On her way across the lake, Linda slowly realizes that the Gardners’s house is darker than it should be. Without meaning to go there, she arrives at their doorstep, suddenly giddy over the idea of sneaking snacks from their kitchen. Though she’d hoped to be undiscovered, Patra is sitting in the darkened living room, wondering if Linda is there to collect her check from earlier that day; she also wonders, despite herself, if Linda has come across the lake to save them—“to row [them] all away somewhere” (174). Leo is up as well, and Patra turns on the light, making Linda feel exposed. 

Leo exclaims that Paul wants breakfast and begins making pancakes, although it is barely past eleven o’clock at night. Leo pays Linda, gently urging her to leave, but Patra clings to her, asking her to stay for breakfast. Patra is dazed, stroking the phone clenched in her hand and asking after Paul who is still in his room. Leo assures her he is fine, comforts her affectionately, and then asserts that they will have breakfast and “start tomorrow early” (177). Patra repeats after Leo and then sets her phone down.