The Lanyon painting sells quickly, and the new owner agrees to loan it for the exhibition. As Della begins planning, Evelyn learns that George threatened to expose the Pinlows’ criminal activity unless Grant could get Roy to behave, which George explains was a bluff inspired by a TV show. Evelyn tries to speak with Bob Larkwood about the Cora-May, but he avoids her. Days later, Bob appears at the museum holding a piece of lace with a pattern of daisies that Evelyn recognizes will perfectly match her own.

Bob reveals the lace was made by Evelyn’s birth mother, a woman named Cora-May, after whom Gilbert Larkwood named his boat. He explains that Cora-May died of cancer two years prior and that he only learned he had a sister near the end of his mother’s life, connecting the story to Evelyn after seeing her poster. Bob recounts how a 16-year-old Cora-May became pregnant by her 18-year-old sweetheart, Sir Jasper Warburn—Jacob’s grandfather. The powerful Warburn family sent her away and arranged for the baby to be adopted. Bob then explains that after his own father died at sea, Cora-May began making regular trips to Portheast, and he now understands she came to sit on a bench by the harbor and watch her daughter, Evelyn, from afar.

Evelyn discusses the revelations with Sariah, who suggests Cora-May likely kept her distance due to her vulnerable position and fear of Evelyn’s controlling adoptive father, Edwin. At home, Evelyn finds her parents’ tenancy agreement from the Warburn family, which contains a clause that allowed them to pay a negligible rent as long as she lived with them, revealing a financial motive for keeping her there. Later, she finds Bob on the beach. He agrees to bring her photos of Cora-May, and Evelyn proposes they create a tribute to the Cora-May for the exhibition, as well as an informational display condemning local sea pollution. Bob agrees and suggests they ask Leonard, a former signwriter, to help.

Evelyn meets Jacob for a walk and tells him that his grandfather, Sir Jasper Warburn, was her biological father. After a moment of shock, Jacob breaks into a wide grin, expressing his delight that they are family. His warm, immediate acceptance of her moves Evelyn to tears.

The upcoming art show, now titled “Horizons,” receives positive local press coverage thanks to Alison’s efforts. The front-page story highlights the Lanyon painting, a sea pollution project by the local school, and a new memorial for the Cora-May. Jacob tells Evelyn he has spoken to his father, Simon Warburn, about her existence. He admits Simon’s reaction to the news was reserved. Jacob also confides that he plans to leave his job at the newsagents to find a career more suited to his unfinished degree.

Mrs. Moran, the local to whom Evelyn spoke weeks earlier about her potential parentage, visits the museum to apologize to Evelyn for her decades of silence. She admits she knew Evelyn was born in St Agnes but stayed quiet due to a learned loyalty to the Warburn family, her father’s employers. She also recounts that in 1992, just before her death, Evelyn’s adoptive mother, Elsbeth, had considered telling Evelyn the truth, leading Evelyn to suspect her father, Edwin, intervened. Mrs. Moran gives Evelyn a school photo of Cora-May. Later, another visitor arrives: Rose, Sariah’s birth mother, who reveals she owned the cracked teacup from the last exhibition and explains how it was mistakenly donated to a jumble sale by her flatmate at the time. Evelyn encourages Rose to attend the “Horizons” opening, where Sariah will be.

Jacob receives a package from his father, Simon. Inside is a cover letter and letters from his grandfather, Sir Jasper, to Cora-May. Simon’s letter reveals he was the anonymous buyer of the Lanyon painting, having intentionally overpaid as a form of financial restitution, but he declines to meet Evelyn. Jasper’s letters, from 1964 to 1987, detail his love for Cora-May, his capitulation to his father’s demand that they give up their baby, his unhappy marriage, and a final, failed attempt to reconcile with Cora-May. After reading them, Evelyn feels sadness for her mother but is relieved about the buyer, accepting the money as fair compensation. She tells Jacob to throw his father’s letter in the trash.

Alison decides to confront Roy to regain control of her life and her car, which Roy has. She goes to the Pinlow brothers’ garage, where Roy is initially dismissive and aggressive. However, Roy’s older brother, Grant, intervenes, calmly forces Roy to hand over the car keys, and offers to mediate future visits with their son, Will. Alison gets her car back and drives away, feeling a sense of freedom.

At the opening of the “Horizons” exhibition, Evelyn delivers a speech celebrating the community’s collaboration. Mr. Palmer, a council representative, announces the leases for the museum and Della’s cafe will be renewed, but at a massively increased rent with five years payable upfront. As her friends protest, Evelyn calmly accepts the terms, stunning Mr. Palmer by stating her lawyer will authorize the full payment for both sheds, using the proceeds from the Lanyon painting sale. During the successful reception, Evelyn watches her new community mingling and connecting, noting Sariah and her mother, Rose, sharing cake.

Evelyn gathers Bob, George, Sariah, Della, Jacob, and Alison for a dawn beach clean-up. Afterward, she announces that she has used her windfall to secure the museum’s future but is stepping down from running it. She offers Jacob the position of curator and Alison the role of handling publicity and community links, both of whom ecstatically accept. She then creates new initiatives, asking Bob to be the skipper for a museum boat tour and Sariah and Della to oversee the planned boatshed renovations. 

Evelyn reveals her plan to leave Portheast and travel the world with George. She intends to visit museums to see artifacts in their countries of origin, fulfilling a dream that was previously cut short, and to begin drawing again. Bob agrees to take over the weekly beach clean. The group emotionally accepts her decision, leaving Evelyn ready for her new adventure while the museum’s future is secure with her friends.