Mina giggles as water runs off the edge of the table, sitting beneath it so that it drips over her hair. I close my eyes, the image of her running across the lawn to the pond as vivid as it was last night. ‘Let me help you.’ I get up and follow Naomi into the kitchen.

She is on her phone, texting madly as I walk into the cool air of the kitchen. ‘Texting Rav?’ I say casually.

‘What?’ Naomi looks up, her eyes wide. ‘No. Why would I be texting Rav?’ I have to hand it to her, she’s an excellent liar. ‘Allie, are you OK? You look like you’ve lost even more weight.’

‘Thanks for the tea,’ I say shortly. ‘So kind of you to make sure Avó gave it to me. It had the desired effect. I’d better get that water cleaned up.’ Something glints at her throat, and I lean in to get a closer look, reaching past her for a roll of kitchen towel. It’s a pearl. A single pearl in a simple gold setting, hanging on a slim gold chain around her neck. ‘Where did you get that?’

‘What?’ Her hands go to her throat, her fist closing around the pearl. ‘It was a gift. My mother bought it for me, after my brother died. I’ve had it for years. Allie, I don’t know what is going on—’

‘I think you do,’ I hiss. ‘I think you do know. And I know, too. I know what you’ve been saying to Rav.’ I eye the necklace closely, wishing the pearl would scald her skin the way the ones I found scalded mine. ‘I won’t let you get away with this. Either of you. I think it’s best if you leave now, don’t you?’

Naomi stands, her phone in her hands and her mouth open, as I breeze past her back out into the garden. As I swipe at the puddles on the glass table, I feel her behind me and almost flinch as her voice comes close to my ear.

‘Avó, do you mind if we leave? I just had a text from Evie to say the shop is getting busy and she can’t manage the orders alone. I really need to get back and help her.’

I don’t look up, still dabbing at the water. The sun has gone in and there is a chilly wind now, the leaves of the trees rustling and swaying. Shivering, Avó gets to her feet, and Naomi holds out an arm for her to lean on.