‘Did you check Facebook? Google him? He must be on Twitter orInstagram.’
Birdie nods. ‘Yeah I checked, but there’s nothing on there. He doesn’t have any social media accounts. It’s weird. It’s like… he’svanished.’
‘No online footprint? That is weird,’ I agree, my imagination immediately going into overdrive as it tends to do. ‘Hmmm. Maybe he’s in prison now? Or maybe he’s in witness protection and had to change his name? Maybe he lives in the jungle as a nomad with no contact to the outsideworld?’
Birdie shushes me before my ideas about Chuck’s potential demise become more and more outlandish. ‘I couldn’t find anything about him online,’ she says. ‘But Idohave his parents’ last known address. That’s where Chuck lived when we were dating. And… I was hoping you’d do me a hugefavour.’
‘Anything!’ I say at once. ‘Whatever you need, I’m your girl. Yagrrrrl.’
With a small smile Birdie gets up from her chair and, pulling her IV bag with her, strolls over to the little cabinet at the side of the bed. She opens it up and pulls out a thick, creamy whiteenvelope.
‘I wrote Chuck aletter.’
‘Great! Okay, I’ll go and post it, of course. I’ll do it now,shallI?’
I reach to take the letterfromher.
‘No… I… I need you to take it to Chuck. Inperson.’
I blink, what is she onabout?
‘To America,’ she says. ‘To New York. And… I need you to leavetomorrow.’
OceanofPDF.com
ChapterFour
Text from Donna Pickering:What time will you be back, Olive? You never mentioned and it would be super appreciated to know when exactly you’ll be returning to the house! Alex and I are watching a movie and don’t want to be interrupted if poss.Thanks!
Frowning,I shake my head at Birdie. ‘Actual America? The… country America? New York,America?’
I feel the blood drain from my face. I’ve never even left the north-west of England, let alone been on a plane. Planes go in the sky and my fear of heights is legendary. I won’t even sit on the top deck of the bus! And planes fly across the sea and since the time I almost drowned in a community centre pool when I was fourteen, I have a fear of water too! I can’t go on a plane! Across an ocean! To a foreign country! On my own! Without prior notice! That’s not a thing a person likemedoes!
‘You don’t know that Chuck’s even there in New York, though,’ I say quickly. ‘And if you have his parents’ address can’t we just post the letter there? That seems like a less…bonkersplan?’
Birdie grimaces. ‘I know it’s a lot to ask, but I wouldn’t if it weren’t truly important. I just really feel like I need Chuck to get this letter. I can’t stop thinking about it and I don’t want any regrets.’ She buries her head in her hands. ‘I feel like a real shit for asking. But if we post the letter it could get lost. And his relationship with his parents was always rocky. Even if they still live at that address – I think they probably do, but I don’t know for sure because its unlisted and I can’t call – they might not give it to him. And… it’s not like I have a great deal of time left to waitaround.’
My heartdrops.
‘You might?’ I sayweakly.
Birdie shakes her head no. ‘I was thinking that if you go in person you could start at his parents’ house. Or their old house. Whatever it turns out to be. And go from there. Chuck loved New York City. I can’t imagine him being anywhere else. We have to at least try! You’re the only person I trust to get my letter into his hands. You’re my best chance. My only chance, really. And I know you’re scared. I know youhatethe thought of international travel. But… I need this. I really do. I’ve got my surgery in two weeks and… I’m scared. What if it doesn’t go well? What if I don’t have all my affairssortedand…?’
Fuck.Fuck.
I think… I think Birdie’s giving me a lastrequest.
Shit. This is crazy! This is a horrible, crazy conversation that two twenty-something best friends shouldneverhave.
Tears spring to my eyes. I wipe them away before they can splodge onto my face and clear mythroat.
‘What about work? And where will I stay?’ I ask, starting to pace the floor around thesmallroom.
Birdie sits up straighter in her chair, her eyes shining. ‘You’re not saying no…? Okay. Gosh. Okay. Well, you never take time off. Joan and Joan will let you go if you tell them why. And an old high-school acquaintance is letting me use her Airbnb rental. I will pay. I’ll pay for everything, your food and drink, your taxi fares,everything.’
When she’s not in hospital, Birdie works as a freelance digital artist. She doesn’t make a lot of new stuff these days but her huge colourful prints sell pretty well online. But this soundsexpensive…
‘I promise I can afford it,’ she says. ‘My friend is giving me an amazing deal on her studio apartment and the last-minute flights are really quitecheap.’
