‘Ravi just wants to do the best by you,’ Avó says, as I try to focus on what she is saying. ‘And for the children. The children are so important to him, but you must know this. He has everyone’s best interests at heart and what he is planning …’

I switch on, her words snagging. ‘What he is planning?’ I hardly dare breathe as I wait for Avó to elaborate. I can’t believe he has told his mother what he plans to do – would he tell her? Perhaps she thinks I know; she doesn’t realize that I have been left in the dark.

‘Ahhh, here we are.’ Avó turns as Naomi appears with a jug of iced water and three glasses on a tray, a carton of juice for Mina on the side. She must have gone through every cupboard to find the jug; it was in a box in the pantry, still packed from when we moved in.

‘Here we go, ladies.’ She pours for each of us but as Avó gulps greedily, I leave my glass untouched.

‘You’re looking very smart for the shop, Naomi,’ I say. ‘Did you have an important meeting or something?’

She colours, her cheeks a glowing shade of pink. ‘No, nothing like that. Just the flower market, and obviously it gets warm in the shop. This was the coolest outfit I had.’

‘Avó was just about to tell me about Rav’s plans,’ I say, keeping my face neutral. I give nothing away, as Naomi’s colour subsides, and she turns a watery pale. Avó is preoccupied, cooing over the doll Mina is showing her.

‘Oh?’ Naomi says. ‘That sounds intriguing. I love what you’ve done with the border, although I’m not sure that keeping that oleander is such a good idea. What if Mina or Leo get hold of it? It’s toxic, you know.’

‘I know. I shouldn’t be surprised that you know that too.’

‘You should plant the hibiscus,’ Avó butts in. ‘I miss the hibiscus. My mother used to grow it all over our garden in Margoa. Why don’t you plant that, Allie? Take that horrible white one out.’

‘Yes, Margoa,’ I say, without taking my eyes from Naomi’s face. ‘You must miss it Avó. I know I do. It would be lovely to take the children there for a long, extended holiday.’ Naomi stills, her glass halfway to her mouth. She only pauses for a matter of seconds, if that, but I see it. ‘Perhaps I should sort out a passport for Leo, if Rav could get the time off over the summer we could go back, stay a while, visit with the aunties and uncles.’

Avó opens her mouth to speak, but Naomi jumps up, spilling water all across the garden table. ‘Oh shoot,’ she says. ‘Let me get a cloth and clean that up.’