The novel switches to the perspective of Mathilde, as she tries to cope with the loss of Lotto. She walks through Boston and runs into Bridget, who argues people aren’t looking at her not because Mathilde’s become old but because Mathilde looks so angry since Lotto died. Mathilde remarks there’s no point in hiding her anger anymore.

Flashing back to the ambulance that carried Lotto’s dead body away, Mathilde then goes through the tortuous task of telling everyone the sad news. Lotto’s friends and family fly in to be by Mathilde’s side, to mourn together and comfort her. Rachel is upset, but keeps it together when she arrives for Mathilde’s sake. Aunt Sallie ends her world tour and Chollie fires up his helicopter to get to Mathilde as soon as he can. Even Samuel shows up to help.

Chollie reveals that his sister, Gwennie, killed herself years ago (the story had been that she had not taken her own life, and died of an accidental overdose). He mentions this secret to empathize with Mathilde, but she rebukes his efforts.

Mathilde is too caught up in her own grief to feign her normal shield of politeness.