Hannah shook the thought away. Next she’d be developing a thing for him. Maybe it was just that he was raw, pulsing with life compared to Albin’s glossy urbanity. ‘She’s just had her ninetieth birthday! Mum was born when Nan was thirty. Nan had been married since she was twenty and thought she wouldn’t have any kids so had been fostering for years when Mum came along. Mum grew up with loads of kids around but not a sibling of her own.’

‘Ninety!’ Nico smiled. ‘Good on her.’ Their coffee arrived and his was strong and dark. The fragrance rose up around them.

‘She lives alone and, apart from Dad doing her garden and Mum getting her a weekly food order, lives completely independently. Mum and Dad have recently retired. Dad’s been doing up an old camper van – the proper old VW kind – for years and after the wedding they’re setting off across Europe in it. I thought they’d wait for summer but they want the winter-wonderland experience in Switzerland and Austria. Nan says they should stay away for Christmas if they want because she’ll find plenty to do in the village. She has a partner, Brett, though they don’t live together. He’s only eighty so he’s a toy boy.’

‘Won’t you go to the UK for Christmas?’ Nico’s eyebrows rose.

‘The shop’s only shut on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, like most Swedish shops. I can’t expect Julia to cover for me so I can swan off and, anyway, it’s Hannah Anna Butik’s first festive season. I’ll miss the Middledip festivities but being a business owner means sacrifices.’ And Albin had said he wasn’t going to England this Christmas anyway. Last year, he’d allowed himself to be persuaded but had sat on the fringe of every gathering and watched as if mystified. It had dimmed Hannah’s enjoyment of the family fun.

She was wondering whether she and Albin would even be together this Christmas when Nico glanced at his watch and gave an exclamation. ‘I’m afraid I’ll have to wind this up. I promised Josie I’d FaceTime her before bed. With the time difference, I’ll get back to my hotel room in time if I go now.’ He gestured to the server for the bill and refused point-blank to let Hannah pay her share.

‘But I owe you for helping me to a great day’s trading,’ she protested.

He waved her words away as he paid by card. ‘It was my idea.’ He pulled on his coat.

She followed suit. ‘Well, thank you. I’ll have to buy you a drink at the wedding.’

Politely, he gestured her ahead of him up the stairs. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing your family again. Josie and I are staying at the hotel where the wedding’s taking place.’