When steps approached, she busied herself mopping up the water on the floor, not wanting Susanne to think she’d been staring after her.

But it was just Nobby, who returned alone.

“That’s your niece?” Anja whispered, keeping an eye on the door that led to the tiny office and the equally tiny bathroom.

“Isn’t it obvious? I have the same arresting cheekbones, don’t I?” His blue eyes twinkled as he patted his bearded cheeks.

“Don’t forget slender build.” She lightly nudged his potbelly.

“That too.”

“She didn’t look anything like this,” Anja gestured toward the back, “in the photo you showed me.”

Nobby scratched his beard. “Well, I took that photo the last time she visited with her mother and sister, so it’s a few years old already.”

“Years? Try decades.” In the photo she’d seen, Susanne had been a gangly teenager of maybe sixteen or seventeen.

He tilted his head. “Is that a problem?”

“Yes! I mean, now she thinks I stared at her because I have a problem with her sexual orientation, not because I thought your niece was much younger.”

“Oh.” He looked helpless for a second before shrugging. “Well, just tell her you’re bisexual.”

It still amazed her how casually that crossed his lips. Her own father had never had such an easy time with it. “No. I can’t do that.”

“Why not? Want me to tell her?” He took a step toward the back.

She grabbed his sleeve and held on. “No! She’ll think you want to set us up or something.”

“And that would be bad…why? As we just established, my niece inherited my good looks. And since she stepped into the Bächle, she’s destined to marry someone from Freiburg.” He winked at her. “You could be the lucky girl.”

“No, thanks.” Anja bit her tongue before she could tell Nobby she liked her partners less overbearing and abrupt. “Please don’t say anything. I’m sure it’ll be fine.” After all, it wasn’t as if she’d have to interact with Susanne again. From what Anja had heard about her from Nobby, she was pretty busy and probably wouldn’t stay around for long. Anja would give her a polite nod any time she dropped in to take a break from her sightseeing, and after a few days, she’d be gone.

Susanne swept into the sales area and strode toward the front door like a woman on a mission. “I saw a shoe store on my way here. I’m going to get myself something dry to wear, and then I’ll be right back to take a look at the books.”

Before Nobby or Anja could answer, the door closed behind her.