Summer Romance

The next morning, Ali texts with Greer about the sleepover, but Greer only gives her curt responses. Ali spends the rest of the afternoon with Ethan preparing for her dad’s birthday party. On the phone, she mentions Ethan, and her dad says he’s happy for her and that she deserves to be happy.

The next night, Ali hosts a lively gathering for her dad. She’s happy to have everyone together.

Ali and Ethan take the kids to the park so that Ethan can teach Cliffy to skate. Greer is distant throughout, but Ali doesn’t press her about why she’s upset. Before leaving the park, Ali shows her kids what she learned about skating too. Then they go to the inn and take the canoe out to Pelican Island. Ali is moved when she sees Ethan engaging with Greer. He gives Ali some tips on relating to teens. They all spend a long time playing and hanging out on the island. When they return to shore, they run into Pete. The exchange is awkward but makes Ali realize how much she loves Ethan. On the way back, Ethan convinces Greer to help Ali develop her Instagram page.

Ali spends all her time with Ethan when she doesn’t have the kids. On her way to his house one day, her dad calls to tell her how much he likes Ethan and how happy he is for her. Ali is moved, as they never had this sort of intimacy before. At Ethan’s, Ali helps sort through more of his parents’ belongings. Frannie stops by, and she and Ethan talk about selling the house. Ali gets quiet when she learns he’s putting the house on the market in two weeks. She doesn’t tell him why she’s upset when they say goodbye.

Ethan returns to Devon for a few days to work on his case. He and Ali keep up via text in the interim. However, Ethan notices that Ali’s responses seem different. Ali ignores his questions and doesn’t tell him how she feels. In the car, she talks to Fancy. The summer is ending, and Ethan will soon return to Devon. She doesn’t know what to do or how to feel.

Ali loses sleep worrying about her and Ethan’s future. On Friday, Ethan calls and asks if she’s okay and why she’s so distant. He invites her to come spend the night, and she agrees. However, just 86 miles from Devon, Greer calls and begs her to come pick her up. Ali turns the car around since her daughter needs her.

Ali talks to Fancy throughout the remainder of her drive. She still feels frustrated with her mom for trying to control her life and bursts into tears. Greer notices she’s been crying when she picks her up. Ali then takes her out for food, and they have a heart-to-heart. Greer reveals that her friends are ignoring her and that she’s upset about Pete. She doesn’t like spending time with him and has realized how much he hurt Ali. She blames Ali for teaching her to be silent to deal with her pain.

She then reveals that she’s uncomfortable with Ali dating Ethan because she’s afraid Ali will disappear again like she did after Fancy’s death and Pete’s abandonment. Ali encourages Greer and talks openly with her. While watching a movie together later, she realizes how much she has failed her daughters by refusing to stand up for herself. Later, she and Ethan talk on the phone, and Ali ends the relationship. She insists it’ll never work between them because she can’t move and Ethan doesn’t want to. He begs her not to break up with him, but Ali is resolute.

Ali and the kids visit her dad and Libby on Sunday. Her dad immediately notices that she’s upset. That evening, she tries to have fun with her kids to feel better. On Monday, Ali visits the diner. Frannie says Ethan is coming back from Devon to deal with the house. Meanwhile, they’re all trying to decide the fate of the inn.

Nine days later, a For Sale sign appears in front of Ethan’s house. Ali is beside herself when she visits Frannie. Frannie encourages her to reconnect with Ethan, saying he wants to talk to her and that Ali and Ethan are good together. Frannie and Ali have a long conversation about Ethan’s complex relationship with his family and Beechwood. A text from Phyllis interrupts their conversation. Ali speeds home. Phyllis asks Ali to help her into bed. She knows she’s dying but doesn’t want medical intervention. Ali contacts Phyllis’s daughters and climbs in bed next to her. Phyllis thanks Ali for her friendship and encourages her to embrace the life she has.

Ali gives the eulogy at Phyllis’s funeral. As she talks, she notices Ethan and thinks about their relationship. Suddenly, she realizes she’s made a terrible mistake.

After the service, Ali wants to find Ethan, but Greer asks her to come into the church with her first. She tells Ali she’s sorry about what she said about Ethan and assures her it’s okay if they date.

Ali races around town in search of Ethan. She finally finds him on the widow’s walk at the inn. Ali admits that she was wrong and tells Ethan she loves him. He reciprocates the sentiment and reveals that he’s moving to Beechwood. He gave his parents’ house to the town as a place for kids aging out of the system. He has realized that he doesn’t belong in Devon anymore because he belongs with Ali. She’s overwhelmed with happiness, and they embrace.

Ali and Ethan join the other guests in the reception hall. Afterward, Ali’s kids tell her they want Ethan to take her on a date the next evening.

Ali and Ethan go on their third official date. The next morning, they wake up to a clean, quiet house and lie in bed together. Ali gets a text from Phyllis’s daughters, and she and Ethan go next door to help them clean out Phyllis’s house. That afternoon, Ethan tells Ali he wants to buy Phyllis’s house. Ali loves the idea.

In October, Ethan moves into Phyllis’s house. He has been establishing himself in Beechwood and continues to visit Devon once a week to see his skate kids. In the meantime, he, Ali, and the kids fall into a rhythm. While eating dinner in the yard one night, they decide to remove the fence between their properties. Frannie and Ethan’s parents call, announcing that they’re moving back to Beechwood and taking over the inn apartment. They need a new inn manager, and Ali volunteers for the job.

After the kids go to bed, Ali and Ethan sit together, discussing the future. Ethan gives Ali a heart charm for her bracelet and she feels overwhelmed with happiness.