1ONEPerspective.Ineedtogetperspective.It’snotanearthquakeoracrazedgunmanornuclearmeltdown,isit?Onthescaleofdisasters,thisisnothuge.
Not
huge.OnedayIexpectI’lllookbackatthismomentandlaughandthink‘Haha,howsillyIwastoworry’-Stop,Poppy.Don’teventry.I’mnotlaughing-infactIfeelsick.I’mwalkingblindlyaroundthehotelballroom,myheartthudding,lookingfruitlesslyonthepatternedbluecarpet,behindgiltchairs,underdiscardedpapernapkins,inplaceswhereitcouldn’tpossiblybe.I’velostit.TheonlythingintheworldIwasn’tsupposedtolose.Myengagementring.Tosaythisisaspecialringisanunderstatement.It’sbeenintheTavishfamilyforthreegenerations.It’sthismassiveemeraldwithtwodiamondsandMagnushadtogetitoutofaspecialbankvaultbeforeheproposed.I’vewornitsafelyeverydayforthreewholemonths,puttingitreligiouslyonaspecialchinatrayatnight,feelingforitonmyfingereverythirtyseconds…andnow,theverydayhisparentsarecomingbackfromtheStates,I’velostit.Theverysame
day
.ProfessorsAntonyTavishandWandaBrook-Tavishare,atthisprecisemoment,flyingbackfromsixmonths’sabbaticalinChicago.Icanpicturethemnow,eatinghoney-roastpeanutsandreadingacademicpapersontheirhis-n-hersKindles.Ihonestlydon’tknowwhichofthemismoreintimidating.Him.He’ssosarcastic.No,her.Withallthatfrizzyhairandalwaysaskingyouquestionsaboutyourviewsonfeminismallthetime.OK,they’rebothbloodyscary.Andthey’relandinginaboutanhourandofcoursethey’llwanttoseethering…No.Donothyperventilate,Poppy.Staypositive.Ijustneedtolookatthisfromadifferentangle.Like…whatwouldPoirotdo?Poirotwouldn’tflaparoundinpanic.He’dstaycalmandusehislittlegreycellsandrecallsometiny,vitaldetailwhichwouldbethecluetoeverything.Isqueezemyeyestight.Littlegreycells.Comeon.Doyourbest.