When Kay and Harry talk on the telephone later that day, she tells him that she wishes she had accepted his offer to spend the night at his house. He understands that this is not because she should not have driven impaired. He finds himself answering, in response to her admission, that there has been an emergency back home on the island, requiring him to return for a few days. As if her confession entitles her, she wants to know the details of the emergency. He mumbles that an old friend is gravely ill, says that the family has asked him to return. Although he has already arranged with a worker to care for the birds, Kay insists on keeping them herself and on driving him to the airport.
On the way Kay is silent, her face draining of color as Harry is obliged to explain further his relationship to this friend, the woman who had visited him in the summer, and to whose side he is so suddenly rushing. Harry suspects that Kay is congratulating herself on her astuteness in refusing his offer to spend the night at his house.
Curbside on the departure level, he can think of nothing appropriate to say. He leans his body toward her and embraces her briefly, but Kay holds herself stiffly. No words pass between them. He busies himself arranging his luggage on his shoulder, taking his ticket from his jacket’s inner pocket. Picking up his other bag, he turns and walks slowly toward the terminal.