The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

Later that same day, Archer arrives home to find Iris and Olive painting Olive’s room yellow without his prior permission. He requests a private conversation and apologizes to Iris for licking batter from her finger during their previous encounter. Iris reassures him, admitting her own role in their mutual attraction, and they agree to maintain professional boundaries going forward. Though initially startled by the unauthorized redecorating, Archer approves of Iris painting Olive’s room to make it more comfortable and homey for her, only requesting consultation before future changes.

Later, Olive asks Iris if her mother can still see her from heaven. Iris comforts her and shares a personal memory of her own childhood loss, a neighbor named Josie. This creates a moment of connection as Olive gently touches Iris’s leg. When Olive mentions wanting a garden, Iris suggests that they could plant one together. The conversation shifts when Olive talks about having a dad for the first time. Archer, who has been listening from the doorway, joins them and explains his past absence, reassuring Olive that she was “a great surprise” (141). The three agree to finish painting the room together.

Iris convinces Archer to attend the biweekly town meeting to gather feedback on the diner’s pancake recipe. Upon arrival, she prevents Archer from sitting in the book club’s designated seats, explaining Dream Harbor’s unwritten seating chart. They join Kira and Bennett instead. The meeting begins but quickly derails into a heated debate about lawncare policies before Mayor Kelly manages to redirect attention to the agenda.

After the mayor introduces him, Archer asks for help recreating the original pancake recipe, prompting immediate audience reactions. Townspeople enthusiastically debate ingredients and techniques, with someone heckling Archer about his previous attempts. Noah reveals that Martha, the previous diner owner who knows the recipe, is “off the grid” after running off with a Brazilian helicopter pilot (150). This revelation sparks gossip about Martha’s romantic life, during which Archer notices Iris laughing and finds himself relaxing despite the chaotic proceedings.

Eventually, Archer collects useful consensus on the pancake qualities: They should be dense rather than fluffy, buttermilk based, and cooked in butter. By the meeting’s end, the townspeople are smiling and nodding at Archer, suggesting growing acceptance. Feeling more integrated into the community, Archer agrees when Iris invites him to join their friends for drinks afterward.

Immediately following the town meeting, Iris and Archer join friends at Mac’s crowded pub. Annie introduces Archer to Mac, the pub owner and cook, who shares tense, flirtatious banter with Annie. At a separate table, Iris and Archer discuss his former nocturnal lifestyle and his growing attachment to Olive, with Archer notably using “us” when referring to what Olive needs.

Their conversation turns increasingly intimate as they flirt openly. Archer vividly describes shower fantasies involving Iris, saying that he thinks about “[her] mouth and [her] hair and that damn shoulder that’s always bare” (165). Iris is visibly aroused by this confession. They acknowledge their mutual attraction, but Archer pulls back, concerned about complicating Olive’s life when she’s finally gaining stability.

Friends interrupt with a round of shots, and the night blurs with heavy drinking. Later at Archer’s house, a drunk Iris asks Archer to make pancakes at two o’clock in the morning. Their kitchen interaction escalates from playful banter to intimate touching and kissing. Archer stops them, recognizing their mutual drunkenness and his potential regret. Iris, also realizing that they should stop, leads Archer to his bedroom instead of continuing to her own.

At four o’clock in the morning, Archer wakes with a hangover to find Iris asleep beside him in his bed. Both are partially clothed, though Iris is wearing Archer’s T-shirt due to a syrup spill. Iris wakes up, and they realize with relief that nothing sexual occurred despite their drunken state. After mutual reassurance that neither regrets the evening, Iris kisses his cheek affectionately.

Their morning calm shatters when Olive calls to Archer from outside the bedroom door. Iris panics at being discovered, and they hastily improvise an excuse about Iris borrowing deodorant. Archer distracts Olive with offers of water while Iris sneaks back to her room, feeling awkward despite their innocent night.

At the diner later that day, Archer appears distracted but finds his new breakfast sandwich becoming popular among customers. The mayor personally thanks him for his contributions. After work, Archer calls his father, confessing that Iris slept in his bed but that nothing happened. His father scolds him, advising against involvement with the nanny. Archer acknowledges the wisdom of this advice but inwardly dislikes it, increasingly conflicted about his growing feelings for Iris versus his professional responsibilities and life goals.

During yoga class, Iris receives an urgent call from Olive’s school nurse: Olive has a fever of 101°F and needs to be picked up immediately. After arranging for a substitute teacher named Tara and calling Bex for childcare advice, Iris collects a listless Olive from school. At home, Olive’s fever worsens to 103.8°. Panicking without children’s Tylenol, Iris calls Archer.

From Archer’s perspective, he calmly reassures Iris while being internally alarmed. He immediately leaves the diner in the capable hands of his staff members Cyrus, Jess, and Holden to purchase medical supplies. When he arrives at home, Iris is visibly relieved. She explains that Olive’s complaint that her “eyeballs hurt” seems to mean that she has a headache. They work together to administer Tylenol and apply a cool compress to Olive’s forehead.

Olive asks Archer to sit with her, curling into his lap for comfort. He soothes her until she falls asleep against him. Iris watches this tender father-daughter moment with a soft smile that gives Archer hope about her feelings. When he notices her watching, they exchange a meaningful look, both acknowledging how they’ve teamed up to care for Olive.

That evening, after Olive falls asleep, Iris and Archer share wine at the kitchen island. Iris internally considers quitting due to her deepening feelings about Archer but postpones the decision. Archer thanks her sincerely for her support during Olive’s illness, saying, “I couldn’t have done it without you” (197). This comment touches Iris deeply.

Archer cooks aglio e olio pasta, mentioning his year spent in Italy. As they share this comforting meal, Iris reflects on their natural partnership and what it might be like to have someone to decompress with after difficult days. Despite their growing closeness, they resist acting on their mutual attraction, acknowledging the professional boundaries between them.

The next day, Olive stays home sick. While caring for her, Iris promises a future library trip to compensate for missing the school library day. During their conversation, Olive suddenly asks if Iris will be her mom soon, reasoning that if Iris marries Archer, she’ll have both parents again. Shocked by this direct question, Iris gently explains her role as a nanny and clarifies that she won’t marry Archer. Olive cries at this news, and Iris comforts her, realizing the depth of her own attachment to the child. Iris gives Olive a blue popsicle to cheer her up, and Olive responds, “I love you, Iris” (207-08). Though moved by this declaration, Iris resolves to stay only temporarily, knowing that she will eventually leave despite her growing feelings for both Olive and Archer.

The following Wednesday, Archer returns home to discover a surprise picnic in the backyard, arranged by Iris and Olive. Iris wears a strawberry-print dress that catches his attention, while Olive excitedly explains that they made strawberry shortcake using biscuit mix and canned whipped cream. Spring has arrived after the long rain, and perennials including irises are blooming around the yard.

Surrounded by this domestic scene, Archer feels truly at home for the first time. He enjoys the picnic, praises their shortcake, and reflects on how his priorities have shifted from his career to his family. He notices irises blooming along the fence, symbolically connecting to the woman who has changed his life. Later that afternoon, Archer leaves work early to attend Olive’s swimming lesson with Iris at the YMCA, another significant shift in his work-life balance.

At the pool, Archer watches Iris teach Olive, admiring both her patient instruction and her appearance in a swimsuit. Encouraged by both adults, Olive attempts putting her face in the water and playfully splashes Archer. She then demonstrates her growing swimming skills by doggie-paddling with newfound confidence. After the lesson, Olive holds Archer’s hand, calls him “Dad,” and asks him to attend future lessons. Archer readily agrees, feeling fulfilled by his new life and family connections, though he privately admits that he’s also motivated by seeing Iris in her swimsuit again.