- That Saturday, her dad comes home from the hospital, and Wren comes home from school.
- Wren talks a lot about school, but doesn't say anything about their dad until she asks if they should call and give Grandma the deets.
- Cath says no, thinking they should give him a couple of days and see how he does.
- Wren wants to go out drinking with all their high school friends, but Cath says—wait for it—no.
- Mr. Avery goes back to work after a week, and starts exercising the week after that; when he starts exercising, Cath knows he's off his meds and trying to control the mania in another way.
- Wren comes home from a party one morning (as in, the morning after) and asks Cath to make her an omelet, because somehow she can eat eggs with a hangover.
- The next day is Christmas Eve, and Wren asks Cath if she thinks they should call Grandma yet; Cath says Christmas Eve is when you're supposed to call your grandma.
- She asks Wren what she should make for Christmas Eve dinner, and Wren says she won't be there—she's going to Laura's.
- A giant fight ensues. Wren can't believe Cath's making her go alone; Cath can't believe Wren's going.
- On Christmas Eve, Cath and Wren watch Simon Snow movies with their dad, eating popcorn, tamales, and lasagna made with spaghetti noodles.
- Laura texts Wren that evening from outside the house. No coming to the door, obvs.
- Wren leaves, Cath and her dad make bipolar jokes, and Cath contemplates how she'll never have Levi.
- On Christmas day, they open presents with their dad: gloves from Cath to Wren, (non-Simon Snow) tee-shirts from Wren to Cath, and gift cards from their dad and grandma.
- Last but not least, Cath opens a small silver box with a gift tag that says Cather. It's from Laura, of course.
- It's a necklace with Cath's birthstone; Wren's wearing the matching one.
- Cath drops the box and runs to her room.
- Cath remembers how everyone always told Laura she was too young to have kids, and Laura said she felt too young.
- Wren and Cath decided early on that if their parents split up, they'd stay with their dad—he liked them more, and he needed them more.
- Of course, Laura bailed on all of them, so it wasn't a choice in the end.
- Cath sits in her room and cries; she is tired of crying.