Chapter 20

On her birthday, Laurel receives purple hyacinths and laurel from Floyd, appreciating the thoughtfulness despite echoes of Paul’s past gestures. Floyd takes her to Champagne & Fromage in Covent Garden. Laurel scans the crowd, half-hoping to spot Hanna and gather clues about the mysterious “T,” but sees nothing.

Over dinner, Laurel asks about Floyd’s birthday, and Floyd explains he only knows it is roughly July 31 because he was born amid chaos to teenage parents. He recounts being born in a public toilet, taken to a hospital, then reclaimed after months of foster care, shaping his parents’ drive. He remembers nothing of those early days, only a later childhood memory in Boston. Laurel recognizes that, for once, she isn’t the only person defined by a painful story and notes a darker edge when Floyd references his parents.

They return to Floyd’s house, where Sara-Jade sits with a laptop. Floyd deliberately leaves Laurel and SJ to talk. Laurel, tipsy, makes small talk; SJ shares she does odd jobs and is modeling nude for a life-drawing class, segueing into a brief, opinionated riff on body politics and public norms.

Sara-Jade then reveals she googled Laurel and read about Ellie’s case, calling it very sad and noting Ellie’s beauty. She adds that Ellie looks like Poppy. Laurel, startled, denies a strong resemblance beyond perhaps the mouth, insisting many people look alike. The comment clears Laurel’s head and subtly renews her unease.