After Vernice’s wedding, Bobo leaves Annie for a woman who is attending college. Annie wonders if he is doing the same thing that Vernice has done: choosing a romantic partner as a way to advance in life.

Annie writes to Lulabelle about what happened with Bobo. She begs to visit, insisting that right now she needs to be Lulabelle’s daughter and be supported. She agonizes over whether Bobo actually loves this other woman or is just using her to get ahead.

In her response, Lulabelle advises Annie to find another man, be grateful she did not have any kids, and not to come back. Lulabelle is adamant that returning to her is always bad, so her refusal to see Annie is out of love.

Vernice spends the first few months after her wedding living with Franklin’s parents while their new house is being built. Mrs. McHenry shows her how to clean the house properly and gives her advice on how to care for her husband and children. Vernice’s favorite part is the sunroom; she plans to add one to the new home.

One day, Vernice and Mrs. McHenry spend the day dusting, with Mrs. McHenry showing her all the strange places where dust settles. Afterwards, in the sunroom, they talk about the house’s architect, who is divorcing his wife. Vernice suggests that they find a husband for Annie. Mrs. McHenry praises her for being a good person, but insists that she cannot elevate Annie. Mrs. McHenry compares this to the regretful necessity to abandon her own sister when she got married: Vernice must leave her old life behind to fully create her new one.

After Franklin and his father get back from meeting with the architect, Vernice makes them martinis as she has been taught to do. Franklin invites her to look at the blueprints for their home. When Vernice points out that there is no sunroom for her, Franklin’s father laughs, responding that she needs to spend time with her husband and the children they produce rather than luxuriate in a sunroom. Vernice is upset but keeps it to herself.

That night, Vernice and Franklin have sex. Franklin knows that she is not a virgin since she knows exactly what to do. He isn’t upset but doesn’t want her to “think” she has “a secret from” him (284). When he laughs, Vernice feels offended and angry that everyone keeps mocking her. She angrily hits him in the chest repeatedly and cries.

Ten days later, Mr. Wilson learns that Bobo left Annie. The next week, Mr. Wilson does not schedule Babydoll as he normally does. Instead, he works alone with Annie. After her shift, Mr. Wilson asks Annie to make him a drink, and then invites her to have one with him. He stands by her side while she makes it. He kisses her and they have sex. After a few weeks of this, however, Annie puts an end to it, noting how much older he is than her.

In a letter, Annie tells Vernice about his relationship with Mr. Wilson. She then reveals that she has been to the doctor as she is likely pregnant. She compares herself to her mother and acknowledges that she is fulfilling her grandmother’s fears by being impregnated by a married man. To make things worse, she and Babydoll have lost their jobs at the Elektra. Mrs. Wilson found out about the affair and attacked Babydoll, thinking she was her husband’s mistress. Instead of correcting her, Babydoll fought back. In the letter’s closing, Annie urges Vernice to help her financially and to find a place in Atlanta where she can get an abortion.

After Vernice reads about Annie’s pregnancy, she asks Mrs. McHenry for advice, noting that her doctor son could help find a doctor to perform the abortion. Mrs. McHenry angrily scolds her, insisting that she needs to leave her messy old life behind. She apologizes for being cruel but stands her ground.

That night, Vernice asks Franklin for his help, but he, too, refuses. He is afraid that involving their family could lead to a scandal or legal issues: The police are constantly looking for a reason to bring down their family. Vernice responds angrily, refusing to touch him when they get into bed.

In the end, Vernice gets help from Marylinda. When she tells her the situation, Marylinda immediately produces the name and address of a doctor that will help.

Annie receives a call from Vernice urging her to come to Atlanta. Babydoll drives her there in the same car and with the same suitcases that they brought to Memphis years ago. Annie knows that she will never return to Memphis, not truly fitting in with Babydoll, Clyde, and Bobo anymore.

Annie and Babydoll stay with the McHenry family. Mrs. McHenry welcomes them, but Annie wonders how much she knows. The next morning, breakfast is uncomfortable, with Mr. McHenry asking what they plan to do in town, and Vernice lying poorly.

Back in the guest bedroom, Babydoll angrily asks Vernice who knows about Annie’s pregnancy. They argue, with Vernice insisting that she only wanted to get help and that she couldn’t lie to her husband. Annie lies down on the bed, imaging Mrs. McHenry judging her and calling her “trifling.” When Vernice notices that she is upset, she stops arguing with Babydoll. The two of them lie down with Annie and comfort her.

Vernice drives with Annie and Babydoll to the address that Marylinda gave her. It is a laundromat. Vernice goes to a desk in the corner and tells the receptionist that they are there for medical help. The woman is hesitant but becomes welcoming when Vernice mentions Marylinda. The woman instructs them to wait until the doctor is ready.

The three women sit on metal chairs and wait. Annie thinks about what she is doing, feeling selfish for not living with her mistake. She then decides that she has been selfish from the very beginning, ruining her mother’s life by being born.

The receptionist scolds them and gives them laundry so that they don’t look conspicuous. Suddenly, the doors fly open. Three policemen come in. They demand that the receptionist show them in the back. When she refuses, the officers bring in a battering ram. Annie notes how excited they are to be doing so.

After a few shocked moments, Vernice, Annie, and Babydoll quickly get up. They make their way through the other patrons, who stand frozen. Just as they leave, several more officers arrive.

When Vernice gets home, the McHenrys already know about what happened at the laundromat. Marylinda is there; she heard that there would be a raid and tried to stop Vernice from going. The family reacts with a mix of anger and disappointment. Despite his annoyance, Franklin defends the women, insisting that nothing bad actually happened.

Vernice writes Annie a letter that night. She apologizes for not being able to do anything more for her, says that Annie and Babydoll need to leave before the morning, and urges her to go to Lulabelle for help. Now that Vernice has a mother figure in her life, she wants to respect her and keep her family together. She also feels sorry for Franklin, as she has caused his parents to be disappointed in him. Vernice gives Annie money and tells her where to find the keys to Franklin’s car, promising that no one will pursue them. She also gives her dirt from the yard, hoping that it “will bring [her] back” some day (316).

Annie and Babydoll return to Lulabelle’s. They are surprised to find Lurelia there, too. Lulabelle greets Annie warmly. The four women spend the day gardening. Afterwards, Lurelia explains that it is their mother’s birthday; the garden is a tribute to her. Lulabelle tells them that the ghost that Bobo saw is their mother, but Lurelia disagrees. Their mother died giving birth to their brothers, who were also twins.

The women then discuss Annie’s pregnancy. Both Lurelia and Babydoll try to talk her out of aborting, suggesting that she let Vernice raise the baby or return home to raise it with her grandmother. However, Lulabelle knows that Annie is certain of what she wants or she would not have come back. She warns Annie that the procedure is dangerous; Babydoll and Annie saw that when they used to work there.

Vernice tells Franklin’s family that she gave Annie the car. Although Mr. McHenry is furious, Vernice is more concerned about how hurt Franklin looks. She reflects on the betrayal that love requires. She carries three quarters in her hand, which Annie left and asked her to keep safe.

Three days later, the phone rings in the afternoon. Annie tells Vernice that she is alive. She points out that the phrase “the fruit don’t fall far from the tree” (326) does not apply to them; Vernice married a nice man while Annie will not abandon her child. She asks Vernice about the quarters, and Vernice assures her that she still has them. Lulabelle then takes the phone and explains that Annie’s speech is slurred because she was given a pill. She assures Vernice that Annie and Babydoll will bring the car back that night.

Annie reflects on something she never told anyone. About two weeks after Bobo left, when she was sleeping with Mr. Wilson, her mother came to the bar one Saturday night. Annie tried to ignore her, but Mr. Wilson made Annie wait on Hattie. Hattie ordered a Coke, and then acknowledged that she knew who Annie was. She asked why Annie came to Memphis. Annie said that she’d come looking for her. In response, Hattie warned her not to “waste [her] time,” as “[e]verything can’t be fixed” (327). Hattie then asked Annie to tell Hattie’s mother that Hattie loves her. When Hattie left, three quarters in change remained on the table. Annie picked them up and has kept them ever since.

Vernice reflects on Ola Mae, who once tried to teach Vernice how to show emotion in the back of the car on the way to school. Vernice bitterly notes that Ola Mae never told her that a woman could bleed to death on the inside while still seeming fine on the outside.

After returning the car, Annie fell asleep beside Vernice, talking about true love with her head resting on the quarters that her mother gave her. She died in the night.

In her dying moments, Annie thinks of the night that she left Honeysuckle. Vernice went into her room, assuming that she would find Annie dead and prepared to close her eyes before anyone else saw her. When she realized that Annie had just run away, she wrote her a letter, reflecting on the fact that “one of [them] was going to have to bury the other one” (331).

There can never be scandal in the McHenry family, so Annie’s death is a problem for them. Mrs. McHenry chooses the Cunningham funeral service run by Joette’s parents because they can be trusted to keep quiet about the circumstances of Annie’s death. Vernice must go through Joette to make the arrangements.

Vernice goes to the funeral home and finds Joette behind a desk. She says Annie’s name, and, to her relief, Joette intuits what happened. Joette acknowledges that Mrs. McHenry wants discretion, but her father won’t help because of a falling out with Mr. McHenry. Instead, Joette agrees to help but wants something from Vernice in return: She wants Vernice to earn self-respect by finally telling Franklin about their relationship. Vernice protests, insisting that it will also affect Joette’s life. However, Joette reveals that her parents already know about her sexuality, as they discovered love letters from another woman. She urges Vernice to take control and tell Franklin before he finds out.

Vernice returns home and finds Franklin. She tells him that, without Annie, she is afraid of the loneliness of no one knowing who she really is. She tells him about her relationship with Joette, not because she has to but because she wants Franklin to see her. This way, they can truly love each other. He listens intently, holding her while she talks. Vernice feels relief from the flood of emotions.

The novel flashes back to Annie’s abortion.

Just before the doctor performs the procedure, he asks for her “next of kin” (345). Annie reflects on her mother, whom she no longer considers family, although she hopes that she is treating the new Annie well. Instead, Annie gives the doctor Vernice’s name. As Babydoll repeats it and writes it down, hearing the name aloud brings Annie comfort.