‘You have a funny look on your face,’ Holly said.

Jack shrugged. ‘It brings back memories of the island.’

‘Why did you leave? You never really told us about it,’ Holly said.

‘It’s not important.’

Holly looked at him with a serious light in her eyes. ‘I think it is. What about Ninni? You never speak about her either.’

‘You know why. She’s back with the father of her baby,’ Jack said.

‘Are you sure?’ Holly raised her eyebrows.

‘What do you mean?’ Jack stood up from the table, not really wanting to talk about Ninni. ‘Of course I’m sure.’

Holly didn’t give up so easy. ‘Well, you told us she had left that guy because he cheated on her, and that he was a proper bastard. Why would she go back to him? I don’t understand.’

‘Neither do I. But she did, and that was it.’

Holly turned around in her chair and studied him while he shuffled vegetables around on the counter.

‘Why are you here, Jack?’

‘I’ve invited you and Danny and Dad for dinner, haven’t I?’ He took one of the chef’s knives from the rack and started cutting tomatoes.

‘No, that’s not what I mean. You so miss this strange little island of yours. Do you remember how miserable you were with Roland and Fedra before you left? Before you knew about the farm and the island? You were so fed up with the place, with everything, really.’

Jack remembered the relief when he’d left the restaurant behind. And after he came back things hadn’t changed much. He didn’t feel any triumph over becoming a partner either.

‘Yeah, I remember,’ he said.

Holly pointed at her books. ‘Do you know why I do this?’

‘If you’re going to preach to me or share snippets of your great wisdom, I’m not interested.’ Jack smiled at her.

‘My point is that I work this hard because all I ever wanted was to be a doctor. You always wanted your own restaurant, and you’re not getting it here in London. Roland may have made you a partner, but you’re not feeling like one, are you? I can see it. Why can’t you?’

‘It doesn’t matter any more,’ he said.

‘Then why haven’t you sold the farm?’ Holly wagged her finger at him. ‘You know I’m right.’

‘I don’t want to talk about it, Holly. Now, let me cook in peace.’ Jack shoved Magni’s books back in the bag and put it on one of the bookshelves.

Holly shook her head then returned to her books. ‘Men,’ she muttered.

Jack ignored her and started preparing for dinner. He didn’t want her to be right, but she was. He knew she was.

Not that it was Holly’s business, but he hadn’t gone for Haldorsen’s offer and had asked Mats to look for a better buyer, someone who would look after the farm.

Perhaps it was time to rethink that.

***

Ninni rubbed her lower back and pulled a face. The shop overwhelmed her. It was filled with everything a baby could possibly need, and then a lot more she was convinced it didn’t need. There seemed to be millions of stuffed animals and cute accessories.