Winter Stroll

Ava tells herself the one kiss is “a kiss good-bye” (203), and she tells Nathaniel she can’t see him anymore. When she gets home, she texts Scott, but he doesn’t answer.

Kevin searches all over town with no sign of Isabelle and the baby. He goes to the Castle and checks at the front desk to see if she’s staying there, but the attendant can’t give out guest information. George is at the bar with Mary Rose, and Kevin asks if he’s seen Isabelle. George hasn’t and asks if Mitzi is spending the night with Kelley. Kevin swaps numbers with George, both agreeing to share information if they see anything.

Kelley wakes up with Mitzi next to him. He feels ill but must get up to prepare breakfast for the guests. Mitzi offers to help, but when they get to the kitchen, Isabelle isn’t there as usual. Kevin bursts in, still dressed in his clothes from the previous night, and announces that Isabelle and the baby are missing.

Margaret barely sleeps and wakes up early to check her phone and listen again to Neville’s voicemail, which only says he has “breaking news” about Bart’s situation. She texts Darcy, but she has no update. She agrees to keep Margaret posted throughout the day, even while she’s at the baptism. Kelley bangs on the door and announces that Isabelle and the baby are “gone.”

Ava awakens groggily to the sound of her phone and the commotion at the inn as everyone scrambles, then falls back asleep. Scott barges in and tells her his best friend saw her at the party on the widow’s walk with Nathaniel. He also sees the flowers and Nathaniel’s note. Ava doesn’t lie and tells him about the kiss, explaining that she is confused about her feelings. She says Scott is a “good guy” for helping Roxanne. Scott leaves, and Ava doesn’t stop him.

While Mitzi stays behind to run the inn, Margaret and Kelley take Kevin to the airport as he worries Isabelle might be returning to France. Kelley is still feeling sick. Kevin explains what happened with Norah, and Kelley reminds him of their history. Most of the airline attendants Kevin knows confirm that Isabelle wasn’t on their flights, but the Cape Air attendant won’t give him any information. Kevin thinks Isabelle might have flown this airline to Boston. Kelley says they should cancel all the baptismal plans. Kevin sits on the floor and cries, and Kelley sits with him. Kevin admires the kind of father Kelley is and hopes to emulate him. George calls Kevin’s phone.

Mary Rose invites George up to her room, but he falls asleep without having sex with her because he needs Viagra to perform. He sneaks out of the room and hears a baby crying down the hall. When he knocks on the door, Isabelle answers. George encourages Isabelle to return to Kevin because Kevin loves her and Genevieve. George drives them home.

George calls the inn and tells Mitzi that he found Isabelle and Genevieve. Mitzi decides that “[h]er days of being Mrs. Claus are over” (223), and she is done with George. He asks to attend the baptism as a “friend,” and Mitzi agrees.

Jennifer plans to meet Norah and still make it to the baptism on time by asking Ava to drive the boys. When she wakes them up, Barrett complains and says he’s not going. Jennifer feels “invincible” having taken an oxycodone, and she declares the boys will shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, and attend the baptism. They don’t argue.

Jennifer goes to the kitchen and walks in on Kevin and Isabelle’s reunion. She thinks of the situation as “one of the bumps in the road” they will encounter (228), and feels wise for knowing about relationships. Jennifer knows she will have to go to rehab when Patrick gets out of jail, but she still meets Norah and buys the 30 pills. Norah is glad to get paid but also happy to know that Jennifer isn’t “perfect.”

Kelley continues to feel worse, but he’s thankful for George’s help in convincing Isabelle to come home and that Mitzi is staying. He looks forward to amending the Christmas letter to announce their reconciliation.

Drake rarely attends church and feels out of place in the chapel. He prays for the family’s well-being. Margaret believes Jennifer is late because she arranged for Patrick at the baptism, but Drake thinks it’s unlikely. Jennifer arrives just in time. He loves Margaret more when she cries during the baptism.

Ava holds Genevieve and thinks of all she will teach her goddaughter, including, “You don’t need a man to define you!” (234). She notices Scott is there, but so is Nathaniel, which makes her once again confused.

Margaret is so moved by the service that she tells Drake she will marry him.

During family photos, Margaret tells Ava she is marrying Drake. Ava is happy for her mom. Ava had hoped that Scott being there meant they could reconcile, but instead, he says he’s not attending the lunch and thinks they should take some time apart so she can figure out what she wants. Ava declares she wants to marry Scott and start a family, but he’s not convinced.

The rest of the family has left, leaving Ava to walk alone to lunch. Nathaniel is waiting for her outside, and she wonders how she let him ruin her relationship and Stroll weekend. Nathaniel declares he still loves her and asks her to come back to his house. Ava says she’s walking to lunch alone.

On the way to lunch, Margaret checks her phone, but there is no new news about Bart.

At the lunch, Genevieve is screaming and needs a nap. Kelley looks unwell. Mitzi tries to calm the baby without success, and she only stops crying after Drake and Margaret arrive, when Drake massages the base of her head. Jennifer and the boys arrive, arguing loudly. Kelley takes Barrett outside to speak with him while Jennifer cries at the table and confesses, “I need help” (246), explaining how hard it’s been to care for the boys and to sustain a career in Patrick’s absence. Kevin watches Jennifer’s behavior and wonders if she’s using substances.

Margaret announces to the family that she and Drake are engaged. Not waiting for Ava, Kevin gives a toast to his family, including the empty chairs meant for Bart and Patrick, and proclaims his love for Isabelle and their daughter, and how they have changed his life for the better. Ava arrives and says she heard a news report that a marine from Bart’s platoon has escaped and is safe in US military custody.

The family hastily packs up the food to-go and returns to the inn to await news. Both George and Scott have heard the news and arrive to support the family. Darcy calls Margaret to report that the rescued marine isn’t Bart, but “officials are optimistic that most or all of the other soldiers are alive” (254). Everyone goes to Bart’s room, and Kelley leads them in, but collapses and is unconscious.

They transport Kelley to the hospital, where the doctors diagnose him with exhaustion and hypoglycemia. He will stay overnight for testing. Jennifer calls Patrick, and when he asks how her weekend was, she says, “Get ready […]. This might take a while” (257).