Evvie Drake Starts Over

Dean takes Evvie to a practice field to learn how to throw the baseball. He gives her a glove that is black with pink laces. He shows her how to catch the ball and throw it back. Eventually he teaches her how to wind up and pitch. She hurls her first pitch straight into the ground.

Evvie continually talks to him about his ability to throw. She tells him she can learn the most by watching him. At her request, they go to the fence where he throws baseballs as hard as he can at a single spot. Dean accuses her of trying to get him to practice with hopes of getting back into the big leagues. Evvie asks him to participate in the annual minor league benefit game with the Claws. Dean agrees to consider the possibility.

The chapter begins with the discussion of how the towns of Calcasset and Freeport have a charity exhibition minor league baseball game every year. Each year they try to outdo one another. This year, Calcasset will have the biggest surprise of all, with a former major league pitcher as the surprise attraction. When Dean agrees to pitch, Evvie sends him a blue heart as a symbol of her gratitude.

The few people who know that Dean will pitch go out of their way to plan the event and keep the whole thing secret. Evvie hides champagne in her refrigerator to celebrate with after the game. They discuss his prospects of successfully completing one inning. Evvie is certain he will be great. Deane asks Evvie to sit behind the catcher in the grandstands so he can see her from the mound. He confesses he is nervous and, as she goes toward him to give him confidence, they end up having their first kiss. It is arousing and beautiful. Holmes describes the moment: “All she could think as she finally, finally kissed him was finally, finally. She crossed her wrists behind his head and felt his hands on her, his fingers digging into her hip bones. He made a surprised little noise, or maybe they both did” (167). When she says she forgot to give the go sign, he says he understood anyway.

Many friends and family are gathered for the game, only a few of whom know Dean is going to pitch for the Claws. Evvie sits with Lilly, Andy's younger daughter, and she compliments her on the braids in her hair. Lilly replies that Monica did it, and it's the best braiding that she's ever had.

The Claws lead 3 to 2 by the fourth inning. Dean takes the mound, having been introduced by the owner of the claws, Ginger Buckley. There is an uproar in the stands as people pull out their cell phones and take photographs and videos of Dean as he pitches. Dean proceeds to strike out the other side with 11 pitches. The crowd erupts wildly as he leaves the diamond. The catcher, Marco, runs out and chest bumps him. Evvie is ecstatic. She thinks, “I remember having good days” (174).

Evvie leans against Dean’s truck waiting. She tells him he did a wonderful job and something is waiting for him. At home, she produces a bottle of champagne she cooled. They hold a discussion in which they decide not to have sex. Evvie is reluctant because Tim was the only person she'd ever made love to.

Evvie takes a bowl of clam chowder to her father for lunch and reminisces with him. She discusses her mother Eileen leaving when she was eight and asks, as she has over the years, if she was responsible for Eileen deserting the family. Holmes shares an extensive backstory in which Frank took over raising Evvie when her mother left. There was minimal contact with Eileen, who wrote letters trying to explain why she felt the need to leave. The most important thing that happened to Evvie on her 10th birthday was her father telling her for the first time it was not her fault that her mother left. He promised her at the time that he would never leave her, and she vowed never to leave him either. She reflects on what's happening in her life, believing she is about to begin a love affair with Dean, and decides her life is a mixed bag.

Holmes carefully details the elaborate, all-day preparations Evvie enters into to get ready for her date with Dean. She secretly learned from Monica where to find sexy negligees and bought four different sets. She frets over every aspect of her appearance, wondering if she's invested too much concern or not enough.

Evvie goes online and looks at photos of some of the famous women Dean has dated. Measuring herself against them, Evvie determines this was a big mistake. She does not believe she measures up to them in her appearance. She is just opening a bottle of wine to take a drink when he comes through the door and asks her if she's ready to go.

They travel out of Calcasset to the Stafford Hotel, which has a restaurant. They order wine and begin to talk about their relationship. She asks him about the girls he dated before and whether a person who is a celebrity, once they become famous, can only date other famous people. She considers herself normal and wants to know if he has previously dated any normal people. Dean produces two hotel keys: a room for her and room for himself to give her the opportunity to decide whether she wants to sleep with him.

Evvie goes to her room, and Dean brings her suitcase up for her. She changes and quickly goes to his room across the hall. As they begin to kiss, Dean stops. Evvie realizes he is waiting for her to give him the “go signal.” Their actual lovemaking is not described in explicit detail. Holmes obliquely makes it clear afterward that Evvie experienced an orgasm, describing it in terms of a fine wine: “Hearty, with oaky undertones” (205).

Early in the morning, when they are still in bed, they discuss what their relationship will be going forward. They each confess they like the other very much but understand their obstacles: He is really a New Yorker, and she is really a small town girl in coastal Maine. They decide they want to be together, but they don't want people to know about their relationship.

There is a lot of teasing and playfulness as they go back and forth. She has given him a hickey, and he threatens to take a photograph of it and post it on social media.

On the ride home from the hotel, Evvie talks to Dean about her changed relationship with Andy. There is distance between them since he discovered she planned to leave Tim without telling Andy. Evvie describes the progression of her desire to leave. It culminated decisively after an occasion when Tim demeaned her during a gathering with other doctors. She says she is also frustrated that she cannot go back to her maiden name because it would upset her in-laws. Dean points out that she can do whatever she wants to do and asks if she's going to go for 50 years trying not to upset anyone.