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“You’ll be fine,” I murmur, resting my lips on top of her head. “You’ll see. If it’s meant to happen, it will.”

She lets out a long breath. “You’re right. I have to trust in Fate.”

I’m not convinced by the theory of determinism, and I like to think we have free will, but I can see how it’s comforting for her to think that her future path is already decided. It makes her feel better to think that she was meant to have Millie, and therefore she didn’t make a mistake in marrying Jayden. And I’m not going to take that away from her.

The door opens. Blair sees us hugging and smiles, but just says, “Do you want to come back in?”

We go in and take our seats again.

“We’ve had a quick chat about finances,” Blair says.

“Like I said,” Grandad continues, “it’s more important to me that the shop is well cared for than making a vast sum on the sale. I’ve had an independent valuation done on it, and they’ve priced the premises, the business, and the flat together at $495,000. But I’ll sell it to you for $400,000.”

Vix inhales. Clearly, that was less than she’d imagined. “Oh! I thought…” She swallows hard. “I thought it would be a lot more than that. Are you sure? I don’t want you to put yourself out of pocket for me, John.”

“I meant what I said. Helena and I ran the bookshop together. It was ours, and I loved all the years I spent there. I know I haven’t done as much with it as I should since she died.” His brows draw together. “I feel bad about that. Anyway.” He pushes the copy of The Hobbit back to her. “I want you to sell this and put the money toward the sale.”

“John!”

“If you’re right, and it fetches around $45,000, that gives you a deposit of $70,000. That means you’d be borrowing $330,000 against an asset worth nearly half a million. The bank should be happy with that.”

Vix flushes. “Thank you so much.”

He looks at me then. “The other reason I asked Blair here was to make a will. After the shop is sold, I’ll need to put some money aside to pay for my care here. I’ll leave a little of the rest to your father, but the majority of it is going to go to you, boy.”

My throat tightens. “Aw, Grandad… no…”

“Come on, I’m not saying it’s going to happen tomorrow, but we all know I’m not going to live forever. Most of whatever’s left will come to you. But in the meantime, I want to transfer twenty thousand dollars into your account, and I want you to spend it on organizing the sprucing up of the flat.”

“Grandad! I don’t need that much for a tin of paint!”

“It won’t just be paint,” he says firmly. “I’m not a fool, boy. I know it needs a lot of work, and I don’t want Vix and Millie moving in there with it like it is. It needs new carpets and curtains, and probably some work in the kitchen and bathroom. And I’m sure there’s plenty to do in the shop, too.”

“Vix has some great ideas,” I say.

“Oh?”

She flushes. “It’s not like I’m going to change everything as soon as you have a foot out of the door.”

He sighs and fixes her with a firm stare. “I’ve known you a long time. Even before you started working in the shop, you used to spend hours browsing the books. You’re a good girl, Vix. Helena would be thrilled to know you’re picking up the reins. I’m sure you’ll breathe new life into the place, and it’ll be more modern, and better for it.”

Blair says there’s no need to get real estate agents involved if John and Vix agree on everything, so while we finish our coffee, she takes some details from them both and promises to draw up the legal papers for the sale ready for when Vix has the loan approval for the bank.

After that, we both give Grandad a big hug, and then we leave him with Blair to draw up his will and start walking back to town.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her.

“Excited,” she replies. “A bit nervous, but oddly better now we’re talking in more detail, getting the facts and figures worked out. I think it’s doable. Anyway, at least I can go to see Evangeline now.”

“One step at a time,” I say. “But it’s good to get things moving.”

“You should hold off on doing too much to the flat, though, until I get the bank’s approval.”

I shake my head. “The thing is, even if you don’t end up buying it—and I think you will—I wouldn’t want to sell it the way it is at the moment. It needs a fresh coat of paint and new carpets at the very least.”

“I suppose.”

“Like I said, one step at a time. I was thinking, how about I ask Bear to drop in tomorrow, and we can talk to him about your ideas for the shop? That way he could draw up some estimates for the renovations, and you’d be able to take those with you to the bank.”