“Then why not come with us tomorrow? We wouldn’t have to go all the way up. We could just have lunch at the beer garden if it’s open and then walk back down.”

He softly squeezed her shoulder. “I appreciate it. But I’ll be meeting Ulrike to go to the farmers market tomorrow morning.”

Ulrike had been his neighbor and close friend for as long as Anja had known him, but lately, there had been a twinkle in his eyes whenever he mentioned her, so Anja couldn’t resist teasing him. “Ooh! You’ve got a date! Why didn’t you just say so?”

Even his beard couldn’t quite hide his blush. “It’s not a date. We’re just buying vegetables.”

“Oh, is that what people over sixty call it?” Then she stopped teasing and gave him a sincere look. “I’m really happy for you.”

“Hey, I said it’s not a date. It hasn’t even been a year since Ulrike lost her husband, and at my age, you’re not ready to jump into something new that fast.” But he smiled every time he mentioned her name.

“Well, then I’ll just be happy that you’re buying vegetables and getting your vitamins.”

“Thanks.” He nudged her. “Come on. Let’s crunch the numbers for today and try to get out of here on time. We’ve both got big plans tomorrow.”

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Anja and Miriam were already waiting when Susanne and Franzi arrived in front of the store at ten o’clock. While the dog excitedly jumped around them, Anja made the introductions.

She looked good this morning in a pair of faded jeans, scuffed hiking boots, and a red-and-black, fleece-lined jacket that she’d left open because the sun was shining. For once, Freiburg lived up to its reputation as the sunniest city in Germany, and the temperature was almost springlike, even though February had just started.

Susanne unbuttoned her own coat too.

Two people on bikes whizzed past them on the cobblestoned street, so Anja led them across the street to the sidewalk and then continued on in the direction of the Swabian Gate.

Susanne couldn’t help noticing how effortlessly Anja and Miriam stepped over the Bächle without even giving it a glance, as if they just sensed that the narrow canal was there. In contrast, Susanne had to consciously pay attention not to step into one of them again. “What purpose do they serve?”

Uncle Norbert or one of her other relatives who lived in the area had probably explained it to her when she’d been a child, but back then, she hadn’t really paid attention.

“I think in the Middle Ages, they were used as a water supply for animals and for preventing fires,” Anja said. “Nowadays, they’re just—”

“Glitter,” Susanne finished the sentence, remembering what Anja had said about things that were nice to look at but not really necessary.