The Hand That First Held Mine

Several years have passed since Innes’s death. Lexie is in Piccadilly with Felix trying to keep up with her. Felix and Lexie met in Florence when he asked her for directions. Like Lexie, Felix is a journalist, but he’s a television reporter and in love with the spotlight, the drama, and the fame. She is more interested in the stories, especially about art. They have an argumentative and on-again, off-again relationship. Now, she responds to Felix’s request to accompany him to Paris by telling him she doesn’t have time and marching off down Piccadilly, avoiding Soho.

Elina rushes around the house, getting everything ready to take Jonah out. However, Jonah falls asleep in her arms, so she must stay home. As she holds Jonah, she finds a piece of paper Ted dropped. On it is a list of clues from his memories, though Elina does not recognize what they are. As she tries to decode the list, she suddenly desires her mother. Elina calls her mother and tries to ask to come visit, but her brother is already there, and it becomes clear that Elina can’t come.

In the middle of the night, Elina wakes up suddenly. Jonah is crying, and she sees to him, changes his diaper, and nurses him.