Beth spends the morning burying herself in housework because relentless labor is the only thing that has helped since Bobby died. She reflects that grief stripped away her ability to read, talk easily, or take comfort in the things she once loved, and that David, her father-in-law, understood she needed hard physical work on the farm as an outlet.

When Gabriel arrives unexpectedly at the house, Beth is startled but lets him in. He notices Bobby’s photograph, comments that Bobby looked exactly like Beth, and then explains why he has come: he is behind on his book and wants to pay Beth to collect Leo after school and keep him occupied for a few hours each day. Beth resists the idea of taking money from Gabriel, but she admits to herself that Leo’s companionship has already been comforting and that she has increasingly spent time at Meadowlands teaching him about animals, birds, and wildflowers.

Gabriel then addresses the tension between them directly. He says Beth’s presence has made a difference to both Leo and himself and asks if they can truly be friends instead of Beth continuing to avoid him. Beth, feeling for a moment like her present self rather than the girl who once loved him, decides they may be able to manage that and agrees to discuss the arrangement with Frank, emphasizing that she and Frank make decisions together.

That evening, Beth and Frank talk over supper about the farm’s financial strain and an upcoming bank meeting. Frank tries to lift the mood by telling Beth that the kestrels have returned, a detail that painfully reminds them of Bobby, who loved watching the birds from a hide Frank built for him. Beth says she will go see the nest with Frank the next day, but the memory of Bobby underscores how much grief still shapes their lives.

Beth then tells Frank about Gabriel’s offer. Frank immediately rejects the idea, saying they do not need Gabriel’s charity and making clear that Gabriel’s presence still wounds him because of the past. Beth insists it is real work, that the money matters, and that spending time with Leo helps her emotionally, but Frank warns that what she is doing is dangerous. When Beth says she does not want this to come between them, Frank’s response makes clear that the damage has already begun.