Ninni couldn’t help joining in with the laughter. ‘She could teach you to play bridge.’

‘I’d rather have my teeth pulled out.’ Alma lifted her hand and waved at Petter, who stood aft in the ferry.

Ninni waved too. ‘I always wondered why he doesn’t move back here. He loves this island.’

‘You know how it is. Your father went to university. He wasn’t meant to be a fisherman or a sailor.’ She looked grim. ‘And he could never sell enough books here to survive. Not even if it becomes a millionaires’ playground. That lot haven’t read a book in their lives.’

The ferry disappeared out of sight. Ninni shivered and Alma noticed. ‘Come to the shop. You can help me get the last of these things up there.’

“These things” were magazines and books to go on sale the next day. Alma took one package and Ninni the other, trying not to reveal how heavy it was. The plastic wrapping didn’t make it easier, only more slippery.

She had time for a coffee. It wasn’t as if she was actually busy with anything useful.

Ninni found Frikk outside the shop. He was snoozing under one of Alma’s red currant bushes, but jumped up when she called his name.

She gave him a doggy biscuit before they left. It had started to rain again while she was in the shop, but she wasn’t worried about that. It was a nice change from all the sunshine.

On top of the hill, she looked down towards Agnar’s house. The lights were on in the kitchen. Perhaps Jack was cooking? Those pasties he had brought were really good. For a brief second she considered going down there. They should probably talk about the kiss, but she hesitated.

After all, it was just a kiss.

She turned away and walked towards the house. Better go home and do some work, she thought. There were bills to be paid, dog food to buy and she needed a distraction from good-looking men who could kiss.

From where she stood, she could see darker clouds moving in from the open sea. More rain, she thought. Perhaps a summer storm. Ninni smiled. Storms made for great reading weather. She could cosy up in the big chair, or in bed, with a good book and a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

Frikk ran ahead of her. He loved the rain too, putting his nose to everything he could reach. Once in a while he stopped and looked back at her to make sure she was following. Then he ran ahead until she couldn’t see him any more.

Ninni turned from the path to Agnar’s house. All she wanted was to get home and lock herself away for a few days. She increased her pace, suddenly eager to get inside. The dog was nowhere to be seen.

‘Frikk? Frikk? Come here, boy,’ she called, whistling her usual signal for him.

He didn’t appear. Ninni frowned. Now what? She started running, calling his name, and when he still didn’t show up her heart raced so fast that at first she couldn’t breathe.