In May 2004, Cassie finds food hidden around Bobby’s house, confirming her suspicion that the Ukrainian notes are records of hiding spots. She also feels a confusing attraction to Nick, which makes her feel disloyal to Henry’s memory. Early one morning, she finds Bobby, who calls her “Alina,” trying to bury more food outside to hide it from “activists.” Cassie later finds a buried stash of two cans of peas, a bag of what looked like flour, and three tins of sardines in the perennial flower bed under an old white mulberry tree.

That night, Cassie dreams of Henry telling her, “Be happy. Live your life” (136). She wakes to find Nick doing yard work as a favor, and he joins the family for breakfast. Troubled by Bobby’s behavior, Cassie secretly takes some papers from a box in Bobby’s closet, which also contains the leatherbound journal wrapped in an embroidered rushnyk, photographs, loose notebook pages, and a candle. She asks Nick to translate the papers, and he tells her they all repeat the same phrase: “Forgive me, Alina” (143). Bobby’s intense need for forgiveness unnerves Cassie.