‘You are so sneaky,’ she said.

At the harbour they met Alma, waiting for goods from the mainland. Frikk sat down at Petter’s feet, placing one paw on his shoes. He didn’t approve of his people leaving.

‘Are you going back to Bergen so soon?’ Alma seemed surprised.

‘I have a business to take care of,’ Petter said.

While they chatted to each other, Ninni pulled back a little. It had started to rain, a light drizzle at first then a little heavier, and it was obvious that it would get worse. Ninni pulled the hood on her rain jacket over her head.

‘I’d better get myself onboard. It’s my turn to open the store tomorrow,’ Petter said.

‘You’re the only one who works there,’ Ninni said, shaking her head.

He gave Ninni one of his bear hugs and looked at her. ‘Look after yourself now. I left some books in the house. And don’t become a hermit.’

‘No, Pappa, I promise. Drive carefully and call me when you’re home.’ Ninni hugged him back and stood close to Alma.

Frikk got a quick cuddle, and then Petter walked on board the boat.

Alma frowned. ‘Did he talk to you about Agnar and Jack?’

Ninni put her hands in her pockets. ‘No, not really. He talked to Jack and he likes him, so I guess it’s okay.’

‘Hmm,’ Alma said.

Ninni looked at her. ‘What? You don’t like Jack?’

‘No, he’s fine, but that doesn’t change anything, does it? Jack is still going to sell Agnar’s farm and we will still be overrun by those kinds of people.’ She nodded towards a huge yacht gliding past them with passengers on board, staring towards land. ‘Right now we have nothing here that they’ll find interesting. That will change if Haldorsen, or someone like him, gets their grubby hands on Agnar’s farm.’

‘It might not be that bad,’ Ninni said, knowing she didn’t sound convincing.

Alma suddenly looked tired. ‘Things change so fast these days. Even on this island. I can’t keep them at bay for much longer, Ninni.’

‘Perhaps you should talk to Jack about your concerns. We have no idea what he thinks, do we?’

‘All I can do is beg Jack not to sell to the worst developer, people like Haldorsen, but sooner or later it will happen.’

Ninni put her hand on her arm. ‘It might not be that bad, Alma,’ she said again.

‘If it does, I’m sure some bastard would want to buy the landhandel from us, tear down the house and build a gourmet supermarket for the yacht people.’

‘What will you do if that happens?’ Ninni smiled at her now.

Alma shook her head. ‘We can move to the mainland or even to Spain, if that happens.’

‘Mamma loves Spain,’ Ninni said to tease her.

Alma scrunched up her face and for a moment Ninni thought she was crying. It took a second to realise that she was laughing.

‘Oh, I can just picture myself in one of those tourist apartment blocks, next to your mum. She’d love that, I’m sure.’