Those blue eyes bore down on her. ‘Do you live here on the island?’

‘I live in Bergen, but my family have a house here. I usually stay during the odd weekend and most holidays.’

She held out her hand, determined to get more information about him. ‘I’m Ninni Toft.’

He took her hand in a warm, firm grip. ‘Jack Greene,’ he said and let go of her hand. ‘Nice to meet you.’

Direct approach usually worked best, in her experience. ‘Why have you really come to our island, Jack?’

‘For a short holiday,’ he said, serious now.

She looked over her shoulder to see if Alma could come, but there was a long queue of customers inside and outside the shop. ‘There’s a dance here on the pier later. Lots of food. You are welcome to join us, of course. I’m sure Britt will bring you.’

He looked at her properly, then. His eyes shifted colours suddenly, more like the sea in the morning, and he looked oddly familiar. ‘Maybe I will,’ he said with a smile. ‘Can I have more of that food, to take with me?’

She thought it an odd request, but still. He was English.

‘You know, in case I don’t make it to the pier dance? I would go to the shop, but it looks closed.’

‘It opens again at ten tomorrow morning.’ Ninni pointed at the grill with burgers and more bacon sausages. ‘The fish burgers are highly recommended. The fish was caught this morning.’

He looked interested. ‘Two, please.’

Ninni found a Styrofoam container and made up a couple of fish burgers for him, adding the relish and remoulade without asking, then she put it all carefully into a carrier bag.

When he held out his hand to take it from her, she shook her head. ‘Money in the tin first,’ she said, nodding at a tin on the desk, filled with banknotes and coins.

Jack smiled. ‘Of course. How much do I owe you?’

‘Twenty kroner per burger, and ten for the hot dog.’

He handed her a hundred kroner note and got the burgers.

‘Thank you. Want something to drink with the food? I only have Solo and still water left, I’m afraid.’

‘What’s Solo?’

Ninni showed him the bottle of bright orange fizzy drink.

‘You don’t have any wine?’ He looked at the bottle with a frown.

‘No, this is a hot dog stand, not a restaurant, I’m afraid. Do you want it?’

‘Sure. Thank you.’ Jack put it in the bag.

Ninni counted the change and handed it to him. ‘Here you go.’

‘Thank you. Perhaps I will see you later,’ he said.

A group of children ran towards her, screaming for ice lollies, and Ninni was distracted. When she looked up again, he was gone.

Alma will want to know, she thought. An Englishman who didn’t want to say why he was on the island and seemed confused.

We’ll see if he comes to the dance; I’ll introduce him to Alma. She can use her mind-reading abilities on him, she thought, before concentrating on the children.