This chapter begins by alternating the perspectives of the former lovers during the next morning. It begins with Allie, who had slept in Noah's shirt, and after a restless night, spent the early morning remembering special times from their summer together. Her thoughts turn to Noah and the present, wondering if he too was enjoying the coming of dawn.
And he is. Noah wakes early and takes a kayak up the river, allowing his time on the river to refresh both his body and his mind. He spends most of his time on the river contemplating why Allie had come to visit him. Noah returns home after spending two hours on the river, chops wood, and gets ready for Allie's arrival.
Switching back to Allie, the narration returns to her morning. She spends her time wandering downtown and thinking about Lon. She finds an art gallery, though she is unimpressed with most of the work. After leaving the gallery, she goes to a department store to purchase some art supplies — paper, chalk, and pencils — and spends the remainder of the morning rediscovering her talent. On her way out of the hotel, the manager stops Allie to tell her that Lon had called four times the previous evening. Allie is momentarily concerned about the importance of the repeated calls but rationalizes that she cannot reach him now because he is in court and leaves to meet Noah, entirely dismissing the missed calls, and not knowing or caring that two minutes after she leaves Lon attempts once again to reach her.
