In the present, it’s been a week since Fern and Will almost kissed after canoeing. Fern thinks about the day they had gone record-shopping because she’s wanted Will for so long.

Fern agrees to let Jamie plan the end-of-summer dance. Will decides to stay two more weeks to continue helping Fern. Fern wants Will to help her make the decision about whether to keep the resort, but he won’t give input outside of a professional context. Will invites Fern to dinner at his place. It’s the first time they’ve planned to get together for nonbusiness reasons.

Fern is anxious about dinner. She wears a tight black dress to accentuate her body. Will greets her in an apron, which makes her swoon. He cooks delicious burgers. Fern asks how Will learned to cook. Will explains that he’s the acting father figure for his sister’s child. The three of them live together, and Will has worked very hard to provide a stable and loving life. The child’s father is not in the picture. Will says that he doesn’t spend a lot of time out of the house when he isn’t working, and that his friend got him the consultant job.