Annie accompanies Lonnie to Charleston. He is terribly nervous about his presentation, but his mother encourages him. She doesn’t attend the meeting. Instead, she visits her childhood home and goes to her daughter’s house. She spoke to Sarah by phone days earlier and assumes a surprise visit will be welcome, even though Sarah cautions her to go slow. Annie is 70 and has grown impatient. When she knocks, the maid informs her that Sarah is at Molly’s house: The two sisters live only a block apart. Annie isn’t ready to deal with the combative Molly, so she asks for a drink of water and sits on the porch steps. A little girl comes outside. Annie is surprised to learn that the girl is her granddaughter, but the girl declares that her mother said that her grandmother was dead. Annie departs in a hurry and rejoins Lonnie. He is overjoyed that the store has ordered 100 shirts.

After arranging all her belongings, Gertrude carries some of them to her brother’s house. Her daughters are happy to see her. Berns is worried that Alvin will pursue his wife, but Gertrude says that he’s gone for good. She does not mention that she killed him.