‘I feel like it should be rubbish, that Rav is probably right and it’s all just superstitious nonsense,’ I say, keeping my voice low, even though the waitress is out of earshot. ‘But then there is part of me that thinks about what Mrs Sparks said, that it was there to keep us safe, to keep the children safe.’ Active, that was the word she used. She said the house was active before she hid the charm. ‘I feel … unsettled, I suppose. I wish Rav hadn’t thrown them away.’

My mother suppresses a smile. ‘Allie, it probably is just superstition. Perhaps. What do you feel in your gut?’

I am silent, slightly hurt by the ghost of a smile that still sits on her lips. Everyone, my mother, Rav, they all seem to find this a little ridiculous, funny, something to laugh about. ‘My gut tells me she is right, that the charm was protecting the house,’ I say finally. ‘Things have been … odd in the house since I found it.’ Hands on me while I sleep, that unnerving feeling that someone is watching me, movement in the glass of the mirror.

The waitress appears, placing the peppermint tea in front of me, hesitating a moment before setting the coffee down in front of my mother. ‘Enjoy,’ she says, slipping a small silver plate onto the table with the bill attached.

‘She forgot the cream,’ my mother mutters under her breath, flapping a hand at me when I look after the waitress and raise my hand to flag her down. ‘Leave it. It’s better for me to not have the cream. Perhaps it is for the best that Rav throws away the keys, the charm, whatever it is. You said yourself he doesn’t believe in any of these things. So maybe, it can be a fresh start for you both.’

‘Perhaps. Although I just wish he would listen to me, instead of brushing everything aside like it’s nothing. I mean …’

‘Listen, Allie. I think you must just focus on the children, and yourself. You told me before you are not sleeping properly, and you have to take care of yourself, so you can take good care of the children. Tell me, how is everything with Rav?’

‘Fine,’ I say darkly, ‘apart from he’s coming home late. Every night. We barely see him at the moment although …’

‘Although?’

Reluctantly, I let the words come. ‘He found time to meet Naomi for a drink.’ Mum says nothing but waits expectantly. ‘And she texted him to say she needs to talk to him about something. She never mentioned it to me, though.’

‘You think something is going on?’ Mum leans forward, lowering her voice. I bet she would love that, if Rav were cheating on me. ‘Surely not.’