But Aunt Märta never appears. Could Stephie have been lucky? Could Miss Holm have forgotten all about it? Perhaps she didn’t find it so remarkable to bump into Stephie in Göteborg. She probably had lots of other interesting things to tell people after her visit. On Thursday after school, Stephie goes to May’s. As they’re walking from the tram, she sees Sven in front of them on the street. This time there is no doubt about it: he’s no more than twenty yards ahead and Stephie knows it really is him. He turns in at the tavern. Stephie slows down enough to have a look through the window. She watches Sven hang up his coat and sit down at a table. His back is to the window and his body is blocking the table, so Stephie can’t tell if there is anyone sitting opposite him. “What are you looking at?” May asks. “Was that somebody you know?” “No,” Stephie says. “I got it wrong.” “That makes sense,” says May. “I didn’t think you knew anybody around here.” The minute they walk into May’s courtyard, Britten comes running.
