‘She lives!’ said Pete. ‘Thought we’d never see you today.’

‘Whatever. Mum only just got up. Can I have some bacon?’

‘Yeah, check if we have any in the fridge and we’ll cook it up. I think these two are going to need more anyway.’ Pete nodded his head at Mimi and Leesa, who’d both collapsed at the table.

‘What’s wrong with them?’ Callie asked.

‘Hung over,’ said Pete.

‘Pete! Don’t tell her that!’

‘Why?’ said Callie. ‘You think it’s going to encourage me to drink? Don’t worry. There’s no way I want to look as bad as you do right now.’

‘Wow, thanks,’ said Mimi.

‘Silver linings?’ Pete asked.

‘Solid parenting,’ said Leesa, and she fist-bumped her friend.

*

A little while later, after Leesa had left, Mimi approached Callie’s bedroom door tentatively. She’d seemed in a bright enough mood earlier so Mimi wanted to make the most of it. She knocked and waited.

‘Yeah?’

Okay, that was a good start. She didn’t sound annoyed.

Mimi opened the door and poked her head in. Callie was sitting at her desk on her computer. One of Callie’s favourite YouTubers was on the screen in front of her, strumming a guitar and singing mournfully at the camera with big doe eyes.

‘I’m going out to try and find that bike basket for Tara. Want to come with me?’

Callie tapped the spacebar to pause the singer, who froze with her mouth in a perfect, round O. ‘Weren’t you supposed to get that first thing this morning?’

‘Yeah, I was. But I kind of stuffed up and slept in.’

Callie gave her a half-smile. ‘Oops.’ She glanced back at her computer and was quiet for a moment, as though she was contemplating her decision. Mimi held her breath: please say yes, please. But as she watched, she saw Callie’s shoulders slump. ‘No, thanks,’ she said. ‘I’d rather stay home.’

As Mimi turned away, something occurred to her. She hadn’t heard Callie singing for months. Even when she’d given up performing in public, she still couldn’t help belting out ballads in the shower or absentmindedly practising scales under her breath as she sat in front of the television. Mimi couldn’t believe she’d taken this long to realise the sound of her daughter’s beautiful voice had vanished from their home. She supposed the void had seamlessly been filled with newborn wails.

Honestly Mimi, what kind of a mother are you?

*

Darren