One Golden Summer

Alice spends the night in the hospital. She hit her head on the window and needed a few stitches, but is otherwise okay. No one else was injured. Charlie comes to collect her, repeatedly apologizing for putting her in danger. Alice insists everything is fine, refusing to admit that she’s still upset over what he said about their relationship. Back at the cottage, Charlie insists on staying by her bedside. She invites him to share the bed. Before falling asleep on his chest, she says they need to talk about Charlie’s past relationships when she’s feeling better. She senses that his hesitancy to be with her is related to romantic baggage.

Alice wakes up next to Charlie. Remembering again what Charlie said in the car, Alice tells him she needs some space.

Heather comes to pick up Bennett. Alice feels sad after her sister and niece leave and takes a lengthy nap. That evening, Charlie tries to invite himself over to make dinner for her and Nan, but Alice declines. Over dinner, Nan thanks Alice for encouraging her to reconnect with John. Then Alice opens up about Charlie. Through tears, she admits she has “feelings for him” (298) but is scared of getting hurt. Nan urges her to be brave.

Alice avoids Charlie for three days. Finally, Charlie shows up at the cottage, insisting Alice come with him.

Charlie takes Alice to his old high school. Inside, he shows her to the darkroom, which she can use whenever she likes. He waits outside while Alice starts developing some photos from the summer. On the ride home afterwards, Alice considers revealing how she feels, but decides to wait and enjoy what time she and Charlie have left.

Back in the darkroom the next day, Alice is overwhelmed when she finishes developing the photos. In all of the images, Charlie is looking at her with the same adoring expression. She leads Charlie into the darkroom, telling him she wants to have sex. They kiss, engage in oral sex and foreplay, and have penetrative sex for the first time.

A few hours later, Alice is still smiling. Nan notices her happy mood and reminds Alice that good things always happen at the lake after all.

That evening, Alice helps Charlie make pierogi at his house. While they work, Charlie tells Alice more about his childhood. A sad look comes over his face, but he doesn’t tell Alice why. Before eating, they take a boat ride; afterwards, they have sex in Charlie’s room.

The next morning, Alice wakes up from a dream where she and Charlie are living together in Toronto. The dream makes her so happy she tells Charlie she wants to be in a relationship with him when the summer ends. Charlie pulls away, insisting he’s incapable of committing to Alice and a relationship would never work. Alice accuses him of being a coward and races back to the cottage in tears.

Alice spends her final days in Barry’s Bay ignoring Charlie. She blocks his number and refuses to say goodbye. She and Nan return to Toronto earlier than planned.

Alice spends her “first week in the city” (326) trying to renew her creative routine and implements a morning swimming ritual to deal with her heartbreak. She’s so overwhelmed by emotion one morning that she runs into a woman on the pool deck—Percy. Percy regrets what happened between Alice and Charlie, emphasizing what a hard year Charlie’s had. He’s upset about his dad, but he’s also been keeping other things from Alice. Percy thinks Alice deserves to know, but doesn’t want to air Charlie’s secrets. She suggests she and Alice stay friends.

At home, Alice repeatedly tells herself she’s okay to avoid thinking about Charlie. Finally, she texts her family, asking for support. Heather, Luca, and Lavinia all show up shortly thereafter. However, Alice is frustrated that her younger siblings are treating her and Charlie’s relationship as a fling.

Then Alice’s mom Michelle shows up unexpectedly. After her siblings are gone, Alice tells Michelle the full story of what happened with Charlie. Her mom is sympathetic and the two make amends for not keeping in better touch.

While swimming the next morning, Alice realizes she actually will be okay. She finishes her swim, changes, and lets her hair air dry. She hasn’t been blow drying, straightening, or tying it back the way she used to before Barry’s Bay. She goes to get some film developed, all the while considering whether or not to text Charlie.

Alice spends the rest of the month focusing on her work, taking care of herself, and spending time with her family. Gradually she starts feeling better. Then on October 1, Percy calls her with bad news about Charlie.

Alice races to the hospital where Charlie is recovering from open-heart surgery. Percy and Sam explain that Charlie was diagnosed with their father’s same heart condition not long ago. He’s known about the surgery for months, but refused to tell Alice.

Alice visits Charlie’s room. He’s surprised to see her and makes joking remarks before falling asleep.

Alice visits Charlie in the ICU again. More lucid now, he insists she shouldn’t be there. She gives him the photos she developed for him and leaves. However, she continues to visit him over the following week. Finally one day, he opens up more about his condition and recent medical procedures. He didn’t tell her because he didn’t want her to pity him or feel responsible for his care. It had been so painful to watch his mom lose his dad—he didn’t want to do the same thing to Alice. Alice argues otherwise.

Percy goes into labor on the day that Charlie is released from the hospital. Alice drives him home.

Alice sees Charlie’s Toronto apartment for the first time. He begs her to stay, suggesting she sleep in the guestroom. Alice doesn’t want to play this game. On her way out, she promises to check on him tomorrow.

Moments after Alice leaves, Charlie appears in the hall, calling after her. He finally opened her photos from the summer and doesn’t want to let her go. He professes his love and admits that all he wants is her happiness. Alice professes her love, too. They kiss, but can’t have sex yet due to Charlie’s condition.

Alice and Charlie wake up to news: Sam and Percy now have a daughter, Susie. Alice and Charlie lie in bed together discussing their relationship. Charlie apologizes for everything he said to Alice at the lake, admitting that he was trying to push her away because he was scared. However, he’s now ready to commit to her. They hug and kiss. Alice realizes how much she loves him.

A year later, Alice and Charlie are living together in Toronto. They’ve also bought John’s cottage and are fixing it up. Meanwhile, Charlie’s condition has stabilized and Alice’s photography career is taking off. She and Charlie attend her first gallery show. Titled Alice Everly: Seen, the show includes photos from last summer, as well as her original “One Golden Summer” image. Alice moves through the space, feeling proud of herself. She and Charlie look at the portrait of Alice she included. He remarks on its beauty, and how proud he is of Alice. Then Alice calls her guests to attention and makes a speech.