The chapter begins the moment after Chapter 15 ends. Hollis tries to ask Josie whether Santa Claus is really Steven, but Josie stays asleep on the couch. The next morning, Hollis finally gets to ask Josie what Santa Claus looked like and what he brought, but Josie’s bad memory means she confuses Hollis’s questions with the mythical Santa. Hollis gives up and tells Josie they will be going home soon. She starts the long walk to the nearest pay phone, planning to call Beatrice to make sure she will come home and take care of Josie.

As she walks through the snow, Hollis keeps hoping she will run into Steven on the snowmobile, though she’s not sure what she will say to him if she does. Then she hears the buzzing of a motor and runs out into the road, and it’s Steven. They both start laughing hysterically. She thanks him for all the gifts. Steven says he knew she was at the house because the agency mailed out letters when she and Josie went missing. He tried to tell the Old Man his theory that Hollis was at the Branches house, but the Old Man didn’t believe it, so Steven decided to come on his own.