Chapter 35 Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens at the town square festival, transformed into a wonderland of string lights, bunting, gingham-covered tables loaded with pies, a dance floor, and a beer truck. Amaya and Mrs. Struthers are pouring donated wine with a generous hand, and Nora suspects most of the festivities may lack proper permits—though given how many townspeople were involved in planning, it might all be aboveboard.
The group stops by Goode Books to catch Dusty's event, but the shop is packed. Charlie and Sally have arranged the new furniture and old folding chairs into rows in the café, with Dusty's videoconference projected on the wall and audio playing through the shop's speakers so overflow visitors can still hear while browsing. The group doesn't linger long because the girls are restless.
They take the girls to Mug + Shot's pop-up soda shop for frothy pink sodas—Libby calls it a mistake, Nora calls it delicious, and Brendan notes the kids will crash after the sugar rush. Back in the square, they gorge on popcorn, chocolate and rhubarb pies, sugar-dusted pecans, and local wine (one terrible, one surprisingly good). They dance with the girls to pop songs, and as night falls and the temperature drops, Tala falls asleep in Brendan's arms while he chats with Clint Lastra about fishing spots—Brendan has never fished but is determined to try.
Watching from a distance, Nora thinks Libby is going to be happy here, and that makes the distance bearable. Libby and Bea slip off to find sweatshirts or blankets in Brendan's rental car, leaving Nora to watch the dancers.
Nora spots Shepherd, who gives her a sheepish smile and waves. They exchange apologies—Nora for misleading him, Shepherd for whatever he was going to say. She tells him he's a great guy but not her type, and they part amicably. He mentions he's not used to being up this late and should turn in. Nora reflects that Shepherd will be part of someone's happy ending, just not hers.
As if conjured by the thought, Charlie appears. Shepherd notices Nora's gaze shift and smiles knowingly, wishing her a good flight. He pauses to talk to Charlie on his way out, and they exchange words before Shepherd claps Charlie on the shoulder and leaves.
Charlie approaches Nora with a bundled flannel shirt he bought for her—it was on her list. He also got one for Libby, who screamed when he handed it to her. He helps Nora put it on and buttons it for her, and they share what Nora calls the least awkward extended eye contact of her life.
Charlie asks if she wants to dance. He admits he doesn't want to dance, but he wants to touch her, and dancing is a good cover. They move onto the dance floor beneath the twinkling lights while James Taylor's