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“Oh, nothing,” she says, embarrassed.

“Your mum’s thinking of buying the bookshop,” I tell her. “And she should. She’d be terrific at running it.”

Millie’s eyes widen. “You’re going to buy the bookshop?”

“No, probably not,” Vix says firmly. “Anyway, finish your fish and then you can have some ice cream.”

It’s clear she’s uncomfortable talking about it, so I don’t mention it again. She changes the subject, and we chat until we finish eating.

We clear up the dinner things and then have another game of Outfoxed. After that, Vix tells Millie it’s time for a bath, and the two of them disappear upstairs.

Rudolph has been quiet, but now he says, “Will you join me for a whisky in my study?”

“Sure.”

Wondering what he wants, I follow him down to the study. We go inside, and he closes the door behind me and gestures for me to sit.

It’s a decent-sized, square room, and I imagine it’s looked this way since it belonged to the Harbour Master back in the nineteenth century. It has an old wooden desk with a leather chair, on which a fountain pen sits on top of a large pad of paper—very Rudolph. Two comfy, dark-red leather armchairs face the sliding door leading onto the deck. The shelves are full of books, mainly historical texts or educational books, most of which have Post-It Notes sticking out of the top. A huge oil painting on the wall features a scene depicting the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. A large globe sits to one side, and I’m not surprised when he opens it to reveal that it contains several bottles of whisky.

He takes two glasses, disappears briefly to get some ice, then returns and pours a splash of whisky into each glass. I sit in the armchair and sip the whisky, trying not to feel as if I’m in the headmaster’s office.

Rudolph opens the sliding doors to the garden. He sits in the other armchair and sighs. “Peace and quiet.”

“Mm.” I sip the whisky again, trying to relax.

“So,” he says. “The bookshop.” He gives me a direct look. “Do you really think she should buy it?”

“I do. I think it’s a terrific idea. She loves the place more than anyone I know, and she knows it inside out. Grandad would love the idea, too.”

“She’s right,” he says, “she doesn’t know the first thing about business.”

I frown. “She can learn, can’t she? She has a huge amount of common sense. And she’s smart. Just because she hasn’t been to university doesn’t mean she doesn’t have the ability to do this. She said yesterday that she regrets not going, and she would’ve loved to have been a librarian. This is just as good, if not better, because she’d be able to make it into exactly what she wants.”

“She doesn’t like taking risks.”

“It would be an investment, not a risk. And she’d be a great role model for Millie. Imagine her watching her mum running her own business. I can’t think of anything better.”

Slowly, Rudolph’s lips curve up. “You’re a good lad,” he says softly.

Oh… was he testing me? “You think it’s a good idea?” I ask.

“I do, as it happens. You’re right—she is smart, and she should have gone to university. It’s nice to hear someone say it.”

I realise what he’s implying. “Did Jayden not want her to go?”

He inhales, then lets out a long sigh. “I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with being a mother and housewife, but she could have been so much more. Jayden never encouraged her to do anything, though. They met right when she was finishing high school, and she was trying to decide what to do with her life. He told her that if she went to uni, they’d only be able to see each other during the holidays. He said he didn’t want that, and she was all starry-eyed and decided not to go.” He huffs through his nose.

“I didn’t know that,” I murmur.

“And after they were married, I don’t know why he was so traditional, but he just wanted to keep her indoors. He hated her going out unless she was with him. He discouraged her from joining clubs and taking classes. It drove Julia spare.”

“Ahhh… I didn’t know that either.”

“She only ever spoke to Vix about it once, and Vix got really upset, so Julia didn’t mention it again. She couldn’t understand why Vix just let him treat her like that. Julia was so spirited. She’d never have let me get away with talking to her the way Jayden did. But Vix is different.”

“She’s so gentle,” I say.

“Yes. She’s always been like that. Quiet, hardworking, and diligent. But not confident. And she let him convince her she was worthless.” Rudolph’s voice is bitter. Then he glances at me. “Sorry. I know he’s your friend.”