After the Givingses leave, Frank pours himself a drink, and he and April begin fighting again. He says to April, “I wish to God you’d done it” (293), goes into the bedroom, and slams the door. He drinks and waits. He thinks he hears April go outside and follows her. She is walking up the hill out back. When he tries to follow her, April threatens to scream. Frank doesn’t want to draw attention, so he goes back inside. April stays out until dark. When she comes back inside, she walks past Frank and sleeps on the couch.

In the morning, Frank awakens to find April has made breakfast. She is very sweet and loving. She listens to Frank try to explain how a computer works. After breakfast, she kisses him goodbye and stays at the door until he disappears down the road.

April watches Frank drive away before going back inside. She calls Milly to ask her to watch the kids a little longer. She then finds all her failed attempts to write a letter to Frank from the night before. There is so much anger in them. She takes them and the wastebasket outside and burns all the letters.