Of course you’re upset – any mother would be – but it’s not the end of the world.’ ‘It feels like it,’ Maria sobbed, sitting hunched over the kitchen table, the pale pinewood branded with dark stains from her tears. ‘I’ve never said those things to Amy before, so now she thinks I didn’t want her.’ ‘Of course she doesn’t.’ Kate sat, helpless, beside her, the table strewn with soggy balls of Kleenex. She had offered lunch, and coffee; both had been refused. ‘I’ve seen you two together and it’s obvious how close you are. In any case, why would she have invited you to live with her if she didn’t love you to bits?’‘Well, she won’t any more – not after today.’ Was there such a thing as love?, Maria wondered, desolately. Silas, she was increasingly sure, had loved only her submissiveness and the rare prize of her virginity. And when Amy trotted out her frequent ‘Love you, Mum!’s, was she hiding huge resentment?‘Look, let’s try to work out a rescue plan.
