Alone at home on Tuesday evening, Beth notices that Frank has gone to the pub with Jimmy for a second night without leaving a note, which feels unusual and troubling. Surrounded by the ordinary signs of their shared life, Beth reflects on how deeply she has changed because of her affair with Gabriel. Beth wonders whether Frank has sensed the truth, especially because she now avoids even saying Gabriel’s name, and she feels the strain of loving two men at once.

Beth thinks about telling someone, but she dismisses every possibility. Eleanor distrusts Gabriel and is close to Frank, Beth’s parents adore Frank, and Helen is tied to Frank through her husband Martin. Beth realizes that in the village Frank is widely loved and admired, which makes her betrayal feel even more isolating and dangerous.

Nina then arrives unexpectedly, turns on the lights, and announces that the men are out drinking again. The two women settle in for an impromptu evening together, making a fire, opening wine, and eating cheese and biscuits while joking about the leftovers from the wedding. Their easy domestic routine contrasts with Beth’s hidden distress.

The mood shifts when Nina happily reveals that she has stopped using birth control because she and Jimmy want a baby. Beth is immediately stung by the news because of Bobby’s death and because she and Frank have not been ready to try again, yet Beth sincerely tells Nina that she is happy for them. As they talk, Beth imagines a new child at Blakely Farm and the hope that would bring to the family.

When Nina notices Beth’s expression and asks whether something is wrong, Beth keeps her secret. Internally, Beth admits how far she has crossed the line into duplicity and recognizes that she intends to continue the affair. The chapter ends with Beth silently resolving that the next day she will go to Meadowlands to be with Gabriel, even as Nina celebrates her wedding week and the future she hopes to build with Jimmy.