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“That’s a no-brainer for me. Is she coming home with us?”

“Not anytime soon.”

“I’ll learn to deal with it.” She straightened her clothing. “I’d expected some warning. Not for Sophie to be at home one day and gone the next.”

“It’s another kind of grief.” He figured she’d had more than her share.

“Hi, Sophie sent me.” Peter stopped in front of them.

Hamish let Peter lead them back along the esplanade, past the cascading early blooming pink pigface, past one-room bars and restaurants, back towards St. Patrick’s Hotel. There were few people at the waterside tables, perhaps because the evening had turned unseasonably sultry.

Sophie waited for them. “I haven’t ordered yet. They have good local wines.”

“How do you know?” Lela asked.

“Don’t be stuffy. I’ve sampled a glass with Peter’s family, just like at home. My budget doesn’t run to expensive meals and alcohol. Especially since Nannu froze my account.”

“You don’t need money while you’re here,” Peter said.

Hamish exchanged a look with Lela. Another manoeuvre to pull the strings, another piece of information the old man had left out of his briefing to Hamish.

“When did Papa freeze your account?” Lela asked.

“I managed one withdrawal at the airport.”

“I’ll leave you some.” Lela opened her handbag. “I withdrew more cash than I need.”

“I knew you would.” Sophie threw Peter a self-satisfied look.

“I wanted to tell you, Lela,” Peter rushed to explain.

“I made him promise not to,” Sophie interrupted, and in response to a questioning look from Hamish, added, “Lela would have asked me to wait, to think about it. And”—she paused dramatically—“I apologise now, but I thought she might have been on Nannu’s side.”

“Often speak without engaging your brain?” Hamish wasn’t going to encourage her poor-me performance.

“Nannu scares me.”

“Not that I’ve noticed,” Lela disagreed.

“Okay then, I’m not patient, like you, Lela. I’m like Mama. You can tell Nannu what you like. I’m not prepared to stay and navigate his rules. I want to find my own way, and I can’t do it in that house. I’m not you, Lela. I’m not as hard.”

Hurt flickered in Lela’s eyes, before she dropped her gaze to hide it. Damn Sophie for taking her aunt’s protection and love for granted.

“If you want to be an independent adult, Sophie, then you need to take responsibility for your actions,” Hamish interrupted. “You call him and tell him what your plans are.”

“Won’t Lela do that?”

“Your decision, your responsibility, especially as it’s no longer based on your original reason for leaving. Your grandfather deserves to hear it from you.” Hamish would insist on it.

“Peter said that.” Sophie glanced at Peter, who crossed his eyes at her. She stuck out her tongue. “I’ll think about it.”

“Time to grow up, Sophie.” Although her antics with Peter showed how very young she was. “It involves more than indulging your own desires. That is, if you care about consequences.”

“Now you sound like Lela.”

“That’s because she’s a very grown-up person who’s helped you get to the position of making your own decisions today. You owe her.” Someone needed to set Sophie straight. Hamish volunteered for the role.

“No, you don’t. That’s enough, Hamish. Why do I feel like I’m back at home refereeing between my brothers?”