In July 1969, Kya receives her second book, The Eastern Seacoast Birds, admiring her herring gull painting on the cover. While searching for mushrooms, she discovers a milk carton on the old stump containing a tarnished brass compass and a note from Tate, who signs with “Dearest” and “Love.”

The compass, once Tate’s grandfather’s, stirs memories of Tate guiding and teaching Kya through her youth and into her work. Though Kya had gifted Tate her shell book, she has continued to avoid him, interpreting love through “dishonest signals,” and remains split between longing and the pain of his past abandonment.

Days later, Kya navigates the fog with the compass in her pack and hopes, half consciously, for a glimpse of Tate. She hears an oar and sees Tate’s boat emerge from the haze, but instinctively rows into cover and lets him pass, choosing safety over contact despite Jodie’s earlier advice to give Tate another chance.

At day’s end, Kya stands on the beach and recites a poem credited to A.H. about sunsets disguising truths and lies. The verse reflects Kya’s emotional posture: captivated by beauty yet wary of deception, she remains guarded even as Tate reaches out.