Grace felt relieved that the family had stopped talking about the accident. She began eating some food. Before that she had been pushing it around her plate.

“How are you doing at school?” Gogo asked Clarah.

“I’m doing very well, Gogo,” Clarah smiled. “I’m nearly top of my class. But I work very hard. Mama and Papa make sure I do.”

Both parents smiled at her. They knew she was only half teasing. Clarah was a good worker and she didn’t have to be nagged constantly to do her schoolwork.

“Tate and I are very proud of you, Clarah. And you too Prince! We are very proud of both our grandchildren.”

“Thank you, Gogo,” Clarah smiled across the table at her granny.

“My granddaughter is not only clever but very pretty too,” Tate said. “You’ve grown into quite a young lady, Clarah.”

Clarah blushed at the compliment. Tom had said the exact same thing to her yesterday. In the past year she had grown about five centimeters.

Last week she had had her hair braided tightly to her scalp. It suited her very well.

Clarah couldn’t wait to read the new message that Tom had sent her. She was desperate to leave the table and flirt with him on WhatsApp. Her mind was so far away that she didn’t hear Gogo continue to talk to her.

Mama nudged her on the arm. “Gogo is talking to you, darling.”

“Sorry Gogo,” Clarah said, full of apologies. She would never intentionally be rude to her parents or grandparents.

“I was far away. What did you say?”

“I was just asking if you’d help me clear the table.”

“Yes, of course.” Clarah jumped up and began piling up the plates.

“I’ll wash,” Grace said. “You can dry the dishes, Clarah, and Gogo can put them away. She knows where everything goes.”

“Why don’t you go into the lounge and put your feet up, Mama,” Clarah said. “You look very tired.”

“I’m fine, darling,” Grace said, yet she sounded anything but fine.

“Well, we’ll leave you ladies to it,” Tate said. “I’ll take Thulani and Prince out for a walk.”

Clarah was wiping down the table when she heard her mother and Gogo talking in the kitchen. Something in the tone of Gogo’s voice made her stop what she was doing and listen to what they were saying.

She wasn’t the only one who thought Mama was acting strange.

“What’s wrong, Grace?” Gogo asked her. “You are so quiet. Is there trouble at work, or … is your marriage in trouble?”

Grace shook her head. “No, never. I’m just tired I guess. It’s been very hectic at the hospital lately.”

“Well I want you to rest and sleep as much as you can on this holiday. You must not worry about the children. We’re here to look after them for you.”

“Thank you, Mama,” Grace said and put her arms around the older woman. “I don’t think I tell you often enough how much I love you. I’m going to take your advice, rest and put my feet up as much as I can.”

“That’s right,” Gogo said. “You’ll soon get all your energy back. It’s not easy being a working mother.”

*****

The family quickly settled into a routine. Grace did as she had promised. She slept a great deal the first few days. But Clarah noticed that often she had a faraway look in her eyes.

Nonetheless, everybody seemed to be having a good time. Gogo, Grace and Clarah decided to go shopping. Clarah was thrilled as Papa had given her holiday money and told her to spend it on what she wanted.

He had even allowed her to buy a bikini. Clarah was an excellent swimmer but Papa had never allowed her to wear a bikini before now. Tate and Gogo had also given her a generous allowance. She bought some new skirts, tops and a bright red jacket.

Tom was texting her numerous times throughout the day. She had told her mother and Gogo, and they didn’t mind her messaging him back.

“Don’t you go promising him anything, Clarah,” Gogo told her. “You hardly know him, but it’s good to have as many friends as you can.”

“I’m not going to sleep with him or anything like that, Gogo!” Clarah said.

“I know you’re a bright girl, darling,” Gogo said. “But men can be very persuasive. Did he say anything more about the accident?”

“He said his father was home now and the police had been around to his home a few times. The robbers had struck again and robbed the petrol station in Mount Road. But they still haven’t caught them.”

“I read in the paper yesterday that there have been a number of robberies in the White Rock area and the surrounding districts recently. It seems nowhere is safe these days,” Gogo said. “Let’s go and have coffee and something to eat. I’m starving.”

“What a great idea,” Grace said. “I like shopping but never quite realised how exhausting it could be.”

Clarah now felt certain that her mother was putting up a front for her family. She was faking the smiles on her face. When she thought nobody was looking Mama’s face became troubled and worn looking. A couple of times Clarah had noticed tears in her eyes. Her mother always hastily wiped them away.

Clarah began to wonder what was going on.

Was it possible that her father was having an affair? Was he thinking of leaving his family and setting up home elsewhere?

Or was her mother ill with a disease like cancer, and she didn’t want her family to know?

***

Tell us what you think: What is Grace worrying about?