“b****y hell,” I say to Thea as I watch her devour her fifth pancake in a row, “you must be full by now.”
Thea shakes her head. “Not yet. I haven’t eaten a thing all day, so you better keep them coming.”
“That was the last one, but I can make you a sandwich if you want.”
With her finger, Thea scoops up the syrup from the plate, and then licks it off. “Only if you don’t mind, Mum.”
“Of course I don’t mind. I’m your mother.”
“Thanks.”
I take out two slices of bread from the breadbin and lay them out on the chopping board. “Ham and cheese okay?” I ask, opening the fridge and staring at all the empty shelves. Need to go shopping tomorrow.
Thea doesn’t answer, so I turn to her. “Ham and cheese?” I ask again just as I see how white her cheeks have gone. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Before
