Janine has wed Walt, and Miles has recovered from his illness. Miles connects it to his discovery about his mother and C. B. Whiting. At the Empire Grill, the customers are discussing what is going on at Bea’s place, Callahan’s. It appears as if it will be opening for lunch soon: Miles and David are defecting to Callahan’s, though Miles “was determined to keep [their plans] a secret” from Mrs. Whiting (364). Miles has also been warned by the local police chief that Jimmy Minty might be getting that job soon; the chief has cancer and will be stepping down.

Tick is communicating with Donny, the young man from Indiana she met over the summer at Martha’s Vineyard, determined to be rid of Zack Minty altogether. She and John Voss have struck up something resembling a friendship, though John continues to be mostly silent and rather odd. Still, he works diligently if not hastily at the Empire Grill. He seems to have gotten quieter since Tick has forsaken Zack, who has resumed bullying him

Miles has not spoken to anyone regarding his revelations about his mother’s affair with C. B. Whiting. He fears that if he speaks to anyone about it, he will reveal himself to be the last one to have figured it out and look foolish.