Wally leaves the hospital without meeting Fern, and Rose heads to Target to buy the baby clothes. Fern has a small window in which to act. She takes the baby—whom she feels is a Willow, not an Alice—and goes off to the library in a cab. She doesn’t have a plan except to call Wally once she is in the secret room. However, her cell phone has no reception. Carmel finds Fern in the secret room, and Fern apprises her of the situation. She has changed her mind about giving Willow to Rose. Carmel understands since “I too have a sister” (267). Carmel quickly escorts Fern to a spot where there is better connectivity, but police show up at the library. Policewomen surround a panicked Fern asking her to give up the baby. Rose turns up too and tries to snatch the baby from Fern.

Police hold off Rose and escort Fern and Willow to the hospital. They take Willow to the pediatric wing while Fern is examined in the psych ward. A psychiatrist and a police detective called Brookes visit her, probably because she is being charged with kidnapping. Detective Brookes asks Fern about her bracelet and her relationship with Rose.