Indoors, Hannah helped Maria out of her coat while Nico asked for an update on Lars. Carina said, ‘I rang earlier and he’d passed a comfortable night so he’s fit for his tests this afternoon. You can see him tonight.’ She looked anxious and Hannah caught an interested look in Nico’s eyes at the slightly possessive way his mum talked about his dad.

Then Nico’s brother Mattias arrived with his girlfriend Felicia. Maria looked unsure of yet more new people and grabbed Nico’s hand in both of hers as if staking a claim.

Mattias was dark and slender, like his mother, Felicia smaller and still darker. She presented Nico with an almond caramel cake or toscakaka and Mattias assured Nico, ‘She’s generous and kind to everyone,’ as if making sure Nico knew he wasn’t getting special treatment.

Nico merely hugged Felicia with a good-humoured: ‘You’re lucky she’s such a wonderful woman, Mattias. I’m glad to see you happy.’ Mattias returned a small smile.

Hannah noticed that Nico asked Mattias about his work as assistant curator at the Husqvarna Museum and about their apartment in Huskvarna, which he hadn’t seen. Mattias didn’t respond with an invitation to visit but instead told Hannah about ‘Husqvarna’ being the brand and ‘Huskvarna’ the town. He was a dull old penny next to Nico’s golden sovereign glow.

After their late lunch of open sandwiches and pepparkakor straight from the oven Josie gazed longingly outside. ‘We haven’t played in the snow yet and it’s almost dark.’

It was three p.m. ‘Swedish winter days are short,’ Hannah explained. ‘I’ll take you out in the garden, if that’s OK with Farmor.’

‘Yes, please!’ Josie ran to find the new snowsuits and Maria trundled after with her usual cheerful willingness. Hannah made sure they had boots and gloves and then they stepped out into the garden where the snow was undisturbed but for the footprints of birds and animals. Light streamed through the house windows, suffusing the white, glistening garden in a magical glow.

Josie sniffed in a huge breath and released it in a white cloud. ‘Mmm, it smells snowy.’

Hannah sniffed too. ‘You’re right. Isn’t Farmor’s place pretty? It looks like a gingerbread house.’ Then she caught sight of Maria trying to eat snow with a mittened hand. Her snorts of laughter bubbled into the air as the two-year-old smeared the icy white crystals across her face.

‘Snowman!’ cried Josie, heaping snow against Maria’s back.

Maria glared at Josie. ‘Nooo!’

‘Maybe not a snowsister,’ suggested Hannah, hastily. ‘Let’s make a proper snowman. It’s good squeaky snow so it should hold together.’ She began to roll up a ball of snow, which Maria immediately tried to kick.