But when the boat slowed and she and Hanne stood in the pelting rain with the other passengers waiting for the boat to connect with shore, she could see there was no ticket shack here.

“I’ll bring over your daughter’s duffel on the late boat,” the man in the jumpsuit said, as if she had asked him.

“It’s not a duffel. It’s a suitcase.” She didn’t want him to bring the wrong bag.

“And you tell me not to be rude,” Hanne said and walked ahead of her up the ramp.

Over the phone she’d had the innkeeper describe in detail the one room he had left. A double bed, a green desk, blue walls, cotton rug, a view of the water from two of the three windows. And a floral armchair. What colors? she’d asked. He’d paused. Burgundy and pink. She was certain he was making it up. He’d already put the phone down twice to answer her previous questions. He’d tried to hide his disappointment when she said she’d take it for two weeks in July.

The room was precisely as he’d described it and nothing like Oda had imagined. He’d told her its dimensions and she’d measured it out in her living room as she spoke to him. But the actual walls made it seem much smaller.

“Everything all right?”

They were still standing in the doorway.

“There’s only one bed,” Hanne said.

The innkeeper looked at Oda. He’d explained on the phone that there wasn’t room for an extra rollaway and she’d lied and said they were used to sleeping in the same bed. “It will be fine,” she said.

He was also not how she’d imagined, younger, bearded, in tight padded shorts.

“Sorry. I’ve just been out for a ride.” She must have been staring.

“On a horse?” Hanne said.

He laughed. “A bike.”

“I saw a horse on the ferry,” Hanne said in a tone Oda thought she reserved just for her.

He laughed again. “There was a horse on the ferry?”

“I saw it from the ferry.”

Her tone didn’t seem to bother him. “There’s a stable on the east end. They rent out, if you’re interested.”

“I don’t know how to ride.”

“She’ll teach you. Her name’s Pilar. She’s from Sevilla but her German is excellent.”

“Pilar,” Hanne said.

“I could give her a ring and arrange it.”

“I’d like that.”

Oda couldn’t afford to rent a horse for an hour let alone pay for a series of riding lessons. Surely Hanne knew that. All her savings for the year would be eaten up by this holiday. She would have to slip downstairs before he made that call.