A motif of weather supports the themes of Embracing Grief to Heal and The Transformative Power of Love, with different kinds of weather suggesting different emotional states. Rain, for instance, symbolizes characters’ internal and external struggles, signaling anxiety, fear, and frustration or foreshadowing something ominous. After David asks about homecoming, Lauren realizes she has no money to buy a dress, and the weather echoes her mood: “It was raining hard. No longer a silvery mist, this was an onslaught that turned the world cold and gray. Raindrops hit the pavement in such rapid succession it looked as if the streets were boiling” (77). This “onslaught” represents the deluge of problems Lauren faces: Not only is rent overdue, but she lacks a job, needs a warmer jacket, and has no money for a dress. The weather coincides with Lauren’s compounding circumstances, underscored by the fact that she has no protection from the rain. Similarly, on Thanksgiving, “wind scrape[s] along the ground, swirling up blackened leaves and shaking the bare trees. It [isn’t] raining yet, but it soon [will] be. A storm [is] coming” (168). This description of a late autumn day also represents Lauren’s fear and apprehension about what will happen once everyone learns about her pregnancy. Just like an inevitable autumn storm, conflict will arise because of the baby.

When the precipitation turns to snow, the tone shifts. On Christmas Eve, for instance, Angie and Lauren return home amid falling snow: “They drove home slowly. The flakes were huge and airy. They fell lazily to earth” (246). Although things have been difficult for both Angie and Lauren, this symbolizes a turning point for them. Because they have each other, the downpour of their lives seems manageable, and thus it snows, creating what seems like a magical world. This is also right before Conlan arrives at the cottage. Although he is angry with Angie about Lauren living there, his desire to meet the girl suggests that he is willing to take a chance on things, another indication, like the snow, that things may get better.

Finally, sunshine represents respite from hardship and hints at optimism for the future. When spring arrives, “the sun finally dare[s] to peek through the gray layer of clouds, the landscape change[s] […] Lauren bloom[s] as well” (275). The blooming of skies and flowers coincides with Lauren’s pregnancy, but the description refers not only to her physical changes but also to the growing strength and resolve that even she is not yet aware of as she finds joy and belonging with Angie and Conlan. The sun shines for Angie as well. Even when challenges arise, beautiful weather reflects her optimism amid trials: “For the first time in anyone’s memory, it didn’t rain on Easter Sunday. Instead, the sun rose high in a clear blue sky” (296). Just like it has been a long time since it has not rained on Easter, it has been a long time since Angie was strong enough to handle adversity. Now, the weather mirrors Angie’s newfound fortitude: Although there is uncertainty and difficulty on the horizon for Angie, the sunny sky foreshadows her ability to survive no matter what happens with the baby.