Lily spends the early days of August reflecting on what she has learned. Although her heart feels like ice, her head considers why it's so hard for people to forgive. She varies between being angry at her mother for leaving and pondering what she now knows about her. Lily realizes that wallowing in her grief was a tool she used to make her special. It forced everyone to tiptoe around her.
June and Neil set the date for their wedding: October 10. Everyone busily works on cakes, dresses, and themes. June regrets not saying "yes" sooner so May could be there, but August reminds her that regrets don't help.
Everyone seems to be healing. Rosaleen buys a new dress and she is going to register to vote, only this time at a black high school. Everyone goes with Rosaleen to the high school except Lily, who ends up regretting that she didn't go so she could tell Rosaleen how proud she was. Zach calls with the news that he is going to the white high school in the fall, although they both assume Lily will end up going back to T. Ray. That night, Rosaleen reminds everyone she can now vote, and Lily impulsively hugs her and tells her she loves her.
Lily cleans house. Not only does she thoroughly clean the honey house, but she also throws out some of her old things. She puts her mother's items out on display and decides that no one is perfect.
