Summary

Laurel calls Floyd and they go on their first date. She finds herself gliding into unfamiliar territory as she gets ready to meet up with him. She admonishes herself for having aged as she tries to apply makeup. They spend the evening getting to know each other and their families. Floyd tells Laurel that Poppy’s mother was a fling that went too far, resulting in her dumping Poppy on his doorstep and disappearing completely. Laurel begins to feel as though their meeting was fated and that they are meant to fill the gaps that have grown in each others’ lives.

Laurel is truly happy for the first time since Ellie's disappearance as she goes home afterward and runs a Google search on Floyd. Laurel learns that Floyd is an accomplished author of several books about number theory and mathematical physics. She feels...