Chapter 17

Harriet travels with Wyn to his parents’ Montana home, anxious about fitting in. Gloria and Hank rush out in pajamas to welcome them, and Wyn’s sisters, Lou and Michael, join the chaotic warmth. Wyn’s constant, affectionate touch steadies Harriet as they swap stories and jokes, and she feels instantly included.

In Wyn’s room, Harriet explores his trophies and photos, teasing him about a prom-king portrait. Their playful banter reveals Wyn’s discomfort with small-town expectations and perceived “peaking,” while Harriet reassures him of his worth. They part for separate rooms but spend the visit cocooned in family routines: casseroles, bourbon tastings, firesides, and snowy night walks.

Wyn shows Harriet pieces of his past: the replaced fence rail from a teenage crash, old scars with their origins, and the woodshop where an armoire once trapped him for hours. He explains why he left Montana—parents assumed he’d stay; he felt out of place at college except with Harriet—and suggests he might have really come to find her. Harriet privately admits that loving him feels essential.

Back in the workshop, Wyn worries about whether he can make Harriet happy; she assures him he already does. On their last night, after scotch, dominoes, and the fire’s glow, Wyn promises they’ll return soon. Harriet realizes that “home” has grown to include Wyn and his family, sealing a deeper sense of belonging.