The next morning, Nina was sitting on a comfortable couch in the living room with her laptop on her lap and a cup of coffee within reach. Hans Zimmer was playing on the stereo and filled the house with focus-sharpening melodies.

Luana had gone out for groceries, and Nina decided to focus on the draft she was working on for Mr. Sombat. Organizing the schedules of two dozen massage salons and the staff would be challenging work and it wasn't exactly her area of expertise. She'd either have to roll up her sleeves or contact a college friend for collaboration. Excited about learning something new, she started researching websites of world-renowned massage salons. There weren't many, but it didn't take long for her to feel inspired.

Soon, she began sketching the layout of the website, and when Luana walked into the house an hour later, she was deep in flow. She looked up with a smile, happy to see her aunt.

"Someone's been busy since early morning," Luana said, placing the grocery bags on the bar stool. "Way to make your aunt proud. How did you sleep?

Nina stretched her arms over her head. "Pretty well taking the jetlag into account. But the damn mosquitoes feasted on me and now I'm super itchy."

"Oh no," Luana looked at her apologetically. "I forgot to give you the anti mosquito device. I'll see if I have some cream to help with the irritation. In the meantime, what do you say to some breakfast? Caprese salad or a prosciutto sandwich? Or both?"

Nina put the laptop down on the coffee table and stood up to help put away the groceries.

"Do you remember that salad you made once for Christmas, the broccoli with bacon one? That masterpiece stuck in my mind for years. I never managed to recreate it, but not for a lack of trying!."

Luana grinned while opening the fridge. She stored the milk, butter, and tomatoes. "So, salad it is? Agreed," she said, putting the tomatoes back on the counter. "If you come across the mozzarella, leave it out. How's the work going?"

Nina sighed. "I have a new potential client. A lot depends on this collaboration. If I secure it, I'll be set for a while and get an excellent reference. If not, I'm afraid I won't have enough finances to return to my life in Thailand," she said, lowering her gaze to her hands.

"You talk as if you've already resigned yourself to not getting anything from your father," Luana replied. She turned on the tap and started washing the tomatoes. "You know well that your father left you a nice sum of money. I think he saved it specifically, knowing you'd want to leave the house when he was no longer around. I just wish he'd made more effort for you to get it while he was still alive."

"Oh, Lu... Sometimes I really want to tell them to keep it, just so I don't have to see them," Nina admitted. "They got the house, when they sell it, they will be rich; I just wish they'd leave me alone. That's my dream – to be left alone. Maybe I just have to give them what they want, and I'll have my peace. Why fight for that money? As long as they think I've won, they'll keep going after me."

Luana put three tomatoes on the heavy wooden cutting board on the kitchen counter and turned to face her.

"Nina my dear, I hate to say this, but those women will keep trying to get to you as long as they derive satisfaction out of it. It doesn't have much to do with money. Don't get carried away with ideas of giving up, you hear? When's your meeting with the lawyer?"

Nina widened her eyes. The shocking thing about her aunt's statement was that it didn't actually surprise her that much. She herself had feared something similar. She imagined her future life, forever tainted by her mother's meddling, and groaned.

"Tomorrow at nine."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

Nina watched with admiration as Luana precisely and quickly sliced the tomatoes and arranged them on a large ceramic plate edged with delicate wildflower drawings. She found the mozzarella and took a knife from the drawer to open the package.

"You're not working tomorrow?" she asked.

"I can take a day off." Luana took the open package from Nina's hand after she drained the water from it into the sink.

"No, save it for the day of the hearing, then I'll really need the support. The lawyer is on my side," she said, smiling weakly. "I think."

The lawyer was really good, but he didn't quite sympathize with Nina's attempts to take the path of least resistance.

"Alright, dear. Please, pass me the olive oil and balsamic vinegar from that cabinet down there," she said, pointing with her chin. "Can you slice the bread? It should be in the last bag."

After breakfast, Luana left Nina alone in the empty house and went to work. She worked as a marriage counselor, which enabled quite a bit of freedom in her schedule. For a moment, Nina wondered what it would be like to live with her aunt. But how would it play out when Luana wanted to bring home a handsome ceramicist?

She dismissed the thought and got ready to go out. It was a short enough walk to the lawyer's office and the day was clear. She didn't have much choice other than walking anyway, not owning a car. She put on a light jacket and carefully locked the house before leaving.

Leaves had started to yellow slightly but the weather was still warm enough for the last tourists of the season to be walking about in sandals. She made her way through semi-deserted streets and prayed she wouldn't cross paths with her mother or sister. She would have to let them know she was back eventually, but didn't feel the need to rush it. She wondered how their relationship would develop now that they no longer lived in the same house.

Who knows, maybe she spent enough time away. Maybe they changed. She doubted it. She had long since stopped believing in them ever being anything resembling a happy family. But she still wished they could be at least civilized. In the sense that she didn't need to dread walking into them on the street.

Nina followed her favorite coastal route to the old town, and as soon as she neared the shoreline, she took in her deepest breath in months. The familiar scent of the sea filled her lungs, stirring a mix of cheerfulness and nostalgia. The water was so calm and inviting that she found herself contemplating a swim if the good weather held in the coming days. There was nothing other than the Mediterranean sea she regretted leaving behind, now that her father was dead. But being an Adriatic sea child was a big part of her identity, and it felt good to return to it.

Entering through the stone-arched city gate she checked the exact address on her phone one more time. The cobblestones shone in the sun and the heat combined with nervousness made her talk off her jacket before walking into the lawyer's office.

A lanky, well suited young man greeted her in the office reception.

"Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Batel."

"Are you Nina Ferrara?" the young man asked after checking the computer screen.

"That is indeed me," she said, offering a smile. The man remained serious and asked her to sit down in the small waiting room. Nina's heart sank. She wondered why it seemed so hard for some people to smile back. But then she remembered people sometimes had a bad day and tried not to take it personally.

While waiting in a windowless room with chairs that reminded her of the ones usually equipping airports gates, she took out her phone. No new messages. She expected something from Chompoo at least, as they had been in contact multiple times a day since the whole Mr. Sombat business started, but nothing came. She opened Bo's message again and started to reply

At the lawyer's office right now. Wish you were here.

It sounded cheesy. What could he do even if he was there with her? It's not like he would come with her to the lawyer's office. Or would he? Somehow she couldn't picture it.

A young man in his forties wearing an expensive indigo suit walked into the waiting room. He outstretched his hand.

"Nina. Hello, nice to finally meet you. Your aunt has told me so much about you."

She stood up and took his hand.

"Let's go to my office shall we?" Mr. Batel said before she had a chance to reply. He started for the door and Nina followed.

When they sat down into the most uncomfortable chair Nina has ever sat on Mr. Batel started bombarding her with questions about her travels. She was glad he showed interest but he didn't really let her get more than a few words in before his face assumed a somber expression and he steepled his fingers taking in a breath. She understood it was his let's-get-down-to-business signal.

"Nina. I believe in being frank with my clients and it's my obligation to tell you – we are fighting an uphill battle."

Nina felt a pang in her stomach. This was not how she hoped the meeting would start.

"I know my mother and sister are relentless, but everyone I spoke to said the will is legally binding," she said, watching his manicured fingers as he seemed to be performing some kind of delicate magic trick with his hands.

"The will is bulletproof. They are not basing their case on trying to disprove the validity of the will."

"Yes I know - lack of testamentary capacity. I googled it. But how can they prove that my father was mentally ill? Nobody would back that up." her heart quickened at the thought of the mere possibility of anyone trying to say her dad was crazy. "He was the most lucid man I know."

"Well, the thing is, there are already the two of them against you. And members of the household's testimonies have the biggest impact. The judge could see your refusal of their claim as just a young girl not wanting to accept her father was unwell. Besides, the will does go in your favor so there are grounds for suspecting you of perjury." He crossed his arms over his chest at the exact moment he said perjury in a practiced movement she thought might be designed to help make a point.

"Listen.. Mr Batel. I don't understand this. Whose side are you on? Am I not paying you enough?" she regretted the words as soon as they got out but there was no taking them back. "I'm sorry I just.."

The lawyer's eyebrows initially shot up but he quickly regained his composure.

"Nina. I am a good friend of your aunt's, as you know. Of course I am on your side. But there's no point in hiding from the facts. We need to face them head on and devise a plan of action."

"Alright," she relented, and pushed her hair behind her ear ready to listen. "I agree. What do you suggest?"

"I'm glad you're willing to consider alternatives," he said, smiling warmly. "One course of action would be to offer the accusing party a settlement."

Somehow Nina was not surprised. From the moment she saw him she had a feeling Mr. Batel was not much of a fighter. "I'm listening," she said, wanting to see how far he was willing to take this.

"We could offer to resign a third of your inheritance. I think that might satisfy them. Of course there are always renegotiations," he said, looking at his watch.

Nina felt panicky and confused. "Is our time up?" she asked, not unhappy at the prospect of getting the hell out of there.

"No no," he said, smiling slyly. "We have time, I'm just not sure if there's that much more to say. I think you have decisions to make. Think about it and get back to me." Nina felt flabbergasted. She knew lawyers could be stingy with their time but she did not expect to be in and out of the office in less than fifteen minutes. She got up and shook mr. Batel's hand.

"Thank you for your time," she said, knowing there was no way he would register the irony in her voice. 

She left the office feeling low in spirits and decided to take the longer route home. It was still only a fifteen-minute walk, and as she approached her aunt's house, she felt edgy and in need of a release. Two cars were parked in front of the house, and she wondered who the visitors were. Luana hadn't mentioned they were expecting anyone. 

Just as she was about to enter the house, her phone rang. She took it out of her purse and was surprised to see that it was Bo calling. She turned around and answered the phone while walking away.

"Hey!" she said, wondering what the call was about.

"Hey Yángniū, how are you doing?" His voice was cheerful, and Nina felt a surge of happiness at hearing it.

"It's so great to hear your voice," she blurted out. "Wait, what did you just call me?"

Bo laughed. "I'm glad you like it. Yángniū means 'Western girl' in Chinese. So, how are things on the Western front?" he asked again.

Nina contemplated lying and pretending everything was fine. But as soon as she heard herself say, "I'm fine, everything is good," she felt extremely sad about the way things were going. She was angry about the scheme her mother and sister were fabricating and disappointed by the unprofessional behavior and discouraging words of her lawyer. It was all just too much to handle.

"Actually.. I've just had a meeting with my lawyer, and the way he talked, I almost regret coming down here for the trial," she confessed.

"What? Why? Tell me what happened."

She recounted the meeting, which only made her feel angrier about her lawyer's behavior. She decided she needed to talk to her aunt about it.

"I don't like the way that sounds. But still, why would you even think about missing the trial?" he asked.

"You don't know my family. I just don't know if the price of being forced to spend time with them is worth it. And I don't want to fight over money. I'm the least competitive person in the world. If I ever see a tourist going for the same parking spot as me, I just let them have it. We have a term for getting your way here in Croatia. Roughly translated, it would be called 'elbowing'. Well, let's just say the mere thought of elbowing makes me want to cut my hands off."

"Okay, that's a bit.. graphic. Don't do that! Please keep your hands; they've kind of grown on me," he laughed, and Nina felt her insides melt. She sat down on a stone wall bordering the path she was walking on.

"Alright, if you insist," she said, snickering.

"I'm afraid, on this matter, I'm gonna have to," he said somberly. "But listen, the trial is in five days, right?"

Nina was touched that he remembered.

"Don't do anything rash. Keep calm and keep your wits about you. Remember, you can do this. I really believe in you."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm a stock option," she said, laughing despite her ill humor.

"That's right! And don't you forget it! Because my money is on you, my lucky stock. I need to run now, but I'll talk to you soon. Hang in there!"

"Thanks, and say hello to Anan and Chompoo for me."

"You know it, baby."

Nina hung up with the taste of baby lingering in her ear. She liked it.