‘Thank you for coming over, Avó, I’ll let Rav know you came.’ I lean down and kiss her wrinkled, raisin-like cheek. ‘Goodbye, Naomi.’ Mina fusses at my legs and I lift her into my arms so she can wave goodbye to her grandmother. As they reach the garden gate, my mother appears on the other side of the road, checking for traffic before she starts to cross. She raises her hand to me as Naomi lifts the latch on the gate to let Avó through, Naomi throwing a brief smile in my mother’s direction before she hurries Avó to the pavement.

I stand at the garden gate, watching as she helps Avó into the car, before getting in herself and driving smoothly away. Avó looks back and waves, but Naomi keeps her eyes on the road.

‘Penny for it?’ My mother walks up the path to stand beside me before turning back, raising one hand to shield her eyes as she joins me in watching Naomi drive away.

‘It’s a penny for them,’ I say. She never could get her head around English idioms. ‘I thought you’d left. I haven’t seen you.’

‘I’ve been busy, lots to do.’ She looks older today, her shoulders slightly bowed and thin lines radiating from her mouth that I haven’t noticed before. ‘Was that Avó with Naomi? It’s a shame I missed her; I would have liked to have seen her.’

‘You would?’ I frown. My mother never had time for Avó before.

She shrugs, a familiar gesture. ‘It’s been a long time. It would have been nice to catch up. Maybe next time.’ She peers closely at me. ‘What about you? How are things? You don’t look so good.’

I smooth down my hair, press a hand to my cheek. I don’t feel so good, either. I turn and lead her through the garden and into the house, waiting until she is seated at the table and Mina is preoccupied with the TV before I say, ‘I think Rav is going to take the children away.’

Mum reaches for her cigarettes, runs one through her fingers as she eyes me closely. ‘Why do you think this?’

‘I found flight searches on his computer. A message thread on his phone to Naomi about me, and how he has sorted out passports. I think they’re planning it together.’ I blink back tears, still not wanting to cry in front of her, a hangover from my teenage years. Tears don’t get you sympathy with my mother. ‘Things have happened since you were here last …’ I explain about the toxic flowers left in the bedroom, the tea, how Rav had found me in the pond. How everything keeps coming back to me, and how I feel there is a connection between what is happening now and the past.