‘Oh, Alys.’ I let the name slide, as my mother’s mouth twists down into an expression I haven’t seen for years. Sadness. Or disappointment, maybe. ‘It’s a dream. OK, you have this strange feeling about the house, but you just had a baby. We all feel strange when we have a baby.’

‘Maybe.’ I blink, hot tears stinging behind my eyes. I don’t want to cry in front of her.

‘Perhaps the history of this house is playing on your mind, this is why you have the strange dreams,’ my mother says. ‘Maybe you need to speak to this girl in the bookshop again, to find out what she knows. If you can find out more about the house, then maybe it will set your mind at rest.’ She hands me a tissue from the table. ‘Better?’

I nod, sniffing. ‘Better. Sorry. Maybe you’re right. Perhaps I should find out more – Miranda said there is a lady in the village who used to live here. Maybe I should go and see her.’

‘That sounds like a good idea.’

‘Would you …’ I pause, strangely reluctant to ask the question. ‘Would you come with me? If the lady will see me? I’d rather not go on my own.’

‘Of course.’

‘Brilliant.’ I let out a breath. ‘Thank you. Will you stay now? I would like Mina to see you properly when she wakes up.’

But Mum is already shaking her head. ‘I can’t stay, Allie. But I will be back, I will come with you to see this lady who lived here.’ She glances at the clock on the kitchen wall. ‘I should be going.’

It’s because of Rav, I think. Even though we’re married with children she doesn’t want to accept him, to accept that I’m happy with him.

‘Look, Mum, don’t worry about Rav.’

‘What do you mean?’ The look on her face tells me she knows exactly what I mean.

I sigh. ‘I know … the two of you don’t get on. You don’t like him.’ She opens her mouth to speak but I raise a hand. ‘I’d love nothing more than for you to just accept that Rav and I are together, but I kind of know that isn’t going to happen now. I suppose what I’m trying to say is … I’m glad you’re here. And if you don’t want to come over when Rav is here, then it’s fine with me. I’m just happy to be able to spend some time with you. I’ve missed you.’

My mother smiles and presses her cold hand to my cheek. ‘I am glad to see you too. And I do have to go, but I will come over again, tomorrow perhaps.’