The chapter is set in March 1960 where Peggy and her mother Linda have a light dinner of roasted chicken and asparagus.
Peggy is preoccupied with thoughts, relating to a mysterious phone call she received, which makes her ponder the origin of her story.
Her background is in mythology and fairy tales, but Peggy struggles to understand her own life's desires and motivations.
Peggy is troubled by the thought of why she fears the answer to the question about her story's origins.
During dinner, a storm rages outside, and Peggy helps her mother with the dishes after their meal.
Peggy asks her mother about the creation of Whisperwood and learns they made it up to comfort her after her father's death.
Linda, Peggy's mother, explains that Whisperwood was a collective creation by her, Peggy, and Aunt Maria, which evolved over time.
After reading and discussing the day's pages, Peggy lies awake in bed, filled with restless energy from the storm.
Peggy reflects on her unchanged bedroom and blurry memories of her past life in California.
She contemplates her lack of thought about the origins of Whisperwood, a world of stories created after her father died.
During the night, unable to sleep because of the storm, Peggy retrieves a crumpled paper with Hazel Linden's phone number from the trash.
She hides the paper beneath her mattress, comparing it to the fairy tale of the princess and the pea, feeling its presence even though it’s a small object under her many layers of comfort.