Chapter 22 Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

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Summary

The chapter opens on the morning of June 15, ten years before the novel's main timeline. Fern wakes in her Toronto apartment to find Will already up, sitting at her table and writing in his notebook. The power has come back on overnight, and the morning light fills the room. Fern offers to make coffee, but Will explains he has to leave soon—he's meeting his sister for breakfast and then catching a flight home.

Before he goes, Will gives Fern a sketch he drew of her, torn from his sketchbook. He then proposes an idea: he'll be back next June for his father's wedding, and he suggests they meet at Brookbanks Resort to check in on each other and see how they're doing with their life plans. Fern is surprised but agrees. They decide to meet at the docks near the beach, and Will writes the date and location in his notebook.

As Will prepares to leave, Fern asks for his phone number and address, offering to make him a mix CD. Will hesitates and says he thinks it's best they don't stay in touch—no texting, no social media, no mix CDs. He then asks why Fern never told him about her boyfriend, Jamie. Fern admits that at first it didn't matter, but later she wanted to pretend the outside world didn't exist for the day, including Jamie. She insists she would never cheat. Will says he doesn't think she's horrible—he calls her “pretty fucking awesome”—but he believes continuing whatever they have would be a bad idea because of Jamie.

Fern says a year is a long time, but Will reassures her she won't even miss him. As he leaves, Fern tells him she will miss him “more than a smidge.” Will smiles, says “You and me in one year, Fern Brookbanks,” and walks out of her life. The chapter ends with Fern reflecting that over the next twelve months, she would remember that exact smile and the electric feeling of that moment.

Key Events

Fern wakes to find Will writing in her apartment; he gives her a sketch he drew of her.
Will proposes they meet the following June at Brookbanks Resort for his father's wedding.
They agree to meet at the docks near the beach.
Fern asks for Will's contact information; he declines, saying they shouldn't stay in touch.
Will confronts Fern about her boyfriend, Jamie.
Fern explains she wanted to pretend the outside world didn't exist for the day and insists she would never cheat.
Will says continuing their connection would be a bad idea because of Jamie.
Fern admits she will miss him; Will leaves with the promise to meet in one year.

Character Development

Fern Brookbanks undergoes a significant emotional shift in this chapter. She begins the morning feeling awkward and disappointed that Will is leaving, but her feelings quickly deepen. When Will asks about Jamie, Fern chooses honesty over concealment, admitting she wanted to pretend the world didn't exist—a confession that reveals her vulnerability and her desire to escape reality. Her insistence that she would never cheat shows her moral compass, even as she acknowledges the intensity of her connection with Will. Most importantly, Fern realizes her feelings are not merely physical attraction; they are “so much worse”—meaning she has fallen for him on a deeper level. This self-awareness marks a turning point in her character, as she begins to understand the weight of her emotions.

Will Baxter demonstrates his own integrity and foresight. He sets a clear boundary by refusing to stay in contact, not because he doesn't care, but because he respects Fern's existing relationship with Jamie. His decision to propose the annual meeting shows he values the connection enough to want to preserve it, but on terms that feel ethical. He also shows tenderness—calling Fern “pretty fucking awesome” and giving her the sketch—while maintaining his resolve. His final smile and parting words reveal that he, too, is affected, but he chooses to honor the promise of a year rather than complicate the present.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Honesty vs. Concealment is the central theme of this chapter. Fern's decision to tell Will the truth about Jamie—rather than lying or deflecting—sets the tone for their relationship. She admits she wanted to pretend the outside world didn't exist, which is a form of concealment, but she also refuses to hide her feelings from Will. Will, in turn, is honest about why they shouldn't stay in touch, prioritizing transparency over convenience.

The sketch as a keepsake symbolizes the fragile, tangible connection between Fern and Will. Will tears the drawing from his notebook and gives it to her, a physical reminder of their day together. It becomes a token of the promise they make, something Fern can hold onto during the year apart.

The red streetcar pin on Will's bag is a subtle motif of place and identity. It ties Will to Toronto, the city where they met, and hints at the urban world Fern is leaving behind when she returns to Brookbanks. The pin also appears in the context of Fern's offer to make a mix CD—another attempt to bridge the distance—but Will's refusal to exchange contact information makes the pin a silent witness to their separation.

The plan lists represent the characters' aspirations and the idea of checking in on each other's progress. Will writes the meeting date at the bottom of each page, turning their individual plans into a shared commitment. This motif reinforces the theme of time and the promise of a future reunion.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the emotional and structural hinge of the novel. It establishes the central premise—the annual meeting at Brookbanks—that drives the entire narrative. Without this promise, Fern and Will's paths would never cross again, and the story would lose its tension and hope. The chapter also deepens the characters' emotional stakes: Fern's confession about Jamie and her realization that her feelings are more than physical create a foundation of vulnerability and honesty that will define their relationship. Will's decision to set boundaries, while still committing to a future meeting, shows his respect for Fern and his own moral code. The chapter's final image—Will walking out of Fern's life—is both a goodbye and a beginning, setting up the longing and anticipation that will shape the rest of the book.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Will refuse to stay in contact with Fern, even though he clearly cares about her?

Will refuses because he knows Fern has a boyfriend, Jamie. He believes that continuing to text, call, or send mix CDs would be a bad idea—it would blur the lines of their relationship and potentially hurt Fern or Jamie. By setting a boundary, Will shows respect for Fern's existing commitment and his own integrity. He wants to preserve the possibility of a future connection, but only under honest and ethical circumstances.

2. What does Fern's admission about Jamie reveal about her character?

Fern's admission reveals her honesty and her internal conflict. She admits she wanted to pretend the outside world didn't exist for the day, which shows her desire to escape reality and her guilt about hiding her boyfriend. However, she also insists she would never cheat, demonstrating her moral boundaries. Her willingness to tell Will the truth, even when it's uncomfortable, shows that she values authenticity over convenience—a trait that will be important in her later relationship with Will.

3. How does the sketch function as a symbol in this chapter?

The sketch is a tangible symbol of the connection between Fern and Will. Will tears it from his notebook and gives it to her, making it a personal keepsake that represents their day together and the promise of their future meeting. It also serves as a reminder of Will's artistic nature and his attention to Fern—he drew her, capturing her image in a way that words cannot. The sketch becomes a physical anchor for Fern during the year apart, a way to hold onto the memory and the hope of their reunion.