‘That was the last stop, Elijah,’ mum sings happily. We weave our way through the streets toward the town square, our sights now set on the café for a well deserved coffee and sweet treat. It’s four in the afternoon; we’ve barely paused since we set out this morning, and my body is screaming for a hit of caffeine.
I circle the square once, searching for an opening, before finally slotting my mother’s compact car into a tight space that opens up as we approach and cut the engine.
‘Do you need to pick anything up while we’re here?’ I ask, glancing at the row of shops lining the curb beside us.
Mum shakes her head, sliding her completed checklist back into her purse with a satisfied smile.
‘No, but thank you for asking,’ she replies as she looks up at me. ‘All I need right now is a large
