‘Can I ask you something? What was behind your decision not to have children? I mean, originally . . . I guess I always wondered. You’re so great with kids, with your students, with your nieces . . .’ Mimi looked nervous as she waited for the answer, as though she was worried she may have overstepped the sister-in-law boundaries.

Andrea took in a deep breath. Even though Tony knew about her childhood, she’d always avoided sharing the details with the rest of his family. She wasn’t really sure why, perhaps it was the desire to project a certain image to everyone else. An image of strength and complete competence. But perhaps if she’d been more open about her past, about her fears, she wouldn’t be in this situation. She wouldn’t have realised so late that she might actually want to have kids.

She looked back at Mimi and answered with certainty. ‘Because of my own mother.’ Then she looked back down at Elliot and stroked her wisps of hair, her voice now turning soft. ‘I know I’ve never said much about my family; you guys all just know that I’m pretty much estranged from them. But the full story is that my upbringing was absolutely awful, to put it plainly. My dad wasn’t around and my mum didn’t care one bit about me or my older brother. My brother took off as soon as he was old enough, and he didn’t bother to stay in touch with me either.’

Mimi leaned forward, her face pained. ‘God. That’s terrible. I’m so sorry.’

‘Yep. And Mum always made me feel like I was a burden. She was more interested in blaming me for existing, for ruining her life, than actually loving me.’

‘Was she . . . a drinker? Or into drugs or something?’

‘Gambler. So, there was never much money for annoying expenses like, oh, you know, food? I got out of there as soon as I could, too. I did try to track my brother down, but he didn’t want to have a relationship with me. I think I was too much of a reminder of Mum and he wanted to shut that part of his life out altogether. Anyway, I got a job, I found myself a share house and I worked my way through university and promised myself I’d have a better life than the one I’d had with her. But I was still terrified that if I became a mum, I’d be just like her. I mean, even though I got my life together, for a long time my childhood really influenced my relationships. Until I met Tony, I’d only ever dated complete arseholes. Guys who treated me badly because that’s what I was used to. Tony was like a breath of fresh air after those men.’