I walked back into the restaurant, and with the heat that hit me, a different type of warmth filled my chest. I sat down at the table and looked around at my family: Kyazike was showing Diana a video on her phone that taught her how to blend her makeup. My grandmother was very loudly listing to Dr. Manager all of the medication she was on while my granddad eyed up the sparkling drink, ready to risk it all again. Maggie was talking loudly, obviously, and slicing up her pizza, putting bits on my mum’s plate for her to taste. Cassandra and Darcy were locked in an intense conversation that I had no plans to get involved in; Cassandra was clearly being made to feel very bad. I looked over at my mum as she picked up a slice of pizza with her hands and bit off a huge mouthful. She threw her head back, laughing so hard at something Maggie said to her that she put the pizza down and slapped her thighs with both hands. I stood up to pour myself a glass of water, and we looked at each other as she turned in my direction. She smiled at me, and I smiled back. “My queen,” she mouthed, lifting her glass.