By evening, Hurricane Darcy intensified to a Category 1 and shifted closer to Vienna Shores, flooding the bridge to the mainland. Jo arrived at the Revelry where Wyn, Dad, Uncle Rick, and Mitch prepared the building with sandbags and plywood while Mom tended to arriving locals, calming the shelter with jukebox music. Jo worried whether Sebastian (Sasha) had managed to evacuate.

Gigi arrived soaked through with the dogs Buckley, Sam, and Frodo. In the lobby, amid flickering lights and growing thunder, Jo apologized and confessed jealousy—of Gigi staying home and facing hard things—while questioning the worth of her LA success if it distanced her from loved ones. Gigi reassured Jo that Wyn cherished Jo’s songs and had a mixtape of her work, recognizing Jo’s presence in her music.

Jo admitted the big hit was not about Van and spoke of being homesick and writing for the girl she could have been if she had stayed. The friends embraced and cried, then laughed at themselves for fussing over their appearance during a hurricane. Gigi confessed she had long wanted to chase a dream beyond Vienna Shores and was unsure about marriage despite loving Mitch deeply; she had not told him before Wyn’s diagnosis and his proposal.

At that moment, Mitch revealed he had overheard part of the conversation. Gigi tried to apologize, fearing she would disappoint Wyn, but Mitch assured her Wyn would not want Gigi to put her life on hold. He pledged to support Gigi’s journey and said forever could look any way, so long as it was with her. They kissed, lightening the tension between them.

Mitch asked about Jo’s writing with Sebastian; Jo said they finished the song and explained Sebastian left ahead of the storm. Gigi observed Jo’s fear of how much she liked him. Jo struggled with trusting that someone could want her for herself. Gigi shared her grandmother’s view that real love is borrowed and precious, and Mitch agreed, framing fear as part of its value.

Jo realized she had been living a version of success shaped by others’ expectations and that emptiness, not only grief, had blocked her writing. She worried she had made a mistake by letting Sebastian go but chose to focus on storm preparations. They distributed candles, set up an AM/FM radio for weather alerts, and tried to keep spirits up as the Revelry filled with locals and family sharing stories and small comforts.

As wind and rain intensified, Jo hoped Sebastian had reached safety. A violent crack of thunder hit, the lights flared, and then the Revelry went dark as Hurricane Darcy arrived in full force.