Contents
Chapter 12
Overview
Nora wakes from panic and runs to blunt spiraling grief and fear. Libby reveals she has created a marriage-minded dating profile for Nora and sets a date with Blake at a karaoke bar. The covertly chaperoned meetup begins awkwardly, exposing Nora’s discomfort and the mismatch. The chapter underscores Nora’s anxiety and Libby’s push for change.
Summary
Nora jolts awake in panic, fearing for Libby before orienting herself in the Sunshine Falls cottage. Unable to cycle as she does in New York, she goes for a hard run through the foggy meadow and woods, trying to burn off fear and grief tied to their mother’s death.
Later, Libby bursts in, thrilled to announce she has created a profile for Nora on a marriage-minded app called Marriage of Minds and lined up a date with Blake, 36. Nora resists but agrees, prioritizing Libby’s effort and the promise to “switch things up.”
That evening, they arrive late to Poppa Squat’s karaoke night and coordinate a stealth plan: Libby will scout while Nora approaches alone. Inside, the bar is packed and loud. Nora meets Blake, who stays seated, critiques her appearance, fixates on her height and shoe size, and gives off HR-interrogation energy.
Seeking relief, Nora orders two large martinis despite Blake’s abstinence, deciding to drink both herself. Libby watches from the back, giving enthusiastic thumbs-ups as the date’s awkwardness becomes clear, signaling the start of a likely doomed evening.
Who Appears
- Nora StephensProtagonist; wakes from panic, runs to manage anxiety, reluctantly goes on a Libby-arranged dating-app date with Blake.
- LibbyNora’s pregnant sister; creates Nora’s dating profile, orchestrates a meetup with Blake, and covertly monitors from the bar.
- BlakeNora’s dating-app match; blunt and awkward at the karaoke bar, fixates on Nora’s height and appearance.