Chapter 17

Three years earlier, Lucy becomes the owner of In Bloom at midnight on New Year’s, celebrated by her mentor Stacy. Wanting a brief PEI escape, she joins Bridget for a Thanksgiving long-weekend trip, privately anxious about seeing Felix again but vowing not to repeat their past.

On arrival, Christine welcomes them, and Lucy settles into Felix’s old room, stirring memories she tries to suppress. Plans shift when Christine reports Felix’s flight is canceled until Wednesday, after Lucy and Bridget will have left, removing the expected temptation.

On Saturday, they attend a party at Zach’s house. There, they unexpectedly run into Joy, Felix’s ex and Bridget’s former best friend, whose breakup years earlier fractured both relationships. Joy is warm and complimentary toward Lucy’s work, which contrasts sharply with Bridget’s pain and jealousy.

As Joy and Zach chat, Bridget grows increasingly upset, drinks several ciders, and rejects Lucy’s attempts to slow her down. The encounter lays bare that Joy—not any former boyfriend—was the ex who truly mattered to Bridget, representing shared history and a lost friendship.

After the party, with Bridget passed out on the coat pile, Lucy, Zach, and Joy help her into the car. Joy even offers to follow them home and assist, underscoring her kindness and complicating Bridget’s narrative of betrayal.