On July 1, 2025, Geneva watches from a second-floor window of the struggling Rosalie Inn as a white rental car arrives during an afternoon rainstorm. The guest, August Fletcher, has booked one of their best rooms at $800 per night. When the driver helps his passenger out, Geneva sees a floral skirt and blond hair and knows it’s Lo Bailey. Catching her reflection, Geneva observes her increasing resemblance to her mother, Ellen, and reflects bitterly on her life at 40: She has a failed relationship with her ex-boyfriend Chris and a hotel that she alternately fantasizes about burning down or making famous.

In the lobby, Geneva is struck by how beautiful Lo remains at 60. August requests a second room for Lo at the same rate—a financial lifeline. Edie appears and acts awkward when introduced to the guests. Lo asks if Geneva is Ellen Chambers’s daughter. Geneva confirms that she’s Ellen Corliss’s daughter; she also knew Lo’s mother, Beth-Anne Bailey, who owned the Greedy Pelican and died during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Geneva mentions that St. Medard’s Bay isn’t actually a bay, Lo corrects her, explaining that the town is named for St. Medard, patron saint of hurricanes. After showing them to their rooms, August confirms that they’re writing about Landon Fitzroy, who died in Hurricane Marie. When Geneva expresses surprise that they chose the old inn, August reveals that the Rosalie is where Landon died and where his body was found.

A 1991 Vanity Fair article traces the Fitzroy family history, characterizing them as politically powerful and morally corrupt, with wealth built on war profiteering, slavery, and bootlegging. Landon’s father, Beau Fitzroy, became Alabama governor in 1982. In the summer of 1984, Landon was in St. Medard’s Bay having an affair with 19-year-old Lo Bailey. The relationship was local gossip until Landon’s body was found in Hurricane Marie’s wreckage. The coroner ruled his death a homicide, and Lo became the primary suspect.

Rumors suggested that Lo killed Landon because he was ending the affair, using the storm as cover. Counter-rumors claimed that Governor Fitzroy manipulated the ruling to punish Lo for threatening his political dynasty. The article argues that the prosecution’s case hinged on two lies: Phone records proved that Lo called Landon twice before the storm despite her denials, and bruises on her arms resembled fingerprints, not injuries from a fall. An unnamed friend testified that she saw Lo near where Landon’s body was found and heard Lo threaten him. The trial ended in a mistrial, and the district attorney declined to retry. While never legally convicted, Lo was branded a murderer in public opinion.

Two days later, Geneva has researched Landon’s death but finds no mention of his body being discovered at the Rosalie. As she walks to her trailer, she admits to secretly wishing a hurricane would destroy the inn, freeing her from its financial burden, though she also loves the place.

August invites Geneva for a beer at The Line, a famous bar on the state line. Lo reveals that she once worked and sang there. At the bar, Lo makes a familiar gesture, tucking Geneva’s hair behind her ear, which makes Geneva miss her mother. When Geneva asks about Landon’s body being found at the Rosalie, August cuts her off, citing his rule about not discussing the book in public. Lo mocks this, saying that Southerners will believe the best story. To illustrate, Geneva shares a false rumor that her ex-boyfriend Chris left because he caught her in bed with Edie.

Watching Lo, Geneva realizes that she could believe the murder story. An older, wealthy man approaches, insults Lo, and orders her to leave his bar. He reveals that he’s the cousin of Landon’s wife, Alison Fitzroy. August stands angrily, but Lo stops him, saying that it will be a great scene for the book. She walks out with her head high.

Beth-Anne Bailey narrates her 1965 vacation to St. Medard’s Bay. Her husband, Dr. Linus Bailey, insisted on the trip despite her reluctance. They stayed at the pink Shipwreck Inn (later renamed the Rosalie Inn), which Beth-Anne found charming despite Linus’s disdain. She fantasized about escaping her abusive marriage. The inn’s owners, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, were kind. Mrs. Chambers was pregnant and planned to name the baby Ellen if it was a girl. They already had a two-year-old son named Adam.

After five days, Hurricane Delphine began approaching. On July 4, the power failed, and Linus insisted on leaving despite Mr. Chambers calling him a “stubborn bastard.” They drove into the storm, and their car was swept up by floodwaters. Beth-Anne escaped and climbed a magnolia tree. Linus followed, loses his glasses, and screamed for help. When he grabbed her ankle and screamed, calling her a “stupid cow,” Beth-Anne kicked him in the face, breaking his nose. Linus fell into the floodwaters and drowned.

Twenty-three people died in Hurricane Delphine, but everyone at the Shipwreck Inn survived. In the hospital, Beth-Anne was treated for bruises and three broken toes. The doctor attributed them to her climb, and she didn’t correct him.

On July 7, Geneva visits her mother at Hope House. Ellen sits unresponsive by a window, her hands constantly moving. Geneva tells Ellen that Lo Bailey is in town writing a book about Landon Fitzroy and that she hopes that it will bring business to the inn. For a moment, Ellen’s hands go still and her lips tremble, but the moment passes.

Back at the inn, Geneva finds Lo in the lobby. Geneva admits that she was visiting her mother, and Lo expresses sympathy. Overcome with emotion, Geneva accepts a hug from Lo and confesses how much she misses her mother. Geneva tells Lo that she’s glad she’s writing the book to reclaim her story.

August enters and asks to interview Geneva about the town and inn. He mentions that the inn is connected to a shipwreck that killed another Fitzroy, which surprises Geneva, who hadn’t known that a Fitzroy was involved. She agrees to an interview. August says that it’s a date, and Geneva feels romantic interest. She catches Lo watching them with a worried expression that quickly vanishes. Lo and August have a tense exchange; August notes that ghostwriting a memoir requires questions, clarifying that he’s the ghostwriter of Lo’s memoir.

Edie comes downstairs and falters when she sees the group. Lo tries to speak to her, but Edie leaves abruptly without responding. After August leaves and Geneva declines to join him, she notices Lo staring down the hallway where Edie disappeared.

Lo recounts receiving Landon’s first letter at The Line, won over by his vulnerable tone and his line about her having “swallowed starlight.” She reflects that his bold actions seemed romantic then but reckless in hindsight, wondering if he was sabotaging his father’s plans. Their early affair was discreet, spent mostly on weekends aboard his boat, The Miss Alison, named after his wife. Lo tried not to think about Alison then but feels guilty now. In April 1984, Landon bought Lo a beach house.

In February 1984, Governor Fitzroy found them on the boat with Lo topless. His disdainful look made Lo feel like an object. Beau slapped Landon and accused him of throwing his life away on their affair. Landon declared that he was “insane” about Lo and that nothing about her was temporary. Beau’s dismissive reply revealed that Landon had a history of affairs.

Lo theorizes that Governor Fitzroy blamed her because of his own guilt: He knew that his pressure drove Landon to be reckless. She says that powerful men always need someone else to blame. A concluding note identifies the text as pages from an unfinished manuscript that will be found among August Fletcher’s possessions on August 3, 2025.

In a letter dated February 19, 1984, Landon writes to Lo apologizing for the confrontation with his father. He’s giving his father time to cool off. He expresses deep regret and offers to do anything to make things right, including sinking his boat, which belonged to his great-uncle. He jokes that the Fitzroy legacy belongs at the bottom of the ocean. He tells Lo that she’s the most important person in his life and that he would kill for her if she asked.

Landon reveals that he has called twice, but her mother said she was out. He fears that she’s avoiding him and might be ending their relationship. He begs her to write or call, saying that he can’t imagine life without her and that the darkness of losing her would be worse than the bottom of the ocean. He signs the letter with “Love, L” and the infinity symbol.