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“Damn interesting fellow.”

“I was thinking about holding a book club here,” Vix says. “Lots of residents here seem to be into reading.”

He smiles. “You definitely should.”

“Talking of which,” Vix says, “I’ve got something for you.” She takes a book out of her bag and puts it on the table.

John picks it up. “The Hobbit?”

“I think it’s a first edition,” she says. “I called Mermaid Books this morning. It’s a bookshop that does valuations on rare books,” she adds for Blair and my benefit. “They need to see it of course, and it would have been better if it had its dust cover. But I sent them a video, and they’re willing to give it an initial estimate of at least $45,000.”

John’s jaw drops. “I didn’t know that was sitting up in the flat!”

“I thought you’d be pleased,” Vix says, smiling.

“That’s not the only good bit of news,” I inform him. “Vix has something else to tell you.”

“Oh?”

She gives him a hesitant smile. “I’ve been thinking… what do you think of me buying the bookshop?”

He stares at her. “Really?”

“Mm.”

A smile slowly spreads across his face, and he presses a hand to his heart. “That fills me with such joy.”

“Aw. I was hoping you’d be pleased.”

“More than anything, I want the bookshop to go to someone who loves it. Who’s not going to turn it into a two-dollar shop or a clothes shop or something.”

“You really want to sell, Grandad?” I feel that I have to ask. “There is a possibility that you might feel differently in six months’ time, when you’re feeling better. You could always have Vix manage the shop a while longer.”

But he shakes his head. “If I keep the property, it means I’d be responsible for the business, the repairs, insurance, rates, taxes… It doesn’t make sense financially. I don’t want to be sitting here worrying if the roof needs fixing or getting stressed if the rates go up. I’m happy, boy. I know it’s time to sell.”

“I don’t have any experience in running a business,” Vix says, “other than what I’ve helped do at the bookshop. My dad’s making me an appointment with Evangeline Lockwood at Evermore Business & Accounting to talk about what I need to put together for the bank.”

“Excellent,” Blair says. “She knows her stuff—she’ll sort it all out for you.”

“Dad has told me he can loan me twenty-five thousand dollars,” she says.

Blair smiles. “Oh, that’s good of him.”

“I’ll need to get a business loan for the rest,” Vix admits. She looks at John. “I’ve taken a look at the surrounding property market. I know roughly how much shops in the area are worth, and this one has the premises, the business, and the flat.”

Grandad nods. “I’ll be selling them as a package.”

“At least you don’t have to find somewhere to live,” Blair jokes.

Grandad studies Vix. Then he says, “Can you give me a minute with Blair?”

“Of course.” Vix and I get up and go out of the room.

Vix paces up and down. “I’m so nervous,” she admits. “It feels like such a huge risk. If I don’t make a success of it, I’ll blow all Dad’s retirement money.”

“Why wouldn’t it be a success? You’re going to be terrific.”

She swallows hard, stops walking, and wraps her arms around herself. My heart goes out to her, and I walk up and put my arms around her. She’s trembling a little.