Hudson reaches the deserted pumpkin patch in forty-eight minutes, and Addie feels immediate relief when she gets into his car. Hudson notices her filthy, injured hands, muddy clothes, and shoes covered in pumpkin debris, which shows how bad her night has been, but he does not press her right away and simply starts driving.

During the ride, Hudson asks Addie what happened. Addie thinks about telling him the truth and wishes he could help her the way he once did, but she decides she cannot betray Nathaniel, even after he abandoned her at the grave site. Because of that choice, she gives Hudson only a vague admission that she made bad decisions, then withdraws into silence for the rest of the trip.

As they near her house, Hudson remains concerned and tells Addie she can still talk to him if she needs to. He apologizes for how he has treated her since the earlier incident that damaged their friendship, explaining that what happened affected him so deeply that he could barely look at her. Hudson then makes an important emotional shift by telling Addie that she is still his best friend.

Addie is tempted again to confess everything, but she decides the risk is too great. Instead, she asks Hudson for one more favor: he must not tell anyone that he picked her up that night. Hudson promises to keep quiet, while Addie privately thinks about the coming consequence that he does not yet know about—that when school starts, everyone will learn that Mrs. Bennett has gone missing.