Till Summer Do Us Part

Camp Haven is the novel’s forced-proximity setting, initially imposed to sustain Scottie and Wilder’s fabricated marriage. However, the camp unexpectedly evolves into the location of their genuine romantic development. What begins as a contrived arrangement gradually facilitates an authentic emotional connection. For its attendees, Camp Haven is more than a romantic getaway; it’s an adult summer camp where play, creativity, and emotional openness are not only encouraged but also essential for healing and restoration. Designed as a space where adults can escape the pressures of professional life and reconnect as couples, Camp Haven encourages the rediscovery of joy and creativity, qualities often suppressed in adulthood. While Wilder initially views the camp as another “experience” to check off his list, “[…] I can always look back at the time that I went to a marriage summer camp with a woman I didn’t know” (271), the confined arrangement makes Scottie uncomfortable. Camp Haven invites Scottie to engage in spontaneous, judgment-free activities that gradually disarm her defenses. Through competition, communal meals, and nature adventures, Scottie experiences the kind of playful vulnerability that leads to genuine self-discovery.

Through forced proximity at camp, and more specifically their cabin and later a tent, Scottie can’t escape Wilder or the emotions emerging as a result of their time together. The setting intended to contain and conceal a falsehood paradoxically becomes the environment that nurtures Scottie’s wounded heart and facilitates her healing. As Scottie spends more time there, she confronts the emotional truths she has long buried, particularly the ways she’s learned to hide her needs and suppress her voice. Camp Haven symbolizes a safe, transformative space where Scottie and Wilder’s relationship can move from performance to authenticity. It’s a literal and emotional retreat from the expectations of their real lives, where their fake marriage transforms into a genuine connection. Wilder says, “This time at Camp Haven has given us the chance to explore our wounds in neutral territory. Now the hard work is ahead of us, healing those wounds” (380). The novel concludes with a full-circle moment as Scottie and Wilder return to Camp Haven one year later to celebrate their engagement, reinforcing the camp’s symbolic role as the birthplace of their transformation, both as individuals and as a couple. Their return marks the literal anniversary of their relationship’s beginning, but also affirms how far they’ve come since their last visit.