Chapter 21

Harriet recalls the West Village apartment she and Wyn share after their friends disperse. Cleo announces she is moving to Belize for six months, signaling the end of their shared living era. Parth and Sabrina help send Cleo off, then everyone finds separate housing, with Harriet and Wyn renting a small place above Wyn’s bookstore.

Harriet initially grieves the change, but Wyn orchestrates a surprise housewarming with Sabrina and Parth that transforms the apartment into a home. Their routines—shared dinners, sleepovers with friends, and Saturday crosswords—foster steady affection as Harriet’s medical school intensifies and Wyn’s love remains constant.

One morning, a playful discussion about the Mandela effect and multiverse leads to a tender exchange about always choosing each other. That night, after returning in the rain with takeout, Wyn impulsively proposes. Harriet immediately accepts, and he presents an old white gold ring with a square sapphire. Their joy overflows as they celebrate intimately in their tiny apartment.

That summer in Maine, Sabrina, Parth, and the returned Cleo host an engagement party, reaffirming the group’s bond despite distance. The cottage again feels timeless and welcoming, underscoring Harriet’s sense that their love—and this place—are constants she can always return to.