Burden offers more facts about ospreys’ mating patterns and how they raise their young: When juvenile birds are old enough, they leave the nest and the island.

One night, after James left the Vineyard again, Carrie confronted Burden about James’s affair. The girl had already asked James about it, and he confirmed that he had cheated on Burden. Burden was upset because she and James had agreed not to mention the affair to the children. Evie also knew after seeing a text exchange between James and Burden about the affair on Burden’s computer.

In the weeks following, Burden began walking to cope with her distress. She studied her surroundings and thought about her situation. She soon realized that a lot of her guilt originated from attending Mass with her old babysitter Rose. Over time, the walks helped her work through her feelings, as she cried and screamed out her frustration.

Meanwhile, despite the ongoing pandemic restrictions, Burden navigated social life on the island. One day, she ran into a friend at the grocery store and told her about James. The friend was moved and took her under her wing. They started volunteering together each week.

The hours after the children went to bed were hardest for Burden.