The next February morning, Mabel remembers running into Joan Garnett, who knew Dot, at the Overbury market with Arthur. Mabel takes the bus alone to the market. Being there without Arthur makes her anxious. A pie seller tells her that Joan usually arrives around lunchtime. Mabel waits for hours, but Joan never appears.

Before heading home, Mabel buys Camembert, blueberries, and sourdough—foods that she has not eaten since Arthur’s death. Back home, Julie visits and reports no response from Charles. Mabel recounts her failed trip, and Julie offers to accompany her next time.

One week later, Mabel and Julie travel to the Overbury market again. At the pie stall, Mabel spots Joan, and they move to a café. Joan says that she knew Dot well but believes she died of cancer in Portsmouth a couple of years ago. The news devastates Mabel, and Julie comforts her.

Back home, Mabel tells Julie that she can no longer afford her help. Julie offers to keep visiting as a friend. That evening, Mabel sees a vision of Arthur and tells him that Dot is dead.

A few days later, Mabel confesses to Julie that she was in love with Dot. She walks to the churchyard to visit her family’s graves.

In a flashback to the time after Bill’s death, Mabel and Dot walk in the hills, and Dot kisses her. It is the most thrilling moment of Mabel’s life, and she is ready to dive into a romance with Dot. However, just then, Reg sees them, and Dot pulls back in fear. In another flashback, at Bill’s funeral, Dot avoids Mabel completely; Mabel wonders whether Dot didn’t experience the same intensity of feeling that Mabel did during the kiss.

In the present, Mabel admits that she married Arthur to give her grieving mother something happy to focus on.

Still at the graveyard, Mabel remembers Bill’s wake.

In a flashback, a drunk Reg insinuates that Mabel and Dot are “more than just friends. Twice, now, these past few days, [he’s] caught them in rather compromising positions” (253). Arthur defends the women and throws Reg out without causing a scene. After the incident, Dot distances herself from Mabel, who then accepts Arthur’s proposal.

In the present, Mabel moves to Arthur’s grave and confesses her love for Dot to him. Erin appears with a suitcase, explaining that her family rejected her after she came out. Mabel welcomes her in.

A few days later, Julie is surprised to find Erin back at Mabel’s—Erin moved back in after her family reacted poorly to her coming out. When Erin’s girlfriend, Hannah, arrives, Julie voices concern that Erin is taking advantage of Mabel’s generosity. Mabel explains that she sees herself in Erin and says again that she was in love with Dot.

In a flashback, Mabel tells Dot about her engagement to Arthur. Dot questions the decision, suggesting that Mabel is trying to hold on to Bill’s memory.

In the present, Julie asks if Dot was the love of Mabel’s life.

The next morning, Julie arrives with news. Charles Brightmore has responded to her message. It turns out that Joan was wrong: Dot is alive and living in Portsmouth; Joan likely confused Dot with Dot’s ex-husband, who died. What’s more, Dot’s marriage was very short-lived. Julie gives Mabel a slip of paper with Dot’s phone number.

Mabel decides to change her will to leave the house to Erin. With Erin’s support, Mabel calls Dot, who answers. They agree to meet.

Days later, Kirsty drives Mabel, Julie, Patty, Erin, and baby Dotty to Portsmouth. At a service station, Mabel correctly guesses that newsreader Michael Silver is the father of Patty’s daughter, Sarah. Patty confirms it. They arrive at Dot’s house, and Mabel goes to the door alone.

Dot opens the door, delighted to see her. They spend half an hour catching up before Mabel invites her friends inside, and Dot welcomes them all.

On the drive home, Mabel tells the others that Dot will visit her in one week. Back home, she reviews her list, ticks off the final items, and books an appointment to update her will. Julie takes Mabel to the churchyard to see the grave of her sister, Samantha, who died the previous year. Julie confesses that her sister was the great love of her life. Only the friendship of the circle of women has allowed Julie to finally talk about this great tragedy, the weight of which has been causing the sadness that Mabel noted in Julie all along.

Mabel recalls a picnic when Dot worried that marriage would change their friendship, remarking that flowers are a reminder that everything dies.

During the week before Dot’s visit, the friends gather at Patty’s house. They share recent changes, crediting Mabel’s bravery for inspiring them. Patty is dating and has set boundaries with her family. Kirsty and Ben are reconciling with her parents. Julie continues to process her sister’s death.

Later at home, Mabel and Erin eat beans on toast. Mabel assures Erin that she will always have a home with her and offers to help her study for her history exams.

On the morning of Dot’s visit, an anxious Mabel finds Olly’s old toy bone. She realizes that Arthur’s note to “[f]ind D” likely referred to the dog’s bone, not Dot. In the kitchen, she sees a final, peaceful vision of Arthur and says goodbye. Dot arrives soon after.

They talk, and Dot asks if Mabel meant the kiss they shared decades ago. Dot confirms that she left because she could not bear to watch Mabel marry Arthur. Mabel confirms that her feelings were real and suggests that they start a new life together. Dot agrees and touches her hand.