Page 91 of Somewhere Only We Know

So where was it now? Think, Maggie, think! It could be anywhere between here and Watson’s Bay. Did someone steal it? Surely not. Could I have dropped it in the water getting on or off the ferry? Possibly. It had been quite a step; there’d been a man there at the quay giving smaller people a hand. The idea that her beautiful book had dropped into the ocean didn’t bear thinking about.

For the next few minutes, I was gripped by panic, unable to think straight or do anything sensible.

Finally, my brain kicked in and I called Harry.

‘Harry, something terrible has happened,’ I blurted out.

‘Maggie? What is it? Are you okay?’

‘No. I’ve lost Brontë’s book,’ I sobbed. ‘I had it when I left the hotel this morning and it’s gone. I don’t know what to do.’

‘Oh no. Where did you last see it?’ There were voices in the background and music playing and Harry had to shout to make himself heard.

‘This morning in Sydney before catching the ferry to meet you. After that, I’m not sure if it was still in my bag or not.’

‘Right. There’s a good chance you dropped it somewhere at Watson’s Bay. I’m still here at the bar,’ he said. ‘I’ll retrace our steps; it’s got to be somewhere.’

‘But what if we don’t find it?’ I wailed. ‘What am I going to do then?’

‘Try not to panic. And keep on looking at your end.’

‘I’m already panicking, I’ve searched everywhere in my room. More than once.’

‘I’ll get my mate to help me. We’ll set off now and we won’t stop until we’re sure we’ve checked everywhere.’

‘Thank you, Harry,’ I said tearily.

He ended the call and I sank down onto the floor and cried tears of guilt and frustration. My most precious possession. Brontë’s book, her words, her thoughts, her plans. Brontë’s trip and now mine too. All gone.

Chapter 32

Australia

It was three hours before I heard from Harry again.

‘Please say you’ve found it,’ I said shakily.

I was all cried out by then, exhausted and angry with myself. I’d been down to reception and checked with housekeeping to see if it had been collected with the used linen, and I’d even been to the lost property at Circular Quay in case I’d left it on board one of the ferries, but no luck.

‘I wish I could,’ said a weary-sounding Harry. ‘But we’ve searched as much of Watson’s Bay as we could before it got dark, and there was no sign of it.’

‘Oh God, no.’ I couldn’t believe this was happening. How stupid of me.

‘Hey, don’t worry. I’ll have another look in the morning,’ Harry said optimistically. ‘Don’t give up yet.’

‘Thank you for trying.’ I reached for a tissue and blew my nose. ‘I do appreciate it.’

‘No problem,’ he said. ‘We’ve left messages at the hotels and restaurants, and if I hear anything I’ll let you know straight away.’

‘How could I have been so careless?’

‘You weren’t careless,’ he insisted. ‘Sometimes accidents happen. Don’t beat yourself up about it.’

‘I don’t know what I’ll do if we can’t find it,’ I said.

‘Maybe this is your sign to go home,’ Harry suggested. ‘You’ve been away a long time.’

That made me sit up straighter. I gripped the phone.