Tova recalls a Knit-Wits afternoon nearly three years earlier, when Mary Ann Minetti’s granddaughter Tatum became pregnant. While others were scandalized, Tova felt envy, imagining the grandchild she never had after Erik’s death. She lingers on the “what if” of Erik having become a father at eighteen.

Observing that Tatum’s family supported the baby and life moved on, Tova notes that not every outcome is so stable. This reflection opens the door to connect timelines: Cameron’s birth date matches the following February after Daphne Cassmore’s high school summer.

Tova replays what Cameron said about his supposed father—a real estate developer, a ring, a photograph—and how certain Cameron seemed, a confidence that reminds her of Erik. She wonders if the man Cameron seeks is not his father at all, and whether Erik could be.

Reason reasserts itself: Daphne could have dated multiple boys; if Erik had a child, Daphne would likely have found Tova. Tova rejects banking on an “exceptional stroke of luck” and tries to set aside the fantasy that Cameron is Erik’s son.

Turning to practical concerns, Tova considers her imminent move to Charter Village and confirms pets aren’t allowed. Unsure what to do with Cat, she watches him leap from the railing and curl at her feet, as if already distancing himself from the change to come.