A horn interrupts Alice’s birthday evening with Nan and Charlie. From the window Alice sees Charlie’s boat idling at the dock with two passengers. Charlie identifies them as his brother and sister-in-law and goes outside to intercept them, clearly irritated. Alice follows at Nan’s urging and meets Persephone (Percy), who is visibly pregnant, and Sam, whose voice and demeanor mirror Charlie’s. Percy admits they came because Charlie would not share details about the “mystery girl” and invites Alice and Charlie to watch the Canada Day fireworks from the lake.

Alice agrees, and the four join a flotilla heading toward a bay with a beach, playground, and causeway where people have gathered to watch. Percy and Sam shift to the back to give Alice and Charlie privacy, displaying their affectionate dynamic. As they wait for darkness, Alice marvels at the scene and Charlie shares that he used to come every year as a kid.

During the fireworks, Charlie asks why Alice never mentioned she spent a summer at the lake. Alice says it did not come up and calls it a formative experience. Charlie is surprised because he does not remember her from that time; Alice deflects by saying she was not memorable, which Charlie rejects, insisting she is attractive. Their banter continues as fireworks begin.

Charlie presses whether Alice saw his family back then and why she did not say hello. Alice admits she was shy and would not have known what to say. She explains her family’s “animal” nicknames, calling herself the turtle—quiet and level-headed compared with outgoing siblings Heather (lion), Lavinia (flamingo), and Luca (monkey). Charlie notes she is not quiet around him, and Alice agrees, feeling at ease with him now.

They exchange small personal details: Charlie’s given name is Charles, a name his late father shortened to Charlie, and he jokingly describes his younger self as “terrible.” The conversation turns flirtatious and affirming as Charlie says he likes Alice’s honesty and thinks she is “very bright.” The chapter closes with an intimate moment of mutual attraction as they tease about the glitter on Alice’s face while the fireworks continue overhead.