‘You showed me that before,’ I said, a little confused. ‘Remember?’
‘Well, yes, but I thought you could keep it while you’re making your plans. It’s easier to read the real thing than the scans on a screen.’
‘Are you serious?’ I couldn’t believe he was trusting me with them. ‘Isn’t it valuable?’
‘Not in a monetary sense,’ Finn said. ‘But as long as you don’t spill anything on it, or set fire to it …’
‘Or lose it,’ Micah said helpfully. ‘Or leave it on the bus.’
I glared at him. ‘I’d love to look at it,’ I said to Finn, overwhelmed by the gesture. ‘If you’re sure?’
‘Of course.’
‘I’ve been looking at the messages online but I think it’ll be easier to get a proper sense of Elsie from the real thing.’ I was beginning to get excited. ‘How long can I keep it for?’
‘I’m still in the middle of marking exams, so a couple of weeks?’ Finn said.
‘Perfect. This is so kind of you, Finn.’
He pushed his hair away from his forehead and smiled at me.
‘Will you be all right getting it home?’ he said. ‘It’s quite heavy. Are you on your bike?’
I’d not thought about that. I screwed my nose up. ‘I am and I don’t have my rucksack with me.’
‘I’ll give you a ride,’ Tara said. ‘No problem.’
‘Thanks, Tara.’
Finn looked at his watch and, worried he was going to leave and I wouldn’t know when I’d next see him, I said: ‘Perhaps it would be easiest to keep the book at Tall Trees? I could put it in your cupboard and then if you do need it for some reason, you’ll know where to find it.’
‘Sounds good,’ said Finn.
Pleased, I leaned back in my chair as there was a knock on the door of the bar. Tara got up to let Barney, the chef, in. He’d arrived to get the Sunday lunches started.
‘Just going to sort the menu, honey,’ Tara said, disappearing off into the kitchen after him.
‘Oh my days,’ Micah said suddenly. ‘I need to go. I’m meant to be going to watch my sister play football. Will you be okay?’
‘Of course,’ I said, touched that he’d checked. ‘Go. I’ll catch up with you later.’
He pulled his hood up, even though it was a sunny day, and put his earbuds in. Shutting out the world as he was heading outside, I thought. It wasn’t easy being a teen these days.
He slouched off, giving me a cheery wave as he walked past the window of the pub.
And then there was just Finn and me.
‘So,’ he said.
‘Yes?’ I looked at him, fighting the urge to brush his hair off his face.
‘You said you needed my help?’
‘Oh,’ I was flustered suddenly. ‘Yes, I did. I want to find out what happened to Elsie. I think it would really help give the project legs, you know?’
Legs? Oh, Stevie.
But Finn smiled. ‘I’ll make a historian of you yet.’
