Rav lays his phone on the table, and I think that for a moment his hands look a little shaky. He folds them in front of him as if he knows they are shaking too. ‘When … When did your mum suggest that?’

‘Does it matter?’ I don’t understand what the big deal is. I’m just trying to do something nice, something normal, although of course, I don’t say that to him.

‘I just wondered. You know it’s been a long time since you were able to speak to your mum, so this idea seems to have kind of come out of the blue.’

‘It’s not been that long at all actually.’

‘Allie, when did you speak to your mum last?’

He knows. He knows she’s been visiting me. I should have known he would have smelled her cigarette smoke. ‘Today. She told me today that I should paint a mural on Mina’s wall.’

Rav’s face changes colour, pale beneath his tanned skin and he looks for a moment as though he might be sick. I don’t understand what the problem is – it’s just a lick of paint on the walls. If he hates it that much, I’ll paint over it. I’ll do whatever he wants, as long as he doesn’t take them. ‘What did you say? Is that meant to be funny, Allie?’

‘I said, it was my mother’s idea for me to start painting the mural today. She suggested it.’

Rav stands, running his hand through his hair, never taking his eyes off me before he moves forward and crouches next to me. He covers my hand with his. ‘Allie, why would you say that?’

‘Because it’s true. She told me, here, in the garden today that I should start working on the mural for Mina.’

‘Allie …’ Rav pauses, takes a deep breath. ‘Allie, your mother couldn’t have told you to start painting the mural today. Al, your mother died almost two years ago.’

Chapter Thirty-Two

‘I knew that,’ I say shakily, pulling my hand out from his and pushing my chair back. I feel sick. ‘I knew that, I didn’t mean it. It was just a joke. No one gave me the idea, I just decided on my own.’

‘Allie …’

‘Sorry, I need to use the bathroom.’ I push past him, leaving him standing open mouthed as I head upstairs, locking the bathroom door behind me. She died almost two years ago … but how could she have been here today, when she is dead?