Bye, Baby

Cassie has avoided social media for two weeks and is aware she has neglected her work. Despite knowing the abduction was not related to Wade’s death, she cannot relax until she knows the identity of the kidnapper. Meeting with the managers of her stores, Cassie delegates all responsibilities to them.

Cassie meets McKay, who reveals that she has spoken to Detective Barringer. Barringer revealed that Billie’s boss lives in the apartment below Cassie’s. Furthermore, Billie was supposed to feed Jane’s cat on the night of the party. McKay points out that Billie failed to mention these details to Cassie.

Billie buys tickets to see the Zac Brown Band at Madison Square Garden to compensate for missing the Comedy Cellar event with Alex. She feels happy as she is in love with Alex and has restored her friendship with Cassie. Alex has made no further progress in investigating the case, and her guilt over kidnapping Ella is fading.

Billie dresses in a country-style outfit for the gig, and Alex takes a hat from her closet to complete the look. Billie had forgotten about the hat she took from Jane’s apartment. Secretly horrified, she wears it, afraid of drawing attention to her guilt.

After the concert, Billie and Alex bump into Jane and Sasha. Billie initially denies that she is wearing Jane’s hat until her boss shows her the monogrammed initials inside. Sasha recalls seeing the hat in their apartment just before they left for Iceland. Oblivious to Billie’s crime, she innocently asks how Billie borrowed the hat when she did not stop by to feed Willie Nelson. Billie cannot look at Alex, knowing he must realize her guilt.

Cassie finally meets Grant Adler, who is from old money and is also McKay’s cousin. When Cassie invites Billie to a party, she takes Jane, whom she has recently started working with. When Billie walks into the party, she sees McKay with her arms around Cassie and senses that everything has changed. Jane goes to the bar and, when she returns, explains that she has just encountered “the sleaziest old client” (305). She reveals that Grant hit on her two years earlier while she was arranging a trip for him and his fiancée, and he just tried to do the same again. Jane is shocked to learn that Grant is Cassie’s boyfriend. She advises Billie to warn Cassie about his behavior.

Billie goes to see Cassie the following day and reluctantly tells her about Jane’s experience with Grant. Cassie accuses Billie of not wanting her to be happy. Billie suggests that Cassie is “a gold digger” who refuses to acknowledge the truth because Grant has a trust fund (309). When Cassie orders her to leave, Billie panics, realizing she has ruined their friendship.

Cassie packs for St. Barts and tells Grant about McKay’s suspicion of Billie. She says she always trusted Billie even when they were not close. Grant points out that the dynamics of a relationship can change over the years. Cassie resolves to confront Billie at the airport before they go to St. Barts.

Alex has not returned Billie’s calls since their encounter with Jane and Sasha. After Billie admitted the truth to Alex, he walked away, declaring he did not want to see her again. On the way to the airport, Billie reflects that Alex may have told Cassie the truth about Ella’s abduction.

Cassie confronts Billie in the airport, asking if she was supposed to feed Jane’s cat on the night of the party. Billie confesses to taking Ella, apologizing and describing her devastation when she realized Cassie had excluded her from a birthday party. Cassie laughs hysterically, calling Billie a “pathetic, demented child” (316). Billie thinks of how Cassie killed Wade to protect her and then remembers Wade’s words before he died. She realizes that Cassie shoved Wade in anger because he said she would never escape Red Hook. Cassie walks away without revealing whether she intends to report Billie to the police. Numb, Billie sits in the airport and watches Cassie’s plane take off.

Several weeks after their fight, Cassie and Billie smooth over their differences. Cassie reveals that Grant admitted flirting with Jane when he was with his previous fiancée but claimed he would never do the same to Cassie. Nevertheless, Cassie returns Billie’s calls less frequently. Now engaged to Grant, Cassie quits her job and opens a clothing boutique, funded by Grant. She also starts posting on Instagram and acquiring followers. Billie receives an invitation to Cassie and Grant’s wedding but is not invited to be maid of honor. On the wedding day, Billie cries as she watches McKay walk down the aisle.

In St. Barts, Cassie feels overwhelming love for her daughter and husband. She is also grateful for McKay’s loyalty, telling herself that her priorities became confused when she turned to Billie. Grant notes that Cassie does not bring the baby monitor out on the terrace—a sign that she is no longer afraid. Cassie says she does not want to see Billie again but does not intend to press charges against her.

Cassie thinks about the trauma Billie suffered during her childhood and of her own treatment of her friend over the years. She tells Grant about their childhood friendship, omitting her role in Wade’s death. Cassie realizes she never has to think about Wade again now that she is no longer in touch with Billie.

Later, Cassie opens her Instagram account for the first time in two weeks. She records and posts a video apologizing for her absence due to a family emergency. The effusive replies she receives immediately exhilarate her. As a storm gathers on the horizon, Cassie remains glued to the responses flooding her Instagram account.

Jane goes ahead with Billie’s proposal, adding a charitable aspect to her company’s services. When they return from a Cuban business trip, Billie anticipates being charged for Ella’s kidnapping but hears nothing. Observing Billie’s anxiety, Jane insists she should talk to Alex to find out if the case is still ongoing. She instructs the cab to drop Billie off at Alex’s address.

Billie and Alex walk toward the river and talk. Alex says Billie’s admission of the truth when he confronted her gave him hope, and he has considered calling her. He reveals he has spoken to Cassie, who confirmed she does not intend to press charges. Cassie also asked Alex to tell Billie they are now “even.” Billie feels at peace with this news. She admits to Alex that she loves him but does not want children. Alex replies that becoming a father is not essential to him and reaches for her hand.