‘Really,’ Anna began. ‘Please don’t—’

‘Ahh,’ Fraser said, holding up a finger to stop her. ‘Your poster says I should pay what I think is appropriate, and I think this is what’s appropriate. It’s probably worth a darn sight more, to be honest. Look forward to eating here again – my wife Emma would love it. Wouldn’t your mum love it, Jamie?’

‘Yeah,’ said his son. ‘She would! Can we come again next week?’

Fraser raised an eyebrow in question but Anna shook her head with a weary half-laugh. ‘Oh, I don’t think I’ll be doing this again.’

‘Why not?’ Fraser protested. ‘Ach, because of one grumpy old man? He’ll not be trying that again, that’s for sure.’

Anna smiled, but said no more. She knew, though, how very important word of mouth was to a venture such as this one. However understanding and friendly Kate and Nathan had been, it was inevitable that if they spoke about eating at the Fishergirl’s Luck, what had happened would come up. To them, who did not know the history that had led to Old Robbie’s words, it would seem as if a frail old man with a stick had been bullied right there in front of them. Besides, someone had already tried to prevent her from opening the lunch club at all. Together the two incidents would doubtless sour things far beyond her current embarrassment. Not to mention that, were Anna to attempt it again, she would now always be reminded of that sharp look of shock and humiliation on an old man’s face as he’d turned away.

Fraser rounded up the two boys and the three of them headed for the harbour, where the Cassie’s Joy was waiting. Robert MacKenzie hung back, helping her clear the last bits from the table.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, once they stood in the kitchen.

Anna kept her back to him, adding her load to the sink of dishes. She leaned against the rim briefly, looking out of her little window onto the sea. ‘You knew that he was planning to make trouble,’ she said. ‘Didn’t you?’

There was a second of silence from behind her. ‘I heard something in the pub last night. That he’d seen the poster was up again and had been on the phone to a few people about it, wanting to shut you down.’

She nodded and turned around. ‘So that’s why you came?’

He looked away. ‘I thought… that if I was here, he might think twice. But I’m sorry. I should have gone to his door sooner, or taken him away from the table.’

‘I’m an adult. I don’t need anyone to fight my battles for me. You should have told me and let me deal with it.’

He looked at her, his eyes dark. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry.’