Ada's Chapter: Key Moments 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

The chapter opens with Ada and Evan inside the main powder room of the Rebel Blue house, where Ada is adamant about preserving the pink and yellow tile, as well as the powder-blue tile in the primary bedroom en suite. Evan is skeptical but amused, and Ada explains her design philosophy: she prefers to restore rather than demolish whenever possible. She notes that the house has been well-maintained by the Ryders, so there are no leaks in the bathrooms—no mold or water damage—though the kitchen does have water damage and will be completely ripped out anyway. Ada is disappointed about having to replace the floors, but she makes a mental note to see if the old wood can be reused, and she already plans to repurpose old doors into bookshelves for the living area.

Wes arrives early, and Ada is surprised to see him in his full cowboy gear. She asks his opinion on the tile, and he enthusiastically agrees to keep it, valuing the house's history and wanting it to feel unique rather than like every other place. Ada is relieved and pleased. She then mentions her idea to repurpose old doors and salvageable wood for furniture, and Wes suggests a carpenter named Aggie, an old family friend. He also mentions that Aggie's son, Dusty, is returning to Meadowlark after being a cowboy around the world, and that Gus convinced him to come back to help with the ranch. Ada notes that Dusty is supposedly like the male version of Teddy, which piques her curiosity.

After the crew leaves, Wes offers to let Ada drive his truck back to the Big House to practice driving a manual transmission. Ada agrees, feeling nervous but also excited. In the truck, Wes adjusts the seat for her, and they go over the clutch and gearshift. They share a light moment when Wes quotes a line from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days—