Seven months earlier, Frankie spends Christmas dinner with her family and slips on her engagement ring before Mimi and George arrive. During the meal, Frankie announces that she and Nate are engaged, that she will move into Nate’s house after the holiday, and that they plan to marry in May. The family reacts with varying degrees of surprise and support, but George stays silent, and Frankie, who especially wants his approval, presses him to respond.

George finally offers a flat congratulations, then stands up to leave when Frankie challenges him. Frankie follows George out of the house and across the snowy field, refusing to let the argument end. George tells Frankie he thinks she is making a huge mistake, that Nate does not really know her, and that Frankie becomes smaller, quieter, and less herself with him. Frankie defends Nate as kind, steady, and easy, but George insists she should not have to work so hard to be accepted and admits he does not want to lose her.

The fight exposes how much their bond has already begun to change. Frankie insists that marrying Nate will not destroy what she and George are to each other, but both of them seem to know that is not true. When Frankie asks George to stay and finish the fight, George says he needs space before he says something he will regret, and he walks away, leaving Frankie alone in the field.

Two weeks later, Frankie emails George to apologize for how she told him, to explain that his opinion matters deeply to her, and to ask him to be her best man. Frankie admits she feared his reaction and still hopes he will accept her choice even if he disagrees with it. George replies two days later, apologizes for his own behavior, and agrees to be her best man because he intends to keep the promise he once made to always be Frankie’s best friend.