into the correct lane. In the same instant a van appeared in her side mirror, approaching at speed, forcing her to get on with the turn. Esther took it slowly, swinging into a break in the traffic streaming towards Cambridge, and squeezing the steering wheel now simply to still the tremble in her arms. It didn’t matter and would pass, she soothed herself. She was okay. She would drive all the way to Lily and Matteo’s little block of flats if necessary. There was nothing to get back for. Nothing that mattered more than reaching Lily.

The Fiat floated into view a few minutes later. Esther caught up until she was as close as she dared, flashing her lights and her hazards, and tooting her horn. She saw her daughter’s first angry glance in the rear-view mirror, and then the gradual gawping recognition that it wasn’t a road-rage nut who was tailgating her, but her own mother.

‘So, you’re worried about your brother.’

Lily grimaced. ‘Well, of course. I mean, we all are. Look, Mum, this was sweet of you – and totally insane. I thought I was being arrested or something.’

‘I’m worried about you, Lily,’ Esther said flatly. ‘Something is up. I know it is.’

Lily sighed, folding her arms and shaking her head. They had pulled into a layby and were leaning side by side against her car. ‘Mum, I already told you. My period…’ She screwed up her face, in order, Esther sensed, not to look her in the eye.

‘Apart from that you’re fine, you mean?’ she countered dryly. ‘And meanwhile, Matteo both needs the car and needs you home because he is cooking?’

Lily squinted at something through the trees screening a field of blue-plastic-covered hay bales. ‘Actually, the truth is, it has been a bit… hectic… between us recently… with him massively into the band and… me pretty stressed about my thesis.’

‘You’re too good at worrying about others, that’s your trouble,’ Esther said gently, having waited for more that wasn’t forthcoming. She reached down and picked up Lily’s slim hand, planting a kiss on the knuckles. ‘Between you and Matteo, darling, is it bad?’

‘Oh, no. Truly not. It’s just… like… we are both a bit preoccupied with other stuff at the moment.’

‘And as for the thesis,’ Esther continued, having waited in vain again for elaboration, ‘you should obviously talk to your supervisor.’