At Meadowlands, Leo's daily six o'clock phone call from California has become the marker for Beth to leave, and Beth knows Leo has been sustained by the promise that his mother will soon visit. Beth reflects that Gabriel has only temporary custody because Leo was allowed to choose between living with his mother in America or his father in England, and Leo chose England for now.

During the call, Leo happily talks about his day until his mother's plans suddenly change. Leo realizes she is not coming after all, lashes out in anger, and runs from the house. Gabriel immediately argues with his ex-wife for not warning him first, while Beth worries that the canceled visit may undo Leo because he has been hanging on to that hope.

Beth finds Leo by the lake and tries to comfort him. Leo bitterly says his mother only cares about her new baby and insists the baby's teething is just an excuse; when Beth gently defends the practical difficulty of traveling with an infant, Leo accuses Beth of not taking his side. Leo then points out that Beth would never have left her own son behind and says he has seen her looking at Bobby's photograph, which makes Beth realize that Leo has noticed her grief just as she has noticed his.

Gabriel joins them, apologizes, and does not force Leo to talk, which helps steady the moment. Leo leans against Gabriel, and the tension eases as Gabriel and Leo identify a bird over the lake. Leo explains that he has been learning bird names with Beth using Bobby's old binoculars.

When Leo starts telling Gabriel about Bobby's skills and speaks warmly about Beth's dead son, Beth feels moved that Leo has absorbed so much about him. But Gabriel's reaction changes the mood: he understands that Beth has been sharing Bobby with Leo, and Beth sees the unspoken question in his face. The chapter ends with Beth recognizing both the comfort and the danger in this substitute bond built from mutual loss.