Autumn — Seven

At Autumn’s mother’s house, Autumn shows Angie the poopsleepplay and discusses early play and rest with a newborn. Autumn has been researching parenting at the library, collecting books and resources, signaling commitment to preparing for the baby.

Upstairs, Autumn and Angie admire a repurposed dresser-turned-changing table and organized baby clothes, which makes the pregnancy feel real to Autumn and stirs both excitement and fear. Angie helps refold items and offers practical tips, while Autumn promises to shift away from baby talk and suggests watching a movie.

Talk turns to identity: Autumn shares she finished her novel over the summer but struggles to edit it since learning she could have told Finny her feelings. She reveals Finny read the manuscript on their last day together. Angie affirms Autumn’s talent and asks to read it, reaffirming their friendship and support.

Angie opens up about tensions with Dave: after discussing their sex life and briefly improving intimacy, Dave said she talks only about the baby, which hurt despite a later productive conversation. She describes ongoing financial pressures and living in Dave’s parents’ basement, and the difficulty of maintaining a sense of self outside motherhood.

Autumn encourages Angie’s belief in long-term improvement and suggests reclaiming interests, proposing a horror movie together and a library visit for books Angie can read while caring for Guinevere. The conversation reassures Autumn that keeping her writing dream alongside motherhood isn’t selfish.

They decide to go to the library immediately, postponing the movie. The chapter closes with mutual reassurance: despite grief, money stress, and identity struggles, Autumn chooses to believe they will be okay.