‘No, she’s not.’ Jack had no intention of discussing his love life with a strange woman.

‘Sorry, I can be too curious at times,’ Britt said and didn’t look the least sorry. ‘It comes from working with kids, I’m afraid.’

‘It’s fine. No hearts were broken or anything like that.’

At least nothing he would talk to anyone about. The whole situation was too embarrassing.

Britt got up from the chair. ‘I’m sorry. I’ll leave you to your experiments. Are you coming to the potato party tomorrow?’

‘Yes, I’ve never planted a potato in my life. I’m expecting a life-altering experience,’ he said.

‘Don’t get your hopes up. Potatoes aren’t really that interesting,’ she said, laughing.

‘That depends on how you cook them,’ Jack said.

Britt nodded towards the pan. ‘Please take that horror with you. I’d love to see Jens’ expression when he sees what you’ve done to his favourite cheese.’

Jack grinned. ‘That’s my evil plan.’

‘Good. He loves giving that cheese to tourists.’

She left the house laughing.

‘I really need a proper lock on the bloody door,’ Jack muttered.

He took another spoonful from the pan, wondering what he could use it for. The garlic had improved it, but it wasn’t impressive in any way.

Chapter 10

It annoyed Ninni that she kept looking towards the road. The gates were closed to prevent animals and children running off.

She was sitting on the fence watching the donkey trotting around the enclosed paddock with Olav and Sigrid’s five-year-old son clinging to the animal’s back. He was giggling like mad.

Ninni turned to Sigrid. ‘Aren’t you scared he’s going to fall off?’

‘If he does it’s not much of a fall, and besides, he’s got a helmet,’ Sigrid said, clearly not worried.

‘I would be terrified,’ Ninni confessed.

Sigrid laughed. ‘We were with Anja. We sterilised everything and practically wrapped her in bubble wrap from the day we brought her home. Fortunately, Olav’s mum interfered before we broke her.’

The child in question was balancing on top of the fence, trying to catch cherries in her mouth at the same time.

‘She looks fine now,’ Ninni said.

Sigrid threw a glance at her daughter. ‘Yes, she does. Anja, be careful. I don’t want to take you to the hospital again; we’ll miss the party.’

Anja gave them a toothy grin. ‘I’m just seeing how many cherries I can catch, Mamma.’

‘Do it on the ground, darling. You’re freaking Ninni out.’

Anja jumped down at once, and Ninni breathed a little easier.

‘Look at those idiots.’ Sigrid nodded towards the barn. Half the roof had caved in during the winter, and was now covered with a huge tarp.

Olav and Tobben were manoeuvring an old harrow through the door. ‘They insist that’s going to make it easier to plant. Seems to me that’s an awful lot of work for making something easy,’ Sigrid said.

It was fun to watch, though, the men heaving and muttering, and using lots of words little ears probably shouldn’t hear.