The Names

During the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, Bear climbs up to the loft to fix the cold-water tank. Stung by a wasp, he suffers anaphylaxis and dies. Lily becomes a single parent to their four-year-old daughter, Pearl. Two years later, Lily tells Pearl how she came by her name. Bear suggested that, as his name was an animal, and Lily’s was a vegetable, their daughter should be named after a mineral. Lily and Pearl get a cat to reestablish this pattern in the household, naming it Cat.

Maia receives a letter from her father, referencing the moment they saw each other in the traffic jam. Gordon Sr. apologizes for his past behavior and reveals that since his release from prison, he has worked for a domestic abuse charity. Maia immerses the letter in the sea until her father’s words are unreadable.

Mehri supports Cora in the aftermath of Bear’s death. One evening, Cora arrives at Mehri’s house to find Felix, the vet she went on a date with, is also there. Cora is surprised at how easy it is to talk to Felix. She accepts his offer to walk her home, marking the beginning of a relationship that endures for the rest of their lives.