Beth drives to Meadowlands with the puppy she collected for her friend Helen and is met by Leo, who climbs down from his tree house in excitement. Seeing Leo so vividly reminds Beth of Bobby, the son she and Frank lost, and she realizes how empty her life has felt without children in it. Leo immediately adores the puppy and asks if they can show Gabriel.

Inside the house, Beth is flooded with memories of Gabriel's family home before finding him in his study, typing among books and papers with whisky at his desk. Beth is disturbed by how strongly she still reacts to being close to Gabriel, despite telling herself that their past should no longer matter. Leo asks to keep the puppy, Gabriel agrees, and the three of them share a brief moment of easy laughter when the supposedly house-trained dog immediately pees on the floor.

Because Gabriel's previous dog was shot after killing lambs, Beth warns that the puppy must be taught to behave around livestock. When Leo anxiously asks if the same thing could happen again, Beth impulsively offers to help train the dog. Leo throws his arms around Beth in gratitude, and Beth struggles with the sudden resurgence of grief for Bobby while Gabriel watches with a gentle sadness.

That evening, Frank asks what happened to the puppy Beth was meant to bring home. Beth tells him she gave it to Gabriel's son and plans to help Leo train it so another farm-dog disaster can be avoided. Frank's serious reaction reveals his unease about Beth becoming involved with Leo and Gabriel, but Beth reassures him there is nothing to worry about, and at this point she believes her own promise.