They were about to enter the roundabout when Mimi saw it. A car flying into the roundabout from the right, just as she had feared. Callie realised her mistake too late and wasn’t going to react in time. Mimi grabbed the hand brake and wrenched it up. The wheels locked up and they skidded to a hard stop, the back of the car kicking out to the left. The other car continued on through the roundabout and Callie and Mimi sat still, breathing hard.

‘Mum,’ she began, ‘I’m so —’

‘Out,’ Mimi said. ‘Out of the car. I’m driving home.’

Callie didn’t say another word. She scurried out and the two of them swapped seats. Then they drove quietly towards home. Five minutes from their street, Mimi pulled over. ‘Out,’ she said again.

‘What? Are you making me walk home?’

‘No. I’m putting you back in the driver’s seat. You need to get back on the horse. But, one rule — you bloody well listen to me from now on, got it?’

Mimi might not have wanted to antagonise her daughter, but she also wasn’t going to pull any punches when it came to her safety.

Callie nodded. ‘Okay, I will. Mum?’

‘Yes?’

‘I’m really sorry.’

Mimi paused for a moment, trying to plan the best thing to say. She was relieved that Callie wasn’t blowing up at her and she wanted to take advantage of her being more reasonable for a change.

‘I am too. I should have been taking you out more often instead of letting Dad do it all the time. And I shouldn’t have relaxed and acted like you were already an experienced driver. I think because you really are so much better than I was at your age, I wasn’t teaching you the way I should have been. But the thing is, we all make mistakes and I don’t want your mistake to make you feel like you can’t do this, because you can and you are good. You just need to be a little more cautious still.’

Callie smiled. ‘Thanks, Mum.’ She leaned across the seat and hugged Mimi, and Mimi was so surprised she almost didn’t hug her back. But then she wrapped her arms around her daughter and squeezed her tightly. It felt like she had the old Callie back, so she whispered in her ear, ‘I’m always here for you. You know that, right? Anything you need.’

She felt Callie’s upper body lift as though she was taking in a breath to speak, but then she pulled out of the embrace and turned away. ‘I know,’ she said softly.

Callie absentmindedly scratched hard at a spot on her thigh and Mimi placed one hand over the top of hers to still her. ‘I’ve noticed you scratching a bit lately, is your eczema coming back?’

‘No,’ said Callie. ‘It’s nothing.’