Time accelerates for Kate as she becomes immersed in her bookshop job, enjoying tasks like sorting through donated books and operating the label gun.
Most books sold are routine romance novels, but occasionally she comes across valuable first editions, which are displayed in the shop window.
Kate and her boss Emily establish a warm routine, with Emily often bringing Kate tea and biscuits and chatting about personal matters, like her husband and her life in Crows Beck.
Kate finds a connection with Emily's cat, perhaps reflecting a deeper sense of kinship with Emily herself.
As Kate is pregnant and due in December, she begins to consider names for her child, such as Holly or Robyn, but has yet to settle on one.
She experiences her baby kicking for the first time in early autumn, an event that deeply affects her.
By November, she has changed physically and now wears Aunt Violet's looser clothing and no longer manages her unruly hair.
During Bonfire Night, Kate and Emily discuss Kate's lack of contact with Simon, the baby's father; Kate implies it is for the best, as Simon was not a good person.
Emily offers emotional support and assures Kate that she's there for her, hinting at a deepening friendship.
Kate reflects on her past life, including a wedding she attended, where she felt controlled by Simon, and the gradual loss of contact with her old friends.
Emily shares a personal story about her own stillborn child, which resonates with Kate's feeling about her own circumstances and the anticipation of motherhood.
Following Emily's departure, Kate acts with determination to not repeat past mistakes and symbolically burns the clothes associated with her former life.
In December, as the snow falls, Kate often observes the natural beauty around her, including a robin that captivates her and her unborn daughter.
Kate has integrated well into life in the village and the routine of the bookshop and garden, though occasionally reminders of her old life, such as late-night phone calls, induce anxiety.
Despite fears associated with her old life, Kate finds some peace in her new environment, and the locals are slowly accepting her presence.
Her life is punctuated by an intriguing discovery when Emily presents her with a box labeled "Orton Hall," suggesting a connection to Kate and possibly containing items that belong to her or have significance to her family history.