Connor begins to recover in Aldiz, easing back into life through dinners at home, Scrabble with Celia, and time in the kitchen with Evelyn. She reaches out to Robert, asking him to teach her poker, explain finance, and go fishing. Robert never replaces Harry, but he becomes a steady presence, painting her room, cooking ribs, and offering advice, which helps Connor stop partying, raise her grades, and eventually gain admission to Stanford.

The night before Evelyn takes Connor to start college, Evelyn, Celia, and Robert celebrate at a small seaside restaurant. Robert gifts Connor a poker set, and the exchange underscores their growing familial bond. Evelyn reflects that while Robert married her to help Celia, he also found a family he could belong to within their unconventional arrangement.

With Connor back in the United States for school, Evelyn and Celia enjoy more uninterrupted time together in Spain, largely free from recognition and industry pressures. They settle into a calm domestic rhythm, reading on their ocean-facing balcony and sharing quiet mornings. Evelyn reengages with Spanish out of necessity and then pride, using it at home and reclaiming a buried part of herself.

Despite the serenity, Celia’s health worsens, and late-night conversations turn to regret over lost years and the challenges of being themselves under public scrutiny. They acknowledge their stubbornness, the burdens of secrecy about their sexuality, and the compromises they never would have made, even for an easier life. The talks reaffirm the depth of their love amid the reality of limited time.

Driven by the fear of losing Celia, Evelyn proposes marriage. Though a legal wedding is impossible, they agree to a private, symbolic ceremony in their bedroom. Facing each other and holding hands, Evelyn informally officiates; they exchange hair ties as rings and speak simple vows—Celia affirming her love since 1959, Evelyn naming this union as her truest—then declare themselves married and seal it with a kiss.