Tegan reflects on a year spent rebuilding her life in a modest townhouse, aided by Jackson, who frequently helps with renovations and cares for Tia. Her ankle has healed with a lingering ache. She credits Hank and Polly with saving her and refuses to expose them. She confirms Simon sabotaged her brakes through Dennis’s deal, and that Dennis intended to use morphine to force her compliance; Dennis is now serving 10–15 years. Simon, who assaulted Tegan and others, is imprisoned, and Tia will not know his identity.

As Tia toddles, Tegan and Jackson discuss finishing a playroom and the possibility of a future together. Tegan is open to dating Jackson and imagines a gentle first step toward intimacy. Inspired by Polly’s competence, she plans for nursing school when Tia reaches kindergarten. Despite growing trust in Jackson, Tegan resolves never to reveal what happened during the four nights after the crash.

Polly describes a new family rhythm with Sadie: shared dinners, reading routines, and alternating bedtime chapters. After Mitch’s death and the discovery that Sadie’s mother overdosed, Polly and Hank became her foster parents with support from Dr. Salinsky; they hope to adopt her. Polly notices Hank and Sadie whispering but assumes there are no secrets, grateful Hank stopped her from making a disastrous choice a year earlier.

Hank then recounts the night after he brought Tegan to the hospital: while worrying over Polly, he checked on Sadie at Mitch’s home and found the girl bruised. After throwing the drunken Mitch outside, Hank realized Mitch would retaliate against Sadie. Hank suffocated Mitch in the snow to protect her; Sadie witnessed everything but told police only that Mitch fell.

In the present, as snow begins to fall, Hank carefully probes Sadie’s memories of that blizzard. She refuses to revisit it but calls Hank her dad, silently agreeing to keep the truth hidden. Hank accepts the role of father, bound to Sadie by the secret of what he did to protect her.