This Summer Will be Different

Farah and Lucy converse at In Bloom the day after Bridget’s departure. Farah asks if Lucy trusts her to handle the business while Lucy is away. Lucy is surprised because she assumed that Farah already knew Lucy’s high opinion of her. Lucy reassures Farah of her trust.

Farah gently tells Lucy that she is a “micromanager” and requests that she provide Farah with more “room to grow” (296). Though Lucy is stung by the comment, she agrees with Farah and thinks that she also could use some room to grow.

Felix and Lucy don’t speak for three months after their last night together. During that time, Lucy takes on fewer hours at the shop, using her newfound free time to rekindle old friendships and cultivate her hobbies. When she feels ready to reach out to Felix again, she sends him a packet of forget-me-not seeds. In return, Felix sends her a copy of The Secret Garden, resuming their old ritual in reverse. They begin texting and calling one another frequently and cook together via FaceTime once a week. Though Lucy loves their dates, she doesn’t feel like they are enough.

In January, Bridget FaceTimes Lucy with several pieces of important news.