Contents
Thirty-Seven | Anastasia
Overview
Anastasia and Nathan retreat to his father’s Colorado estate, strengthening their intimacy through skating, playful hockey, and quiet domesticity. Nathan reveals painful family history that shapes his values. They tentatively discuss a future together. The next morning, Anastasia skates alone, the lake ice breaks, and she plunges into freezing water.
Summary
Anastasia basks in a romantic bubble with Nathan at his father’s vast, quiet Colorado estate, struggling to contain a growing urge to say she loves him. They skate on the frozen backyard lake to her routine, then blow off steam with casual hockey that exposes her competitive streak and his playful coaching.
That evening, tipsy on wine, Anastasia openly admires Nathan’s looks, and they curl up to watch TV, imagining a future together. Prompted by her questions, Nathan explains he doesn’t hate his father but resents his infidelity while Nathan’s mother, Mila, was dying, and his refusal to help the Hamlets after Robbie’s catastrophic ski accident at the family resort.
Nathan notes his father later tried to make amends by buying the Maple Hills house and funding accessible renovations for Robbie, but Nathan won’t forgive the earlier betrayals. Awkwardly, they stumble into a brief talk of future children; Anastasia admits she wants to adopt, and Nathan readily agrees, tightening their sense of partnership.
The next morning, Nathan leaves a note and a smoothie while running a secret errand. Anastasia, enchanted by the snowy landscape, skates alone toward tree-lined inlets and spots a deer. When Nathan calls to find her and warns it isn’t safe, the ice suddenly cracks beneath Anastasia, plunging her into the freezing lake.
Who Appears
- Anastasia AllenNarrator; deepens feelings for Nathan, practices on the lake, learns his family history, and falls through the ice.
- Nathan (Nate) HawkinsAnastasia’s boyfriend; creates a romantic retreat, shares painful truths about his father, and warns her moments before the ice breaks.
- Nate’s fatherAbsent estate owner; cheated on dying wife and resisted helping Robbie after the resort accident; later funded Maple Hills house.
- Mila HawkinsNathan’s late mother; suffered a long illness while Nathan’s father was unfaithful.
- Robbie HamletFriend injured in a ski accident at the resort; central to Nathan’s grievance with his father; later accommodated at their house.
- Mr. HamletRobbie’s father; sought legal help after the resort avoided responsibility.
- Sasha HawkinsNathan’s sister; a skiing prodigy referenced in discussion about the resort’s inheritance.
- BettyCaretaker/household figure who cooked during Nathan’s childhood while his father worked.