Ninni looked around, breathing in the cool, fresh air. The rain had stopped on the way over and the skies parted to let in a bit of sun.

This was the best place on earth. Her grandparents’ old house was the safe harbour she always returned to. The only place to nurse a broken heart.

In a few weeks the small harbour would teem with boats of all sorts, from sailing boats and fancy yachts to fishing boats and rowing boats. Now the only other boat moored at the pier was a rickety old wooden rowing boat.

Ninni released Frikk from the lead. He shook himself again, sending droplets of water all over her. That was what happened after spending an hour outside on the deck. She had no patience for sitting in the salon. She needed to be outside, to scream against the wind.

Frikk looked at her and whined.

Ninni grinned. ‘Run along then, you silly dog. Tell Alma I’m coming.’

Frikk shot off like a cannonball.

Ninni followed at a slower pace. The island corner shop, the landhandel, was located a short walk up from the pier. The house was small and white, as were most of the houses on the island.

Frikk burst inside the open door and a few seconds later Alma came out, scolding him and petting him at the same time. She smiled when she spotted Ninni.

‘You’re early this year. I thought you would celebrate 17th of May with your dad,’ she said when Ninni approached her.

She opened her arms and Ninni walked into the hug. ‘I just needed to get away,’ she said.

‘It’s lovely to see you, my sweet.’ Alma let her go. ‘Is your dad coming too?’

‘He’s busy with the bookshop, as always. And he has his duties tomorrow.’ Her father played trombone in one of the marching bands and always joined the parade on 17th of May.

Alma was tall and wiry, and looked a lot younger than her seventy-six years. ‘I know, I know. He’s married to his books, isn’t he?’

‘I’m afraid so,’ Ninni said.

‘Well, we’d love to see more of him. I remember when he was a schoolboy and used to steal toffees from the jars. Little rascal. So adorable in his dungarees and wellingtons.’

Ninni thought of her tall, burly father and smiled. ‘I’ll be sure to tell him exactly that.’

Alma pulled her into the shop. It smelled of fresh coffee and pastry. ‘I wasn’t expecting you until June. Any particular reason?’

‘No, not really. I’ve just been working really hard for the last few weeks and I felt like a change. You know, I’ve had lots of translation work lately, deadlines and such,’ Ninni said, hoping she sounded normal.

‘You look pale and thin.’ Alma tilted Ninni’s chin towards her and looked her in the eyes. ‘Man trouble?’

Ninni snorted. ‘You should be a detective.’

‘So it’s a man. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that I don’t have to worry about that any more. You want to talk about it?’ Alma let go of Ninni’s flushed face.