Love, Aubrey

February comes around, and Gram tells Aubrey she’s going to Virginia for a week to check on Mom. She’s planned the trip around Aubrey’s week-long school break and has arranged for Aubrey to stay with Bridget’s family. When the day of Gram’s departure comes around, she reminds Aubrey to take care of Sammy and Martha; Aubrey promises she will.

Aubrey enjoys her time at Bridget’s house, which keeps her busy enough that she manages not to think about Mom and Gram so much. One afternoon, the girls are playing in the basement with Mabel when Mabel asks if they want to play makeup. The girls have been making costumes for a play they want to put on, and Bridget tells Mabel they can do makeup later—Mabel can go practice for now. Mabel agrees and heads upstairs, and Bridget and Aubrey return to their costumes. 

An hour later, Bridget and Aubrey finish their costumes. They’re upstairs having a snack when Bridget’s mom asks if they’ve seen Mabel. They haven’t, and Bridget’s mom goes to the upper floor to look for the little girl. She returns a short while later, holding Mabel’s hand. In her other hand, there’s a mostly empty bottle of cough syrup—Mabel has drunk all of it. Bridget looks worried and goes off to get Bridget’s dad. When they return, Dad orders the girls to get their coats and shoes on—they’re going to the doctor. Mabel, still wearing her costume fairy wings, starts to cry. 

On the drive to the hospital, Mabel vomits on Aubrey’s jeans. Bridget looks worried—and very scared. Bridget’s dad speeds to the hospital, dropping Mabel and Bridget’s mom out front while he and the girls park. The moment Aubrey steps inside the hospital and smells its distinct smell, she runs to the bathroom and vomits. She tries to get it together, reminding herself that Bridget needs her.

Aubrey returns to the waiting room, where she finds Bridget sitting with Danny on her lap. Bridget’s mom and Bridget’s dad are gone. Aubrey looks around the room at all the other sad, worried faces. Bridget asks if she’s okay, and Aubrey says yes. When she asks the same of Bridget, Bridget just shrugs. She looks worried.

Aubrey has a flashback to waking up in the hospital after the accident. She’s surrounded by machines. The room smells funny. A woman enters the room, and Aubrey asks to see Dad, but the woman doesn’t answer her. When Aubrey asks for Savannah, the woman urges her to sleep. Aubrey starts to panic, and the woman rushes to the bed, adjusting some of the knobs on Aubrey’s IV bag. Aubrey loses consciousness. 

Danny’s cry returns Aubrey to the present moment. She scoops him up and wanders up and down the hallway. She wonders if he needs a diaper change, but they didn’t pack a baby bag. Not knowing what else to do, she finds a vending machine and buys some snacks. She offers them to Bridget, who immediately starts to cry. Aubrey drifts off. She’s roused from sleep by Bridget’s dad. He looks “tired but happy”—Mabel is going to be okay. Not long after, a nurse wheels Mabel into the waiting room in a wheelchair. Bridget’s mom follows, looking relieved. 

Back home, Bridget snuggles with Mabel on the couch as the family watches a movie together. Aubrey doesn’t feel like hanging out with them and walks to the kitchen. When Bridget’s mom wanders in to start dinner, she is shocked to find Aubrey there, sitting in the dark. Aubrey explains that she wanted everyone to have family time “together alone.” Without a word, Bridget’s mom sits at the table beside Aubrey. “You are part of this family,” she assures her. Aubrey nods and returns to “[her] place on the couch.” 

Later that night, Aubrey and Bridget snuggle in bed together. Bridget confides in Aubrey that she was so scared today. She says, “You must miss Savannah so much,” and Aubrey admits that she does. Later, Aubrey writes a letter to Savannah expressing how much she misses her and how sad she is that she won’t get to see Savannah grow up. She also says that since coming to Gram’s, she’s started to realize that her memories of Savannah aren’t a bad thing, after all.