Hazel paces the kitchen after hanging up with Peggy Andrews, feeling overwhelmed with thoughts and unsure of what to do next.
Hazel retrieves a wooden trunk from the linen closet, revealing a key taped inside the door frame, and opens it to find her possessions, including her sister Flora's teddy bear and memories of Harry.
She repairs the damaged teddy bear named Berry and reflects on her past adventures in Whisperwood and the guilt of neglecting her sister because of her first love, Harry.
Hazel calls her friend Kelty for support and to share some information.
Kelty arrives, looking chic as usual, and Hazel expresses her disbelief that Kelty's daughter, Midge, prefers her father, Fergus.
They go through the trunk's contents, which include articles about Flora's disappearance, overshadowed by major historical events such as WWII news.
Hazel and Kelty discuss Harry's sketches and Hazel reveals she's kept them, thinking there might be a clue to Flora's disappearance.
Kelty remembers Flora mentioning Whisperwood to her, a fantasy land Hazel created for herself and Flora when they needed an escape from their reality.
Hazel shares about the Whisperwood she created, a place of refuge, distinct from how it's portrayed in the book by Peggy Andrews.
Both women speculate about the author Peggy Andrews and the possibility that she could be Flora.
Hazel reveals she has already phoned Peggy Andrews but got hung up on, and now she feels she must speak to Bridie Aberdeen to explore if she knew about Whisperwood.
Kelty suggests searching for Flora and Peggy Andrews but Hazel is hesitant to contact Harry, reflecting on painful past events and the estrangement that followed.
Hazel admits she hasn't returned to Binsey since she left and feels it's too late to reconcile with the Aberdeens or find Flora, despite their once close relationship.
The chapter ends with Hazel and Kelty pondering if the path to Flora has become irreversibly obscured by time.