Alice returns to Hayden’s table to find he has put his laptop away, and they navigate the physical closeness of the booth, their legs touching. They joke about exchanging numbers but refrain, mindful of boundaries. When Alice asks about his day, Hayden refuses to discuss Margaret Ives directly, but Alice admits her first day felt strange and suggests Margaret may have lied. Hayden’s surprise and hesitation signal he has noticed inconsistencies too, and he finally concedes there have been discrepancies he cannot yet explain.

They order food, and Hayden wonders why Margaret chose to do this project now. Without stating details, they infer two possibilities: serious illness or memory issues. Hayden references his experience with Len Stirling’s decline, noting it has made him vigilant about signs of memory loss, though he ultimately suggests Margaret may simply not trust them yet.

The mood softens as Alice becomes aware of her attraction to Hayden. They continue talking while their bodies remain in close contact, and Hayden questions why Margaret would invite them and then undermine her own account. The server brings Alice’s food; in a lighter exchange, Alice teases Hayden about his salad and disciplined habits, and they bond over a recent croissant at the island bakery.

The conversation deepens when Alice mentions her older sister Audrey’s extensive childhood heart surgeries; Hayden shows concern until Alice clarifies Audrey is now healthy. They trade family details: Hayden has an older brother, a doctor and former football captain, and he resisted his parents’ expectations growing up, feeling freer since moving away. Alice shares that their parents are eccentric, idealistic ex-commune journalists whose unconventional lifestyle made Alice and Audrey targets for bullying.

Alice lists practical skills learned from her parents—mending, cooking, canning, gardening—and reflects that most people act out because of unseen struggles. Hayden pushes back that some people are simply cruel, and then tells Alice she may be the least cynical person he has met, clarifying he does not mean she is naive. The exchange underscores a growing trust and emotional closeness between Alice and Hayden, set against their professional caution about Margaret’s reliability.