‘Actually, he already has. I went by the farm yesterday to see if he was there, doing my civic duty before Alma lost her cool, and I brought a carton of eggs as a neighbourly gesture. Except he wasn’t there.’

Ninni smiled. ‘I took him to see the islet. Would you believe nobody told him about Agnar’s sheep?’

‘That’s ridiculous. How is that even possible?’ Britt shook her head.

‘Someone didn’t translate all the legal papers.’

‘You should have done it.’ Britt dried her hands on her shorts.

Ninni shrugged. ‘I wasn’t asked.’

Britt put the paint scraper on the ladder. ‘I have coffee, if you want.’

‘Do you have any more of that lemon cake?’ Ninni didn’t wait for a reply. She sat down on one of the garden chairs. There was a thermos on the table and a mug.

‘No, they gobbled it all up, I’m afraid. You can take the mug; I have the thermos.’ Britt sat down on the other chair, leaning back with a happy sigh. ‘I am so looking forward to June. Barely a month left now and the little monsters are off on their holidays. Then I can focus on my fun.’

‘Making beer?’ Ninni smiled.

Britt laughed. ‘You know, I’m looking at possibly starting producing aquavit at the moment. It’s very popular and really profitable. I think I’ve had enough of being a teacher.’

‘You love those kids.’ Ninni knew she was right. Britt doted on all ten of them.

Britt smiled. ‘Of course I do. I’ll have a new one in the autumn; Sigrid and Olav’s youngest is six. Which is good, because next year two of the big kids have to start going to school in town.’

Ninni stretched her legs. ‘Why did you bring Jack eggs?’

‘He’s a chef. I’m sure he would prefer eggs to flowers, and besides, I can’t take flowers to a man I haven’t said hello to yet. It might be misunderstood.’

‘And eggs will not be?’ Ninni laughed at her, and Britt looked mortified before laughing so loudly that Frikk sat up and looked at them.

‘Oh, I didn’t think of that! Do you think he might take offence?’ Britt couldn’t hide her delight.

‘Not really. It’s the perfect welcome gift for a chef and, besides, I don’t think Jack gets offended so easily.’

‘What’s he like? Olav said he looked okay, but what does that even mean?’

‘He’s tall, with blond hair and blue eyes, if you can believe it. He looks more Norwegian than I do.’ Ninni pulled at her dark curls. ‘He’s tense, if you know what I mean.’

Britt was amused. ‘No. Explain. In detail, please.’

‘Like he’s angry about something. Also he’s jumpy and he has obviously never been on an island in his life. He has no idea how to get into a boat, for God’s sake. Who doesn’t know that?’

Britt brushed it aside. ‘Anyone from a huge city, I guess. There are loads of people in Norway who don’t know their way around a boat. What I want to know is, is he good-looking? Is he sexy?’