Summary

In the final chapter of the novel, the narrative shifts back to the 3rd person narrator. Eddie flew to Shreveport because he feared that Darlene would die, or worse, die alone. Darlene shared a hospital room with a high-school athlete who also went through heart surgery. Eddie was pleased to see that Darlene had gotten dental implants. Darlene asked Eddie when she would be able to see Nat, because she will not be around forever.

Eddie decided to let her come to his home the next month and pay for her airfare. Then, Darlene realized that her five-step program was similar to her success book but better. She told Eddie a story (that she often daydreamed about) about her and Sirius looking up at the stars when they were picking citrus fruit at Delicious Farms. She then recalled when Sirius stated that the...