‘No. Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. They looked … close.’ I push my mug away from me, feeling slightly sick. ‘It might be nothing, I don’t know. Honestly, Mum, I don’t think I can even think about it at the moment.’

‘All the more reason to look after yourself. You know I had to take care of you alone after your father left us. It’s difficult, Allie, you know that, but you also know that you can come to the apartment in Paris anytime.’

‘Yes, Mum, I know how hard it was for you.’ Not just for you, either. ‘And I told you, I’m not coming to Paris. It might be nothing. She might have financial problems or something that she doesn’t want to worry me with, I don’t know.’ Wishing I hadn’t mentioned it to her, I get to my feet, sliding the strap of the changing bag onto my shoulder. ‘Look, I have to go, I need to go and get Mina from school. I’ll see you later?’ I throw a five-pound note and some small change into the dish on the table and leave my mother sitting in front of her slowly cooling coffee.