The Story She Left Behind

Dr. Finlay returns to examine Clara. After he assures her that she’s doing all right, Clara joins Pippa. They chat about the house and Clara’s work until Wynnie and Charlie return. Pippa tells the group that she works with the local theater and alludes to the adaptation of Bronwyn’s play, A World Apart. Afterward, Clara asks Charlie if they can ask Pippa about Bronwyn now, but he’s unsure.

In the study, Charlie tells Clara about the house and grounds. He explains that he can’t tell Pippa about the papers because he’s afraid of hurting her. Feeling hopeless, Clara wonders aloud if finding Bronwyn is a lost cause. The conversation turns intimate, and Clara feels a sudden desire to be close to Charlie. Archie and his wife Adelaide’s arrival interrupts them. Alone afterward, Clara tells herself that she needs to get home. She needs her drawing supplies and doesn’t want to miss the upcoming Caldecott Awards.

Clara examines the few pages that she and Moira saved on the day the woman stole Bronwyn’s satchel. While alphabetizing the remaining entries, she wonders if Davis’s version of her mother was correct. She wishes that she had someone to talk to and writes Lilia a letter.

Clara joins the Jamesons, meeting Archie and Adelaide. She marvels at how welcoming everyone is and wishes that she understood Bronwyn’s connection to this family.

A few days later, Clara and Charlie take a walk in the snow. Charlie tells her more about Callum’s past and the history of the house. They also talk about family and relationships; Clara opens up about Nat, and Charlie opens up about Chelsea. Then, they arrive at the cottages on the property. Clara is shocked to see a sign near a walled garden with one of Bronwyn’s words.

Charlie promises to help Clara find Bronwyn no matter what. Clara breaks down, admitting that she’s been tense for days. She blames herself for the mess into which she’s gotten herself and Wynnie. Charlie reassures her. Then, Wynnie runs out of the trees, exclaiming at the solo walk she took. Clara and Charlie warn her about wandering off alone. Wynnie dismisses their fears, confident that only “good things will happen” in Cumbria (201).

Charlie overhears Clara talking to Timothy on the phone. He’s glad that she’s there and hopes he can help her; he hasn’t had this protective impulse in some time. Then, he finds Archie and asks him about Bronwyn’s papers. Archie doesn’t know anything about them but teases Charlie about liking Clara. Charlie rejoins Wynnie and asks her more about Emjie.

That evening, Clara, Charlie, Wynnie, Moira, and Pippa go to see A World Apart. Clara and Wynnie are thrilled to run into Finneas, who lives nearby. After the play, Pippa introduces Clara to the director, Louisa Mayfair. Louisa is delighted to learn that Clara is Bronwyn’s daughter and works for Eliza; Eliza adapted A World Apart.

Back at home, Clara and Charlie tell Pippa about finding Bronwyn’s papers in Callum’s study. Pippa doesn’t know anything about it and is surprised to learn that Clara is Bronwyn’s daughter and works for Eliza. She explains that Eliza is from Maine but married Callum’s friend Thomas, a local man. Thrilled by these connections, Clara realizes that she’s been painting the very place where Eliza has lived for years.

After putting Wynnie to bed, Clara joins Charlie in the drawing room. They talk about music, language, and translation. Callum also invented words. The conversation turns back to Bronwyn’s mystery. Charlie agrees to introduce Clara to Eliza. Then, he plays Clara a song. He notices her crying, and the two share a passionate kiss. Clara doesn’t want the moment to end but hears Wynnie calling her.

Clara wakes up thinking about her and Charlie’s kiss. She joins him, Pippa, and Wynnie for breakfast. They talk about childhood, illustrating, and memory. Clara’s stories move Pippa. She used to have a painting club with her sister and cousins Nelle and Isolde years ago. She also informs Clara that Beatrix Potter used to live nearby. They agree to visit her house later.

Clara and Wynnie walk to Beatrix Potter’s cottage. They bump into Finneas, and he tells them about Potter—he used to know her. He also knows Eliza and loves that Clara illustrates her books. He wishes Clara well, hoping that she finds what she’s looking for.

Back at the house, Clara and Charlie sit together. He touches her hair and recites a T. S. Eliot poem for her. Clara knows the poem from Bronwyn.

Over lunch, Clara and Charlie tell Pippa more about Bronwyn’s papers. Then, they head to Eliza’s house in Hawkshead. Clara secretly hopes that Eliza will be Bronwyn, but Eliza looks nothing like her mother. Eliza welcomes them in and tells them about her friendship with Callum. He’s the one who found Clara’s work and connected her and Eliza.

That evening, Clara thinks about life back at home. She hasn’t talked to Nat and guesses that he’s upset with her. She needs to return for the Caldecott Awards but is also enjoying Cumbria. Back in their bedroom, Clara and Wynnie discover an easel, palette, paint, and brushes from Charlie. Clara starts painting. Then, Wynnie notices a clue on one of Bronwyn’s papers: One of her lines is an acrostic spelling “violets.” Violets were Bronwyn’s favorite flower.

After digging out Pippa’s old painting supplies for Clara, Charlie hunts for Callum’s old typewriter. He hopes that Clara might use it to type Bronwyn’s pages. During his search, he remembers listening to Callum work late into the night when he was a boy. He realizes that Callum and Bronwyn have a lot in common, particularly creatively. He wonders again about their connection. His mind jumps to Clara and their kiss, and he wants to be closer to her.