Chapter 26

Harriet recalls moving with Wyn to a small San Francisco apartment they dream of transforming as they finally plan a long-delayed wedding. Wyn readily agrees to postpone marriage until after Harriet’s schooling, wanting to prove their resilience and love despite doubts from Harriet’s mother.

Residency proves harsher than medical school for Harriet: rotating hospitals, constant rushing, and exhaustion erode her confidence until a fourth-year, Taye, urges her to slow down. Meanwhile, Wyn finds a winter wedding venue overlooking the bay, and the couple puts down a deposit, committing to their plans despite uncertainty.

As costs and decisions pile up, Wyn struggles to secure stable, well-paying work. He self-deprecates in interviews, lands a low-wage bookstore job, and adds part-time upholstery repair to cover rent. Harriet encourages him to answer interview questions as those who love him would, trying to bolster his confidence.

After a graveyard shift, Harriet returns home to find Wyn distraught, his phone cracked and his composure gone. He collapses into sobs, and after a long struggle to speak, Wyn tells Harriet that Hank is gone, abruptly shifting their wedding planning into a period of grief and uncertainty.