Beautiful Ugly

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child death and substance use.

Grady takes a drive to Orphans Footpath. The trail is closed, but he takes Columbo down the path anyway. At the end of the trail, he runs into Reverend Melody, who tells him the story of the Orphans. After she leaves, Grady sits and reflects on his life since Abby’s disappearance. On his way back, he gets lost in the mist and can’t find Columbo. Finally, Columbo appears.

Back at the cabin, Grady finds an envelope on the desk. It contains an article Abby wrote about the #MeToo movement and women’s protests in London. Upset by the story, Grady is convinced something happened to Abby.

En route to the post office the next morning, Grady tells himself he can leave Amberly once Kitty approves his draft. He reflects on his career, nostalgic for when women showed him attention. He remembers the difficult start of his career and the time he almost slept with a fan to quell his disappointment over a failed book launch. However, he recalls, Abby showed up at his hotel, and they spent the night talking and having sex.