Daphne falls into a comfortable rhythm of spending time with Julia, Miles, and Ashleigh. They enjoy all the summertime activities in Waning Bay, including visits to the farmers market, the Fourth of July parade, and the Cherry Festival. Daphne still looks for jobs but less frequently. Daphne flushes each time she and Miles make eye contact, but she’s content to be his friend. He begins reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and texts her updates on his thoughts from the other room. At the end of July, Daphne sees a posting for a children’s librarian job in Worcester County, Maryland, just 20 minutes from her mom’s home. She submits a resumé and cover letter.

Though Julia promises to stay for one more week, boxes of her things arrive, and she announces she’s moving to Waning Bay. She plans to find a job and an apartment but will stay with Miles until then. Daphne assures Miles she is okay with the arrangement, and he is still concerned that Julia is hiding something from him. Ashleigh arrives to help Julia unpack. Julia opens the closet to store her stuff, but all of Daphne’s wedding gifts and gown spill out before she can stop her.