The second half of Simone’s recital begins with Dvořák’s haunting “Last Mich Allein” (339), during which Theo closes his eyes to contemplate the music. Simone concludes his formal program with Saint-Saëns’s “Carnival of the Animals; the Swan” (339). When called for an encore, Simone introduces an original composition called “Fado for Theo” (340), explaining that “fado” is a Portuguese music tradition. He invites Basil and Kendrick to join him, and the unlikely trio performs the tribute. Afterward, Professor Gobelli invites Theo to the stage, and Theo reveals that Simone’s parents have secretly traveled from Washington to attend the recital. Asher unveils a portrait of Simone that will be shipped to his parents’ home.

During the reception, Simone’s parents and friends from the Promenade gather at the Chalice for celebration. Ellen rides away on her bicycle, and Theo returns to Ponder House, thinking that this might have been the happiest day of his life. Simone walks his parents to their hotel, staying with them past midnight before retrieving his cello from school and heading home.

Theo awakens after midnight following Simone’s recital. Unable to return to sleep, he puts on his robe, opens the balcony doors, and settles into a chair with a book. Around two in the morning, he hears a commotion. From his balcony, he witnesses three drunken young men harassing Ellen near the Fedder fountain. One man steals her hat while another attempts to throw her bicycle into the fountain. Ellen fights back ferociously, scratching and clawing at her attacker, who brutally beats her.

Simone appears and intervenes, but the three assailants break his hand, throw him into the fountain, and shatter his cello. Theo leans dangerously over his balcony railing, shouting for them to stop. Losing his balance, he falls to the sidewalk below. The attackers flee, leaving Ellen bleeding, Simone injured, and Theo fatally wounded on the pavement. A passing couple discovers Theo’s body and calls for help. When Simone staggers across the street to ask them for assistance with Ellen, he is horrified to find Theo’s body.

News of Theo’s death spreads quickly throughout Golden. Yellow crime tape marks the spot where Theo fell; the area quickly transforms into a makeshift shrine with flowers, cards, and tributes to “the saint of the Promenade” (352). The authorities conclude that Theo simply fell over the too-low balcony rail. Neither Simone nor Ellen can provide authorities with Theo’s full name.

James Ponder arrives, functioning as Theo’s advocate. He identifies the body and begins the difficult process of notifying everyone of Theo’s death. He also places calls to New York to inform Theo’s business associates. Although police begin investigating the assault that preceded Theo’s fall, the darkness of the hour and lack of witnesses make it difficult to find the perpetrators. The scarred oak tree known as “the Eye of God” (354) witnessed everything.

Three days after Theo’s death, a major New York newspaper publishes a front-page article revealing his true identity: Gamez Theophilus Zilavez, known worldwide as “Zila,” a renowned Portuguese American artist whose career spanned six decades. The article details his birth in 1932 in Portugal’s Douro Valley, where he then worked in vineyards before being discovered by Edmund Timmons, a London art distributor. Zila’s work achieved international acclaim, with his paintings displayed in museums and even at the United Nations.

The article describes Zila’s reclusiveness following the 1987 deaths of his wife and daughter in a car accident, after which he entered what his publicist called “his walking season” (359) of grief. Though he later returned to work, he remained intensely private. The newspaper mentions his passion for rivers and his interest in birdwatching. His final works, completed earlier that year, were a six-canvas collection called “The Blues of Golden” (361), which includes images of a hat, shoes, a pill bottle, a feather, and a riverscape.

A memorial service for Theo is held at St. James church two weeks after his death. Though few Golden residents knew him personally, many attend out of curiosity or respect. Those who received portraits from Theo sit in the front rows, bringing their framed drawings with them. Ellen, still bruised and bandaged, is permitted to bring her bicycle into the sanctuary. Security guards enforce a strict ban on photography and recording devices.

Father Lundy delivers an address, contrasting “Zila the famous” (366) with “Theo the familiar” (366). He compares Theo to the mysterious stranger on the Road to Emmaus, who made hearts “burn within” by revealing deeper truths. Professor Gobelli performs “Fado for Theo” on the cello, as Simone’s injuries have not yet healed. In the eulogy, Father Lundy suggests that Theo’s year in Golden was purposeful and that his anonymous generosity was inspired by love. He urges everyone to honor Theo’s memory by continuing his legacy of goodness.

In the days following Theo’s death, James Ponder deals with Theo’s estate and deflects constant media inquiries about the renowned artist. Mrs. Gidley vigorously guards the door of Ponder House, turning away journalists seeking interviews. One morning, she announces a young woman from out of town who insists on seeing Mr. Ponder. He reluctantly agrees when Mrs. Gidley suggests it might be important.

The visitor introduces herself as Olivia Reese and explains that she needs help finding someone in the area. Mr. Ponder curtly suggests she hire a private investigator, but she insists that he is the right person for this task. When she hands him a letter, Mr. Ponder reads it twice, and his demeanor completely changes. He realizes that Olivia is Willa—Ellen’s long-lost daughter.

Asher is summoned to Mr. Ponder’s office regarding “matters concerning Theo” (375). Mr. Ponder reveals that he had known Theo’s true identity throughout the past year and has been serving as Theo’s confidant and advisor. He gives Asher an envelope, a small box, and a key to Theo’s apartment, suggesting that Asher go there to examine the contents privately. In the apartment, Asher discovers a portrait that Theo painted of him, capturing his thoughtful expression with a hint of a grin.

The envelope contains three letters revealing that Theo was Asher’s biological father. In his letter, Theo explains that he fell in love with Asher’s mother while they were both studying art in Madrid. She suddenly returned to Golden and married quickly, but she later wrote to inform him that she was pregnant with his child and to ask him never to contact her. The second letter confirms this story in his mother’s handwriting, while the third letter is a childhood note that a young Asher once wrote to “Zila,” expressing his desire to become an artist. The small box contains a heart-shaped opal necklace that Theo had given Asher’s mother in Spain as a “pledge to marry her” (385). Behind Asher’s portrait on the easel is a second canvas showing a seascape with an easel in a field—the same painting that has hung in Asher’s studio for years, which his mother had treasured without explanation.

The epilogue reveals the fates of the various characters after Theo’s death. The assailants who attacked Ellen and Simone are never identified or prosecuted. Shep and Addie continue operating the Chalice, with Theo’s portrait prominently displayed. Lamisha’s education is fully funded by Theo’s estate, and she hopes to become either a physical therapist or an artist. Basil pursues a doctorate in American Literature. Simone’s hand heals completely, allowing him to join a symphony in Massachusetts with a community-funded replacement cello.

Kendrick receives a promotion to a supervisory position with better hours and benefits. Minnette takes indefinite leave from her accounting firm to raise her son, who is named Theo. Ellen continues her “featherwood” art business, having contributed all her savings to Simone’s cello fund before setting up her enterprise. Mr. Ponder helps to reunite Ellen with her daughter Willa. Asher manages Theo’s estate and continues working on his own portraits. Tony drinks one glass of port each night as a toast to Theo and places a commemorative plaque on Theo’s bench at the Fedder fountain, declaring it “a place where heaven and earth met” (394) and reminding people of the biblical passage that “faith, hope, and love endure, but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13).