The narrator describes the hotels Colman stayed in while traveling with his father, and how he evaluated them. The hotel in Glasgow has all of the amenities he likes; however, he feels depressed in it. As they sit down for dinner, Sophie is dressed seductively. She asks Colman what he wants to eat and drink. He tells her to order for them. Sophie wants to discuss the book, something Colman finds increasingly annoying.

The narrative shifts to Sophie. That night in her hotel room, she thinks about Colman, whom she finds attractive; she realizes how much he loved Joss. However, it bothers her that Colman believes the book is going to be “tabloid trash”—and that society as a whole sees tabloid journalism as such. Sophie also realizes how reluctant Colman is to meet his grandmother and confront his mother. She wants to calm him, so they can continue their project.

The narrative shifts back to the narrator. Colman sits in his bed, drinking Glenfiddich from the minibar. Suddenly, he has shifted from liking bourbon whiskey to malted Scotch whiskey. He wonders what his grandmother will be like. Colman considers visiting her and not explaining that he is the adoptive child of Josephine Moore.