Jamie returns to Harlow after his father dies in 2003. He observes how much the town has grown in his absence while also taking note of the things that have remained the same. Arriving at his old house, Jamie is filled with dread when he has a vision of his first car, which contains old novels gifted to him by his mother. In the dining room of the house, he does not find Terry, who still lives there, but his dead family members—Dick, Laura, Andy, and Claire—all in various states of decay. On the dining table is a moldy birthday cake, which breaks apart when a large ant climbs out of it. Patsy and Morrie Jacobs join them. All of them sing the words “Something happened…TO YOU!” to the tune of “Happy Birthday” (211). Jamie screams.

The encounter with the dead is revealed to be Jamie’s recurring nightmare. While Andy is still alive, Jamie uses the knowledge he gleans from his dream to warn Andy about his death from prostate cancer. Andy dismisses the warning, though he eventually gets screened for prostate cancer and has an operation. He dies a few years later of a stroke.

In 2008, Jamie wakes up from the dream, sensing something female and malevolent waiting for him.