Chapter 9: Cam
Contains spoilersOverview
On Saturday morning at Gus's house, Camille Ashwood wakes to a gentle intervention from Emmy, Teddy, and Ada urging her to plan next steps after the failed wedding. They propose finding a home for Camille and Riley and target the beloved Wilson house that just went up for rent. Leveraging local connections, they secure a same-day viewing and assign Ada to coordinate retrieving Camille’s belongings from Graham’s house and to contact him on Camille’s behalf.
Summary
Camille Ashwood woke in Gus’s kitchen to find Emmy, Teddy, and Ada waiting with coffee and pancakes. Emmy, unusually cheerful, carefully told Cam it was time to think about what came next since Cam had been staying at Gus’s for a week. Teddy added that while they loved hosting Cam, it was time to re-establish routine and boundaries, joking about needing privacy with Gus. Cam agreed that routine would help both her and her daughter, Riley.
Teddy said they had a plan, and Ada presented a curated list of Meadowlark homes for sale or rent, prioritized by size, cost, and proximity to Rebel Blue. Cam fixated on the blue Craftsman-style Wilson house, which had just gone up for rent after Anne Wilson moved to a care facility. The house held personal history for Cam and Dusty Tucker from their high school hiking days, and Cam recalled Dusty’s kindness to Anne and others.
Ada warned there was heavy interest in the property, but Teddy noted they had an advantage: the vetting agent was Ed Wyatt, brother of Kenny Wyatt, Emmy’s old homecoming date. When Cam confirmed this was the house she wanted, Teddy pushed to secure it. Teddy grabbed Emmy’s phone, found Kenny’s number, and placed a call, despite Emmy’s protests and teasing about past high school drama.
On the call, Emmy asked Kenny to put in a good word for Cam with Ed. After an awkward start, Kenny agreed to contact his brother and text an update. Following the call, Teddy pivoted to logistics for retrieving Cam’s belongings from Graham’s house, while Ada confirmed she had already emailed interest in the property on Cam’s behalf.
When asked if she had spoken to Graham, Cam admitted she had not and had been ignoring calls from her parents. Emmy offered to handle it, but Cam entrusted Ada to reach out to Graham and to manage the move quietly. Cam reflected that Ada’s gentle approach suited her need to avoid confrontation.
Moments later, Emmy received Kenny’s text: they could tour the Wilson house at four o’clock that day. Teddy quipped that Kenny’s soft spot for Emmy remained, and the friends closed ranks around Cam’s plan to secure a new home and reclaim her things.
Who Appears
- Camille "Cam" Ashwood
protagonist; agrees to seek a new home for herself and Riley, chooses the Wilson house, asks Ada to contact Graham and manage retrieving her belongings.
- Emmy Ryder
friend; initiates the conversation about next steps, calls Kenny Wyatt to leverage a connection, secures a same-day viewing.
- Teddy Andersen
friend and Gus’s fiancée; pushes for routine and boundaries, drives the plan to obtain the Wilson house, jokes about needing privacy.
- Ada
friend (partner of Wes); compiles housing options, emails interest to the agent, volunteers to contact Graham and coordinate Cam’s move.
- Kenny Wyatt
Emmy’s former homecoming date; agrees to put in a good word with his brother and helps secure an afternoon viewing.
- Ed Wyatt
real estate agent; vetting tenants for Anne Wilson’s house; discussed as the gatekeeper for the rental.
- Anne Wilson
elderly Meadowlark resident; former owner/occupant of the Wilson house, now in a care facility; discussed as context for the property.
- Graham
Cam’s ex-groom; not present, but discussed as the person from whose house Cam needs to retrieve belongings; Ada will contact him.
- Gus Ryder
host; not active in-scene, but his house is where Cam has been staying; mentioned.
- Riley
Cam’s daughter; mentioned as a key reason to stay in Meadowlark and reestablish routine.
- Dusty Tucker
friend/love interest; not present, but remembered for past kindness to Anne and others, tying Cam’s memories to the Wilson house.
- Wes
Ada’s partner; mentioned in relation to Ada’s move to Meadowlark and past renovation work.