“Rueben, please don’t close the door!” The words spill out of my mouth as the door swings shut in my face. Blocking it with one foot, I say, “One minute. That’s all I ask for.”

Evi’s voice comes from inside. “What’s going on, Rueben?”

Rueben turns slightly. “It’s that heartbreaking prince again. I told him she’s not home but he won’t listen.”

I take advantage of the distraction and press my shoulder to the door to pry it open. “Evi! I just want to know where she is.”

“Honestly, Rueben, his grandmother has just had a heart attack. Let the poor boy in.”

Rueben lets go of the door. The momentum from me pushing on it causes it to swing open and me to lose my balance, following the wooden slab as it crashes into the wall. “Thank you, Evi.”

I straighten myself up and give her a small bow. “Very kind of you.”

Rueben turns on his heel and walks away, muttering something that sounds like ‘useless feck,’ leaving me standing alone with his wife.

“I need to find Tessa.”

“She’s at work.”

I shake my head. “I was just there. No sign of her.”

“Nikki’s?”

“I had Arabella call her. She hasn’t seen her either.”

Evi snaps her fingers. “Let me text her.”

She walks down the hall to the kitchen, returning a moment later with her mobile phone and her reading glasses.

“Thank you, Evi. I know you have no reason to help me.”

“Sure, I do. My daughter will never be happy again without you.” She opens the bejeweled phone case and starts slowly typing with one finger.

I stand waiting impatiently, forcing myself not to tap my foot. Using my height to my advantage, I peer at the screen. So far, the only words she’s managed are:

Tessa, it’s your mother.

Dear God. She doesn’t even have to include that bit. Of course, she’ll know it’s from her mother.

“Oh, wait,” she says, deleting everything she’s written. “The kids keep teasing me about not texting properly. I guess you don’t have to say who it is because she’ll already have my number in her contacts.”

“Right. Hadn’t thought of that.” Yes, I had. Everyone has. Just hand me the phone. Hand it to me so I can text her myself.

Prince Arthur is here looking for

“I suppose I don’t need to say Prince, do I?” she asks as she deletes the entire message again.

“Perhaps, I could just—”

“You’re so patient, Arthur. My kids are just awful. They keep grabbing the phone from me and doing it for me.”

“I’d never dream of it.”

“Such a well-mannered young man.”

“Yes, well, I did go to Prince Charming school, so…”

Evi drops the phone to her side and laughs like a kookaburra. I laugh for a second with her, all the while gesturing with my hands for her to lift the phone again.

Tessa, Arthur is here looking for you. Where are you?

Push send. Push send.

But she doesn’t. Instead she looks up at me. “Do you want her to come here? Or should I tell her to meet you somewhere else?”

My voice takes on a high-pitched quality as I stifle the urge to rip the phone from her hand. “Umm, maybe just send it like that and we’ll wait for a few minutes for her to answer.”

Using her texting finger, she wags at the air. “Yes. Smart.”

When she finally pushes the send button, I let out a long puff of air.

And now we wait.

She and I stare at each other awkwardly for a second. Evi smiles. “Lovely weather we’re having.”

“Quite. Yes. Unusually warm for April.”

“Indeed. How’s your gran?”

“She’s doing quite well actually. She’s in great spirits.”

“Excellent.”

Her phone makes a ping sound and we both turn our attention to it. “Nope. Not her. Grace next door wants to see if I can verse her in Candy Crush.”

“Oh.”

“Do you play?”

I shake my head.

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t have time for that.” She makes a clicking sound with her tongue for about half a minute. “Would you like some tea?”

“Thank you, no.” I check my watch. I still have two hours before the official announcement is made. Still time to turn this ship around.

“Oh! Have you tried calling that handsome Xavier? He’ll know where she is.”

“He’s not answering, which is very odd because they’re meant to have their mobile devices on at all times. Unless…” I clap my hands. “I know where she is.”

“Where?”

“She’s at the hospital!”