Ruby shares intimate moments with Ruth, which makes her feel special for recognizing his vulnerability.

May, on the other hand, treats Ruby worse and worse. On one occasion, they go to the market to buy apples, and May publicly humiliates Ruby for not being able to pay for his family’s food. After dinner that night, Ruby walks into Honey Creek, and Ruth assumes that he is going to watch a movie with Randall. Later that evening, Ruth hears sirens leading to the river. Ruth learns that Ruby jumped into a river, where he had to be rescued by paramedics. Ruth is distraught with fear for her husband, and May disingenuously tries to console her while driving them to the hospital. Ruth is irked when May pays the hospital bill, in part because she knows that May will make Ruby feel guilty about this later.

Ruth is promoted to the role of spotter at the Trim ‘N Tidy, which makes her feel self-conscious in the presence of May, who still works as a spotter. Aunt Sid continues to write to Ruth, who feels more distant from her aunt because she doesn’t have time to read with both her husband and her new role at work.