Chapter 28: 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.

Summary

Fern spends nearly a full week with Will and his daughters in Toronto. She makes pancakes for Sofia, drives her to summer camp, and takes long walks with Will through the city. During these walks, they agree on a long-distance plan: Will will visit on weekends as often as possible, they'll talk each evening after dinner, and he promises to send a photo whenever he wears an apron.

Back at the resort, Fern gives Peter her mother's last diary. She explains that she doesn't think Margaret would mind if he read it, and that it might bring him a pleasant surprise. For Fern, the journal didn't feel like hearing her mother again—the young woman who wrote it was different from the Margaret she knew—but she believes Peter will connect with that earlier version, the chatty, optimistic, impatient Maggie he loved.

Fern stays busy through the fall. She joins Whitney and Cam's monthly game night, spends time with Jamie reviewing blueprints for his dream home, and visits Peter in the pastry kitchen almost every morning. One sunny day in late October, she hears Anne Murray playing before she enters. She befriends the owners of the town's record store, buys a guitar, and watches YouTube lessons, imagining herself brave enough to perform at the dance and talent show next August. She works hard, but in the middle of the night, alone in the house, she feels a familiar ache. She creeps to the window and looks at Cabin 20, but no light shines through the dark—Will is never there.

As the months pass and snow falls, the ache sharpens into awareness. Fern doesn't want to miss Will anymore. On New Year's Eve, they sway on the dance floor to an Elvis song she requested. It's corny but exactly right for the moment she asks Will if he'd consider living at the resort one day. The room sparkles with candles, Christmas lights, and the disco ball Jamie talked her into hanging, but nothing is as bright as Will's smile.

It takes time for Will to rearrange his work, but in May—a year after Margaret's death—he moves into the house with Fern. The sunroom becomes his office, and her home becomes his. In the mornings, the coffee is strong, music plays, and Will is in the kitchen. Annabel agrees to stay at his Toronto place, though she calls or texts both of them almost daily with cooking questions. Will commutes to the city at least one day a week to see the girls. Fern decorates the guest bedroom in dark purple for Sofia, who will spend a couple of weeks with them later that summer. The closet still holds Margaret's party frocks, and Sofia eyes the pink sequined bolero, though she claims she's too old for dress-up. Fern bets she can talk her into at least one tea party with Peter and herself.

Fern hires a new executive chef and renames the restaurant Maggie's, a change she loves best. When she wants to feel close to her mother, she goes to the dining room; when she misses her most, she wanders down to the family dock, sits in the left chair, and updates Margaret on everything. Sometimes she can almost hear her mother say, “We're so lucky.”

Even though the resort is poised for a good year, some days are too long and hard. But now Will is there when she comes home. While he cooks dinner, he reminds her of her accomplishments, and she stares at him wearing Margaret's apple-print apron, hardly believing someone so wonderful can be real. She sleeps better, though sometimes she wakes after two a.m. and finds Will not beside her; she tiptoes downstairs and pulls the pencil out of his hand, bringing him back to bed. If Will can't sleep, he draws.

June fourteenth is a gift. Will and Fern paddle to the strip of shoreline where they sat together almost a year ago. Unlike then, the sun glitters off the lake with no clouds. Will has packed a picnic basket and champagne, and they raise plastic cups to the anniversary of the day they met. They relax with their feet in the water and pinkies linked in the sand, reminiscing. When the breeze blows Will's hair across his brow, Fern's breath catches—he's grown it out a little, and he looks like he did at twenty-two. She thinks for the thousandth time that she might be hallucinating, that it's hard to believe they're finally together for good.

She reflects on the leap she took when she showed up on Will's doorstep last August, telling herself he was worth fighting for and that they were building something that could be made stronger. When the sun gets hot, Will pulls off his shirt, and Fern admires his tattoos, including a new small fern frond on the inside of his wrist. He pulls her to her feet, and they wade into the lake, float on their backs, and kiss as the water dances around them. After drying off and finishing sandwiches and the lemon squares Peter knows Will likes best, Fern begins packing the canoe. When she turns around, Will is kneeling in the sand, holding a tiny green velvet box. Before he can say anything, she tackles him to the ground, kissing him through tears. He laughs, saying he hasn't said anything yet, but she's too overcome to care. She tells him she doesn't care about the ring—she only wants to hear his happy sound every day.

Will explains the ring is meaningful: it's his grandfather's plain gold band, which he had resized. He tells her he's lucky to have met his soulmate eleven years ago and even luckier to have found her again. He calls her his best friend, says she's the bravest person he knows, and tells her he loves her loyalty, her playlists, and her nose. They kiss, cry, and tumble in the sand until a group of teenagers in a boat starts whistling and honking.

They paddle back to the resort, where a group waits on the dock. Sofia is obvious in her purple tie-dyed shirt, jumping and waving. Will admits he could only keep so much a secret—Annabel is impossible to deter. From the moment they announced Will was moving, Annabel has been plying Fern with bridal magazines and floral designer links. Fern told her she didn't want to do the bride thing, ever, and thought the vein in Annabel's forehead might burst.

As they approach, Annabel, Peter, Jamie, Whitney, and Cam reach for them before the canoe is even tied up. Sofia wraps herself around Will, and Annabel gives him a one-armed hug while pulling Fern in with the other. Whitney curls around Fern's back, and they all lock in a jumbled group hug. Annabel announces she's throwing an engagement party, and Fern knows there's no stopping her.

The girls want to take the canoe out, and Peter and Fern watch Will help them climb in. Fern tells Peter she thinks she got a good one, and Peter agrees, noting that since Will moved in, not a week goes by without a lemony dessert from him. He kisses her forehead and says congratulations, pea.

As the girls paddle—Annabel and Sofia going around in circles, neither having mastered canoeing—Will and Fern sit at the edge of the dock, where they were supposed to meet ten years ago. They watch the girls splash each other, the boat rocking. Will worries they might tip, but Fern reassures him they're there if they do. They sit together, heads on shoulders, until the sun sinks low, painting the lake in purple and gold. They make plans for the future, the dreams they'll share. Fern says she sometimes can't believe they're here, and Will replies that he knows the feeling, but here they are, right where they're supposed to be.

Key Events

Fern spends a week in Toronto with Will and his daughters, and they agree on a long-distance routine.
Fern gives Peter her mother's last diary, hoping it will connect him to the younger Maggie.
Fern stays busy through the fall, taking guitar lessons and working hard, but misses Will at night.
On New Year's Eve, Fern asks Will if he'd consider living at the resort.
In May, Will moves in, commuting weekly to see his daughters; Annabel stays in Toronto.
Fern hires a new chef and renames the restaurant Maggie's.
On June 14th, they paddle to the shoreline where they met, swim, and Will proposes with his grandfather's ring.
Fern accepts, and they return to the dock where friends and family wait; Annabel announces an engagement party.
They sit on the dock watching the girls canoe and make plans for the future.

Character Development

Fern undergoes significant growth in this chapter. She moves from a place of longing and uncertainty to a decisive commitment. Her decision to ask Will to live with her marks a shift from passive waiting to active choice. She also deepens her connection to her mother's memory by giving Peter the diary and renaming the restaurant Maggie's, integrating Margaret's legacy into her present life. Her willingness to accept help and community—from Whitney, Cam, Jamie, and Peter—shows her opening up to support.

Will demonstrates his commitment by rearranging his work and moving to the resort, while maintaining his role as a father. His proposal, using his grandfather's ring, ties his family heritage to their new future. He also shows vulnerability in his speech, expressing his love and admiration for Fern.

Peter's character is touched by receiving the diary, and his ongoing presence—bringing lemon desserts and offering congratulations—reinforces his role as a surrogate family member. Annabel's enthusiasm for the engagement party, despite Fern's reluctance, highlights her protective and celebratory nature. Sofia's excitement and the family's playful interactions show the blending of their lives.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Home and Belonging: Will's move to the resort transforms Fern's house into a shared home. The sunroom becomes his office, and the guest bedroom is decorated for Sofia, symbolizing the creation of a new family space.
Legacy and Remembrance: Fern gives Peter her mother's diary, renames the restaurant Maggie's, and visits the dock to update Margaret. These acts keep her mother's memory alive while allowing Fern to move forward.
The Lake as a Constant: The lake is the setting for their first meeting and their proposal. It represents continuity, healing, and the passage of time. The shoreline where they sat a year ago becomes a sacred spot for their anniversary.
The Dock as a Meeting Place: The dock is where they were supposed to meet ten years ago and where they now sit with family. It symbolizes connection, arrival, and the fulfillment of promises.
The Ring as Heritage: Will's grandfather's ring, resized for Fern, carries family history and signifies the merging of past and future.
Taking a Leap: Fern reflects on the leap she took in August, and Will's proposal is another leap into commitment. The chapter emphasizes the courage required to build a relationship.
Community Support: The group hug on the dock and Annabel's insistence on an engagement party show the importance of friends and family in celebrating and sustaining the couple.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the emotional culmination of the novel's central romance. It resolves the long-distance tension that has defined Fern and Will's relationship since they reconnected, moving them from uncertainty to a shared life. It also completes Fern's journey of integrating her mother's legacy: she gives away the diary, renames the restaurant, and finds peace with Margaret's memory. The proposal on the anniversary of their first meeting ties the narrative together, and the gathering on the dock underscores the theme of community. The chapter leaves readers with a sense of fulfillment and hope, showing that second chances can lead to lasting happiness.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Fern's decision to ask Will to live with her reflect her character growth?

Fern's question on New Year's Eve marks a shift from passive longing to active choice. Earlier, she missed Will but didn't voice her desires. By asking him to consider living at the resort, she takes a risk and communicates her needs, demonstrating increased bravery and commitment. This is a direct contrast to her earlier hesitation and aligns with her reflection on the leap she took in August.

2. What role does Margaret's memory play in this chapter, and how does Fern honor it?

Margaret's memory is central. Fern gives Peter her mother's diary, hoping it will connect him to the younger Maggie. She renames the restaurant Maggie's, a change she loves best. She also visits the family dock to update her mother on her life, imagining Margaret's voice saying they're lucky. These actions show Fern honoring her mother's legacy while moving forward, integrating the past into her present happiness.

3. How does the setting of the lake and the dock contribute to the chapter's emotional impact?

The lake is the site of Fern and Will's first meeting and their proposal, creating a sense of circularity and destiny. The shoreline where they sat a year ago becomes a place of reflection and celebration. The dock, where they were supposed to meet ten years ago, is where they now sit with family, symbolizing fulfillment and belonging. The natural beauty—the sun glittering, the water, the sunset—reinforces the joy and peace of the moment.

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