In December, Annie emails that her breech baby may require an early delivery and asks Demon to visit. The town plans a ceremony for Coach Winfield, and though Demon has mixed feelings, he wants to thank Coach for taking him in. He drives home through memory-laden roads—past Watts’s shuttered pill mill and familiar landmarks—fighting cravings and grief.

Finding Annie at the hospital, Demon calls June for a room and spends the day alone revisiting places. Intending to harden his heart, he hikes to Devil’s Bathtub, but the winter trail is gentle and fragrant with witch hazel. He observes birds and a tranquil, turquoise pool, meets an Australian family, teaches the child to launch leaf boats, and hikes out with them, feeling briefly less alone.

At breakfast, June details ongoing oxy lawsuits, abuse-proof formulations, and enduring community damage. She updates him: Ruby’s grief group, Mrs. Peggot managing with family help, Maggot and Mariah clean at PetSmart (Maggot’s boyfriend keeps snakes), and Emmy thriving in sober housing in Asheville. June probes whether Emmy hurt him; Demon says he survived. June is glad he’ll skip the public Coach event; Angus is in town, but Demon avoids contacting her.

Demon visits Miss Betsy and Mr. Dick, who welcome him warmly. He helps with chores and hears that Angus praised his online work; they discuss his “book” and Melungeons. After dinner, he asks Miss Betsy about Angus’s love life. She hints Angus has set her cap for one man, without naming him. Demon assumes someone from Nashville, decides to let Angus go, and steels himself to see Coach and tell him he mattered.