Lori learns from her mother that her father is in hospital, after a seizure. He has a serious bacterial infection that has spread through his system. Lori is 10 minutes late for her session with Charlotte, who is waiting anxiously, which reminds Lori of a situation when Wendell was late for a session and she panicked. Charlotte tells her she is “going to take a break from therapy” (649).

Meanwhile, a swarm of bees congregates in front of the window, almost darkening the room, which breaks Lori’s concentration: “Are these bees a sign, an omen?” (650). Lori ponders Charlotte’s wish to leave, thinking she is far from ready to take life in her own hands: She still has a fear of serious relationships and even refuses to talk about the one real relationship she had. She has a problem with determining when to say “yes” and when to say “no” and mean it. She admits to having had casual sex with her neighbor, and that she feels ashamed, but Lori tells her “the stages of change are such that you don’t drop all of your defenses at the same time” (658).