Page 28 of Somewhere Only We Know

Tiff looked up from her phone. ‘I can’t help thinking that somewhere more upmarket than the Ganesh would suit you, where you can join an organised tour for the rest of your time in Nepal.’

‘Possibly. But that’s not what Brontë planned to do.’

She narrowed her eyes. ‘What are you doing here, Maggie? I mean really?’

‘Keeping my promise to Brontë,’ I said simply.

‘You’ve come all this way and you’re only going to focus on what your daughter wanted?’ She sounded incredulous. ‘What’s in it for you, what are you getting out of the trip?’

‘That is what’s in it for me. I’m going to do as many things on Brontë’s list as I can in the time I have available and then I’m going to go back to the UK and get on with my life.’

She studied me. ‘Maybe it could be more than that.’

I glared at her. ‘Don’t try to tell me that something positive can come out of losing my only child. Because I don’t want to hear it. If you dare give me any of that trust the universe crap, you and I are going to fall out.’

‘I wasn’t going to say that.’

‘Good.’

She called out to the front of the minibus. ‘Lila, is there a place around here we can buy art materials?’

‘There is, mam, we go now?’

‘Yes please.’

‘That’s really kind of you,’ I said, surprised.

‘After that we can tick off some of the other things, if …’ She drew a breath, her eyes sparkling, ‘you consider doing something for me.’

‘Okay.’ I was intrigued. ‘Fire away.’

‘I co-run a volunteer project in the Chitwan valley; it’s called One World. We could use someone like you. Someone – no offence – mature, to help with kindergarten. Those kids would love some new art stuff, by the way. You’d get your own room and you’d be able to complete the rest of your Nepal list while you’re there. I think you’d get a lot out of it.’

‘So are you asking me to become a volunteer?’ My brain wound back twenty-four years to the beach in Bali. I’d loved living and working alongside the locals; I’d had to prove myself worthy of their respect. What was that guy’s name? The one who’d resented all the volunteers …?

‘That’s right. What do you say?’

‘Am I not too old? Won’t the others be eighteen-year-olds on a gap year?’

‘So what?’ She shrugged. ‘They’ll love you. And I bet you’d enjoy their company too.’

‘You might be right.’ I nodded slowly, remembering how much fun it had been when Brontë had brought her friends round for drinks before heading out for the evening.

‘Cool. Say the word and I could organise transport today.’ Tiff raised her eyebrows in anticipation.

‘So soon?’ I had no idea where the Chitwan valley was. My plan had been to go back to the guest house and work out what I was going to do with the next two weeks, when Brontë would have been trekking.

‘Did they tell you that the Ganesh is fully booked again, so you’ll be sharing with someone new tonight?’ said Tiff. ‘In case that helps you make a decision.’

I laughed at her tactics. ‘Will I be in the Chitwan valley by dinnertime?’

She grinned. ‘You sure will. But maybe lay off the dal bhat tonight. For everyone’s sake.’

Chapter 7

Nepal

Tiff had two hours before she had to head to the airport and catch her flight home. We quickly worked out an itinerary for me to see as much of Brontë’s list as possible and checked that Lila was happy to drive.