As Mrs. Devereaux pauses the story, the narrative returns to 2016. She convinces Mari to stay the night and hear the rest of the Smith family history tomorrow. Mari sleeps in Cadence’s room and wonders how her mother, Nancy, wound up with Cadence’s golden heart bracelet.

The next day, Mari goes to an outdoor flea market in a field. She speaks with Ronan, who invites her to a bonfire. Mrs. Devereaux encourages Mari to go, but Mari is more interested in the Smith family story, so Mrs. Devereaux returns to it.

Gram establishes rules for Peter. He’ll stay in Briar’s room, which is in the attic, and Briar will now sleep with Gram in Gram’s room. Peter must behave like a “perfect gentleman,” and he’ll work the farm at night.

Cadence smells like fertilizer, and Peter warns that fertilizer without water will destroy the Burbank potatoes, so he helps fix the irrigation system and saves the crop. He then says Gram has a “pulmonary embolism” (blood clot), not a heart condition, and prescribes crushed aspirin in apple cider vinegar. Lastly, Peter alerts them that his crew will pick up an armed spy in a few days during the “new moon.”

Briar wears her grandpa’s clothes to the next book club meeting, where they continue discussing The Song of Bernadette. Briar relates to the titular character. People think Bernadette lies about her religious visions, just as they suspect Briar of lying about her U-boat sightings.

During the meeting, Bess announces her pregnancy, and Gram and Briar are ecstatic. Briar then reveals Mr. Schmidt’s Nazi pictures. Gram can’t believe Mr. Schmidt could have been a spy, and she doubts that Tyson is one. Cadence wonders if the spy is a woman—Sandra perhaps.

The women discuss anti-German prejudice, noting that Tyson is in the hospital because a younger person called him a “Kraut” and tripped him, causing him to fall on granite steps. Briar visits him, and they discuss potential spies. Tyson reminds Briar that many non-Germans, including Charles Lindbergh and Henry Ford, admire Nazis. Briar shows Tyson his grandfather’s Nazi photos, and Tyson promises to investigate.

A radio report reveals that there was a deadly battle in Dieppe, France that involved America’s Army Rangers. Briar worries that Tom is among the Rangers killed in the battle.

The chapter ends with Cadence’s column. She notes Margaret’s trip to New York City, mentions reading a book about Joan of Arc for her book club’s next selection, and gives away a copy of Charles Dickens’s coming-of-age novel Great Expectations (1861).

The Smith family discusses the news about Dieppe. The police arrive, accompanied by Mrs. Stanhope. Though Mrs. Stanhope sees Peter in the attic window, she ignores him. She is here with the police in an attempt to force Bess to come home.

Gram makes Bess rest, but Bess insists on helping to grow the potatoes. Mrs. Stanhope doesn’t like women who do “men’s work.” She claims she has “Mayflower lineage,” which Gram doubts. Mrs. Stanhope attacks Gram and her husband’s “failed” attempt to turn the land into a successful dairy farm. She feels that the Smith family is a “cult” and gives them a telegram before leaving.

The telegram is from the Navy, and Briar fears that it contains bad news about Tom. To her relief, the telegram isn’t about Tom but about the special-sized books. The Navy librarian likes them and wants more. Briar plans to choose the titles by pulling names from a cookie jar.

The book club meets and discusses Charlotte Brontë’s coming-of-age novel Jane Eyre (1847). They discuss the scene where Mr. Rochester’s bed catches fire, and the titular governess puts it out. Briar believes the scene is unrealistic. Since lamp oil likely caused the fire, water would have only made it worse. Jane should’ve used salt and baking soda. Briar wonders if Cadence thinks of Major Gilbert as her Mr. Rochester.

Cadence drives Briar to Sandra’s store, and Briar is glad to be alone with her sister. Briar wonders if Bess will get tired of the less opulent life on Copper Pond Farm and return to her wealthy family. Inside the store, the sisters find Sandra dead. Before they settle on a course of action, McManus arrives. Cadence tells a lie about a statue she bought from Sandra. She secretly hands Sandra’s receipts book to Briar before a harried McManus orders them to leave.

Cadence gives Major Gilbert a tour of Martha’s Vineyard. She takes him to Oak Bluffs, a community viewed as “downscale” but diverse and fun, with many Black residents. They discuss the war, and Major Gilbert buys Gram taffy from a crowded store. They pass the Japanese shop owned by the Sone family, and Cadence mentions that the government has “interned” the Sones in Montana.

Major Gilbert drops off Cadence at home. Peter comes down, and Major Gilbert returns with Gram’s taffy. Major Gilbert sees Peter, and Cadence tells him that Peter is their cousin.

Briar examines Sandra’s receipt book and finds that she sold Shelby Parker a World War I German knife. Another receipt reads, “T. Schmidt. Do not leave at his grandfather’s house” (345), but doesn’t specify the item sold. For the first time, she visits Mr. Schmidt’s primary residence in Vineyard Haven. As no one locks their doors on the island, she enters easily. She finds the mini tugboat she gave Mr. Schmidt for his birthday, and she discovers a Luger (a German pistol).

Peter tells Major Gilbert that his name is Donald Lindquist. He’s from Minnesota and can’t serve due to astigmatism. Like Major Gilbert, Peter likes soccer, and Major Gilbert invites Peter to their morning workouts. He also asks Peter to help the Army in a soccer game against the Navy. Peter vows to stay away from Major Gilbert.

Briar hears sexual noises and finds Shelby touching Tyson’s chest, and Tyson telling Shelby that she has the “best ass” on Martha’s Vineyard. Tyson hears Briar, and Briar confronts him about the German gun. Tyson says the gun belongs to his grandfather. What Tyson bought from Sandra is a mildly pornographic magazine featuring German women. As Briar leaves the home, she spots a hurried Major Gilbert and follows him.

The chapter ends with Cadence’s column, which notes that Gram made Private Jeffers a genuine Idaho huckleberry pie. She announces the death of Sandra and the discrimination against the Sone family. She also relays Major Gilbert’s praise of the island.