Annie travels to Three Rivers for her wedding in a car with Minnie, Africa, and Hector. During a rest stop, Minnie takes Africa inside while Annie and Hector smoke and talk. Annie feels both excited and anxious about the wedding, worrying that she and Viveca may be a “mismatch.” She leaves a voicemail for Marissa and briefly speaks with Viveca, who is having lunch with a friend and asks Annie to bring The Cercus People to the hotel.

Back on the road, Africa’s melting ice cream and Minnie’s increasingly harsh scolding trigger Annie’s memories of parenting her own children. Africa’s behavior reminds her of Andrew, whom she is nervous to see, and Minnie eventually throws the ice cream out the window, causing Africa to cry. The incident prompts Annie to recall a moment when she briefly left her children on the side of the road, leading her to think of herself as a “terrible” mother while simultaneously acknowledging her eagerness to reunite with her children.

As they near Three Rivers, Africa becomes ill, and Hector pulls over so Minnie can comfort him. Annie observes changes in the town upon their arrival and gives money to a man asking for help. They stop at Orion’s house, whose size impresses Minnie, Hector, and Africa. Inside, Annie washes Africa’s clothes while Minnie irons Hector’s outfit, and Africa watches television. Annie overhears Minnie and Hector talking about her, which reminds her of Viveca’s earlier statement that they are not interested in being her friends.

While searching for The Cercus People, Annie finds a family photo album. Looking through it, she notices the resemblance between Andrew and Kent, observing that “their eyes, their jawlines: they’re the same” (670). Hearing Kent’s voice in her thoughts, Annie closes the album, determined to keep her secrets hidden. She paces anxiously until she hears her children arrive.

Kent explains that he is frequently triggered into recalling the flood of March 5, 1963. He recounts the night of the flood, when a warning about a dam failure forced the O’Day household—Uncle Chick, Sunny, Annie, Grace, and Kent—to attempt to flee by car. The vehicle was overtaken by floodwaters and became lodged against a building. Kent broke a window to help the others escape, and while Uncle Chick tried unsuccessfully to save Sunny, Annie dropped the infant Grace during the chaos. Kent and Annie took refuge together in a tree until they were rescued while Uncle Chick continued searching for Sunny. At the hospital, Kent learned that both Sunny and Grace had died.

Kent recalls little about the immediate aftermath, including the hospital stay and funerals, though he remembers media coverage of the flood. He notes that the house itself remained structurally intact, a fact that troubled Uncle Chick. Although Kent’s mother offered to take the children in, Annie reacted strongly, and the family decided to maintain the existing living arrangement, with Kent remaining in the household and helping care for Annie after school. Over time, Donald became increasingly absent due to school activities, and Uncle Chick began drinking heavily.

Kent describes the period following the flood as one in which boundaries within the household deteriorated. He acknowledges engaging in sexually abusive behavior toward Annie and describes how secrecy was maintained within the family. He reflects on an instance when Donald became suspicious but accepted Kent’s explanation. Kent speculates about whether earlier intervention in his childhood might have altered the course of events.

Kent recalls the day Protective Services removed Annie from the home, which marked the last time he saw her. He notes that while Donald was later allowed contact, he was not given information about Annie’s placement. Kent eventually returned to live with his mother, earned a GED, and later moved away. As an adult, he worked various jobs, avoided returning home, and began pursuing single mothers with young daughters.

Late at night, Viveca calls Annie, and they discuss Annie’s children. The conversation turns to the wedding, and Annie reassures Viveca that although she is nervous, she has no doubts. Privately, however, she acknowledges her uncertainty: “I’ve already had one failed marriage. How could I not have doubts?” (721). Annie explains that she was unable to locate The Cercus People and offers to contact Orion, but Viveca advises her not to do so.

After the call, Annie goes to the bedroom she once shared with Orion and reflects on her affection for him and her relief that he is dating again. Unable to focus on reading, she encounters Andrew watching Pulp Fiction. Andrew finds the film humorous, while Annie is disturbed by its violence. During their conversation, Andrew admits that he was once frightened by Annie’s artwork but came to appreciate it after a friend reframed it positively. He suggests that Annie’s art draws from her childhood trauma, including the flood and the loss of her mother and sister, information he learned through a published article.

Annie redirects the conversation to Ariane’s pregnancy, and they then discuss Marissa’s drinking and difficulty finding acting work. Andrew shares his concern about Marissa’s bruises and her defensive reaction to his earlier joke about being assaulted. When Andrew begins asking about Annie’s past, Annie becomes uncomfortable and internally hears Kent’s voice. She apologizes to Andrew for having been abusive when he was a child, but Andrew reassures her, insisting that she was a good mother and that he often provoked her. After the movie resumes, Andrew goes to bed, stopping briefly to tell Annie that he has ended his relationship with Casey-Lee.

Annie covers Marissa with a blanket as she sleeps and returns to the bedroom, where her anxiety intensifies and Kent’s voice resurfaces in her thoughts. Overwhelmed, Annie calls Viveca, who comes to the house to comfort her. When Annie wakes the following morning, Viveca has already left. Reading the note Viveca left behind, Annie feels reassured, loved, and prepared for the wedding.

Kent reflects on his employment history, noting that he advanced from working as a key-maker at a hardware store to a sales role and eventually to a managerial position due to his success with sales. During this period, he describes a relationship with a housemate named Mitch, who initially made unwanted advances. Kent later entered into a sexual relationship with Mitch in exchange for access to illegal pornography. Kent acknowledges feelings of guilt about his behavior but rationalizes his actions by referencing broader cultural sexualization.

Kent recounts targeting a woman and her child, Michelle and Lily, and describes the incident that led to his arrest. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison, where he reports experiencing ongoing abuse by both inmates and correctional staff. After being transferred to another facility, Kent enrolled in a nursing program and encountered an article about Annie’s artwork, which intensified his fixation on her. He recalls repeatedly writing her name and thinking about her while incarcerated.

Following his release, Kent describes an attempt to die by suicide that resulted in hospitalization and entry into a treatment program. He reflects on problematic interactions with multiple therapists and minimizes his responsibility by suggesting that his victims eventually recover, citing Annie’s professional success as evidence. Kent later violated the terms of his parole by using a public library computer, where he searched unsuccessfully for pornography before looking up Annie’s contact information. He made several phone calls without speaking and visited her home multiple times without encountering her.

On the morning described in the chapter, Kent calls Annie’s house, and a woman answers. Instead of speaking, he boards a bus to Three Rivers, hoping to find Annie alone and hoping she has “forgiven and forgotten by now” (772).

On the morning of the wedding, Minnie prepares breakfast for the O’Day family as Marissa, Andrew, and Ariane talk together. Ariane asks Andrew about Casey-Lee, and he avoids revealing that they have broken up. Annie joins them, and Marissa offers to help conceal the dark circles under Annie’s eyes with makeup. A florist arrives to deliver flowers for the ceremony.

As they prepare to leave, Andrew notices signs of alcohol addiction in Marissa and questions her about the bruises on her face. Marissa implies that she was assaulted by a man but does not provide details. Andrew tells her she can contact him if she needs help in the future.

Annie appears wearing her vintage wedding dress, and the group departs for the ceremony. During the drive, Annie remembers that she intended to search again for The Cercus People, and Andrew realizes that she does not know that Orion has taken the paintings to Cape Cod.

Upon arriving at the Bella Linda, Annie discovers that she has forgotten the wedding rings. Andrew volunteers to retrieve them and drives back to the house. There, he encounters Kent. Remembering Kent’s role in rescuing Annie during the flood, Andrew greets him warmly and invites him to attend the wedding. When Kent explains that he does not have suitable attire, Andrew changes into his military uniform and lends Kent his clothing. On the drive back to the hotel, Andrew begins to feel uneasy about Kent’s demeanor but dismisses his doubts, assuming Annie will be pleased to see him.

Annie grows anxious as Andrew takes longer than expected to return with the wedding rings, repeatedly apologizing for the delay. When Andrew arrives, Ariane retrieves the rings, and the ceremony begins. Annie feels self-conscious about the informality of her dress. As she enters the room, she notices that Andrew has changed into his military uniform and is accompanied by a man she does not recognize. Although unsettled, Annie proceeds with the ceremony. The couple exchange vows and rings and kiss, but Annie observes that Andrew appears unhappy and decides not to include him in the wedding photographs.

At the reception, Annie speaks briefly with Donald before Andrew approaches with Kent. Upon seeing Kent, Annie becomes visibly distressed and retreats to Viveca’s hotel room, where she locks herself in the bathroom and breaks down. Viveca and Annie’s children follow to offer support as Annie struggles with intrusive memories related to the flood and her childhood. Annie expresses guilt over Grace’s death, and Viveca comforts her. Annie asks that Kent be asked to leave, and Viveca goes to address the situation. Ariane and Marissa return to the reception, while Andrew remains with Annie.

Andrew informs Annie when Kent departs and initially defends him, stating that “he was only trying to protect [her]” in claiming to have dropped Grace himself (818). Annie reacts strongly to this characterization and discloses that Kent abused her and used Grace’s death to coerce her into silence. As she recounts her experiences, Andrew becomes overwhelmed. Annie apologizes for burdening him with her secrets and notes that she processed much of her trauma through her artwork. Andrew responds by reminding her of the harm she caused him during his childhood before abruptly leaving the room. Marissa returns shortly afterward with drinks.

After leaving the wedding, Andrew gets into his rental car and drives away in search of Kent, who is on foot. As he drives, he reflects on Annie’s disclosure about Kent’s abuse and experiences flashbacks to his own childhood mistreatment. When he locates Kent, Kent attempts to flee into the woods. Andrew pursues him and physically attacks him. During the confrontation, Kent claims that Annie initiated their interactions, stating, “It was her who started it! Crawling up on my lap and—” (829). Andrew’s assault intensifies, and he strikes Kent in the head.

Although he initially begins to leave, Andrew returns and carries Kent—who is severely injured—into the car, intending to take him to a hospital. However, when he realizes that Kent will not survive, Andrew instead drives to the family home and disposes of Kent’s body, along with his bloodstained uniform, in the well where Josephus Jones’s body was found. He places the stone slab back over the opening and plans to return later with materials to seal it more permanently. As he leaves, Andrew briefly sees a Black man watching him but dismisses the sighting as his imagination. He returns to the house, showers, changes clothes, and cleans the rental car to remove evidence. Back in his childhood bedroom, he struggles with racing thoughts before eventually falling asleep.

Andrew awakens when his sisters arrive. Marissa checks on him, and they discuss Annie’s past anger and volatility. She asks about the visible injuries on his face, and Andrew admits that he confronted Kent but does not provide details, asking her to remain silent. Marissa helps conceal his injuries and shares her own recent experience of being assaulted, as well as news that she secured an audition for a soap opera after making a professional connection at the wedding. While they are talking, two police officers arrive at the house. Assuming they have come for him, Andrew goes to meet them but learns instead that Orion has been attacked and seriously injured.