Contents
June 2, 1990
Overview
In a 1990 flashback, Fern spends a morning in the resort pastry kitchen with Peter, reaffirming their easy bond. She shares ambitions to become general manager, notes Peter’s new habits, and reflects that her old crush on him has passed. Peter disapproves of Fern’s lifeguard boyfriend, Eric, hinting at protective tension.
Summary
On June 2, 1990, Fern spends the morning in the Brookbanks pastry kitchen with Peter, filling profiteroles and sharing her plan to take over as general manager if her parents consent. Fern worries their dynamic might have changed now that Peter is head pâtissier, but their comfortable rhythm endures.
Fern observes Peter experimenting with sourdough and controlling the kitchen music, which she prefers to past choices like Sonic Youth. She notes that Peter is growing a beard, which makes him more handsome, but emphasizes that she moved past her crush on him years ago.
Peter openly dislikes Eric, the lifeguard Fern is dating, dismissing him as sun-addled, consistent with his general disdain for lifeguards. Fern defends Eric’s intelligence and attractiveness, underscoring her independence while revealing Peter’s protective streak and their longstanding, sibling-like rapport.
Who Appears
- FernNarrator in 1990; works with Peter, wants to be GM, dates Eric, past crush resolved.
- PeterHead pâtissier; experiments with sourdough, sets kitchen music, protective, disapproves of Eric.
- EricLifeguard dating Fern; intelligent and attractive; disliked by Peter.