Chapter 17 - 23 Summary

Emma and Dexter are now engaged. Emma is proud of Dexter, and proud to have him meet her family. They holiday at a cottage in North Yorkshire, where Dexter begins working on his wedding vows.

Dexter realizes he is slowly getting old, between more hair on his face and gray hairs on his head. He is also gaining some weight. He and Emma are trying to have a baby. They also take opposing points of view on the Iraq War. Emma is to the left politically, while Dexter is to the right. Dexter is also much more apathetic toward politics, while Emma is enmeshed in them. Dexter is unhappy as well at the thought of turning forty in two weeks. They agree to meet later to view a house. In a rainstorm, riding her bike to the address, Emma is killed...