In the time following Dulcie and Emma’s return to New York, Claire spends even more time gardening than usual, working until her knuckles are bleeding. She is in a foul mood for weeks and avoids giving Ali babysitting advice, talking about the lake, or even taking her shopping for summer clothes. She also refuses to drive Ali to the lake, stubbornly insisting Dulcie can pick her up and take her, and she rejects Pete’s idea to spend a few days at the lake, claiming the plants will wither without her attention. This behavior puts a strain on Claire’s relationships with her husband and daughter, resulting in a nasty argument with Ali.

The day of Ali’s departure, Claire stays in bed, blaming an intense migraine for not seeing her daughter off. They said their farewells in the bedroom, and Claire tells Ali she can leave the lake at any time, adding, “if anything scares you or worries you, call us” (20). Ali promises everything will be fine, but her mother, unwilling to be reassured, says, “You don’t know the terrible things that can happen, how quickly one’s life can change” (20). This comment confuses Ali, but Claire does not elaborate.