Best Kept Secret

on, you’ll be on the air,’ was all he said before turning to the first page. Harry checked the second hand of the studio clock: four minutes to eight.
He listened to an advertisement for Nescafé, as Jacobs scribbled down a couple of notes on a pad in front of him. The ad ended with a familiar jingle, and the red light went on.
Harry’s mind went blank, and he wished he was at home having lunch with Emma, even facing a thousand Germans at Clemenceau ridge, rather than 11 million Americans enjoying their
breakfast.
    ‘Good morning,’ said Jacobs into his microphone, ‘and what a morning it’s been. First Gable, then Mel, and we end this hour of the breakfast show with a special guest
from Great Britain, Harry’ – he quickly checked the book’s cover – ‘Clifton. Now, before we talk about your new book, Harry, can I confirm that the last time you set
foot in America you were arrested for murder?’
    ‘Yes, but it was all a misunderstanding,’ spluttered Harry.
    ‘That’s what they all say,’ said Jacobs with a disconcerting laugh. ‘But what my eleven million listeners will want to know is, while you’re here, will you be
getting together with some of your old convict buddies?’
    ‘No, that’s not the reason I’m in America,’ began Harry. ‘I’ve written a—’
    ‘So Harry, tell me about your second impression of America.’
    ‘It’s a great country,’ said Harry. ‘New Yorkers have made me feel so welcome, and—’
    ‘Even the cab drivers?’
    ‘Even the cab drivers,’ repeated Harry, ‘and this morning I got to meet Clark Gable.’
    ‘Is Gable big in England?’ asked Matt.
    ‘Oh yes, he’s very popular, as is Miss Turner. In fact I can’t wait to see their new film.’
    ‘We call them movies over here, Harry, but what the hell.’ Jacobs paused, glanced up at the second hand on the clock, and said, ‘Harry, it’s been great having you on the
show, and good luck with your new book. After a few words from our sponsors, we’ll return at the top of the hour with the eight o’clock news. But from me, Matt Jacobs, it’s
goodbye, and have a great day.’
    The red light went off.
    Jacobs stood up, shook hands with Harry and said, ‘Sorry we didn’t get more time to talk about your book. Loved the cover.’

    Emma sipped her morning coffee before opening the letter.
    Dear Mrs Clifton,
    Thank you for attending the board meeting last week. I am pleased to inform you that we would like to take your application to the next stage.
    Emma wanted to ring Harry immediately but knew it was the middle of the night in America, and she wasn’t even sure which city he was in.
    We have several suitable candidates for you and your husband to consider, a number of whom are residing in our homes at Taunton, Exeter and Bridgwater. I will be happy
     to send information on each child, if you would be kind enough to let me know which home you’d prefer to visit first.
    Yours sincerely,
    Mr David Slater
    One call to Mitchell confirmed that Jessica Smith was still at Dr Barnardo’s in Bridgwater, but was hoping to be amongst those going to Australia. Emma checked her watch.
She would have to wait until noon before Harry could be expected to ring and she could tell him the news. She then turned her attention to a second letter which had a ten-cent stamp on it. She
didn’t need to check the postmark to know who had sent it.

    By the time Harry arrived in Chicago,
Nothing Ventured
had come in at number 33 on the
New York Times
bestseller list, and Natalie was no longer placing a hand
on his leg.
    ‘No need to panic,’ she reassured him. ‘The second week is always the most important. But we’ve got a lot of work to do if we’re going to make it into the top
fifteen by next Sunday.’
    Denver, Dallas and San Francisco took them almost to the end of the second week, by which time Harry was convinced that Natalie was among those who hadn’t read the book. Some of the
prime-time shows dropped Harry at the last minute, and he started to spend more and more of his time in smaller and smaller book stores signing fewer and fewer copies. One or two proprietors even
refused to let him do that because, as Natalie explained, they couldn’t return signed copies to the publisher as they were considered damaged goods.
    By the time they touched down in Los Angeles,
Nothing Ventured
had crept up to number 28 on the bestseller list and, with only a week to go, Natalie couldn’t mask her