Chapter 37

Summary

• The scene is set in March 1960, in Henley-on-Thames, at the home of Iris, where Imogene Mulroney is sitting with Hazel and Harry.
• Imogene, Iris’s mother, reminisces about the past, about Bridie and the war, and stresses the importance of not wallowing in the past.
• Hazel inquires if Imogene remembers Flora, to which Imogene responds warmly, indicating she prays for Flora every year on October 19th.
• Imogene recalls the innocence of Hazel and Harry’s childhood, mistaking them for a couple, but is corrected by Hazel who emphasizes that Flora existed.
• Iris interrupts her mother's prying with an air of privacy for their guests and serves shortbread while her toddler walks about the house.
• Imogene shares that she was questioned by the police about Flora but had no information, and expresses curiosity about how Hazel found her.
• Hazel reveals she got her contact from an inspector named Aiden, and Imogene reminisces about an American nurse named Frances, who left England when the war escalated.
• Imogene becomes emotional recalling her inability to save the lives of soldiers during the war, comforted by Iris and empathized with by Hazel and Harry.
• Imogene shares a personal connection with Flora, linking it to her own experiences when she was pregnant during the war.
• Iris adds to the conversation, sharing about her family's marketplace business and her father, who returned from the war missing a leg.
• The visit concludes with baby Toby falling and crying, prompting farewells; Iris expresses regret that her mother couldn't help more with Hazel's search.
• Back on the train, Hazel grapples with her obsession to find answers about Flora and fears losing her new life, including her job and relationship with Barnaby.
• Harry challenges Hazel's desire to move on, pointing out that she cannot simply ignore the facts she has uncovered, implying a connection between them.
• At Hazel's flat, Harry expresses hope that they can restart their relationship, but Hazel, feeling conflicted, firmly refuses to let him in, worried about making mistakes.
• Left alone, Hazel contemplates her history of loss and notices a list of names related to her magical land story, pondering on the ideas of life, art, and stories imparted to her by others.
• Hazel considers embracing the extraordinary in her life one more time, suggesting an openness to the possibility of another encounter with magic or wonder.