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Rev. Spencer enters and sits down at the kitchen table as Betty pours him a cup of coffee. She explains how she’s taken it upon herself to keep up Sarah’s flowerbeds as a neighborly gesture to the family in her memory. Rev. Spencer remarks warmly on her thoughtfulness. Betty confides that she’s concerned about Lou and that he’s becoming withdrawn. Rev. Spencer thinks that if Lou is out and about running errands or whatnot, it could be a good sign that he’s working his way through his period of mourning. Betty agrees, but expresses her concern that he’s yet to return to work despite the upheaval with his company. She’s afraid that neither Maggie or Steven are doing Lou any favors by hiding Alden Construction’s increased financial problems from him. Rev. Spencer reminds Betty that Lou is Maggie and Steven’s father and, ultimately, their responsibility and concern. “No matter how you might feel personally, it’s not your place to interfere with the family’s wishes.” Betty knows that he’s right, but still can’t ignore the feeling in her gut that things aren’t right.

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Maggie Alden stands at the kitchen counter gathering together supplies to take out for the family barbecue in the back yard. She pauses momentarily and thinks about how in years past she helped her late mother, Sarah Alden, perform the exact same tasks she’s now forced to do alone. Lost in her own thoughts, Maggie doesn’t hear her brother, Steven Alden, come up behind her. She’s startled when he puts his hand on her shoulder, but immediately laughs out of embarrassment. It is the first genuine laugh she’s experienced in quite a while and both she and Steven realize it and revel in it. The moment is quickly broken when their younger twin siblings, Andy and Amy, run through the kitchen and out the backdoor into the yard. For a brief moment it’s almost as if everything is exactly like it was before and none of them have much of a care in the world. Andy and Amy are out back playing the in the yard. Maggie can see their father, Lou Alden, through the window out by the barbecue. She and Steven are gathering up supplies for the picnic. Unfortunately, when Maggie sees her mother’s unused apron hanging on a hook by the stove (untouched since the car accident that claimed her life), it all comes crashing down around her and she crumples into her brother’s arms in heaving sobs. No, despite appearances, nothing is quite the same – and never will be again.

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Betty hurries to answer the loud banging on the back kitchen door and opens it to find a furious Maggie on the back step. Before Betty even has a chance to greet her, Maggie pushes her way into the house, nearly knocking Betty down in the process. As a result, Betty’s demeanor quickly changes as her last bit of cordialness slips away and she demands to know why Maggie feels the need to barge into her home. Maggie calmly (yet very coldly) responds by asking Betty if the twins were in her home gorging themselves on ice cream. Betty admits that the twins did stop by for a visit earlier before going off to play with some of their friends down the street. She also admits to treating them to ice cream cones. Maggie’s questions cause Betty to become concerned that the kids haven’t come home and she becomes worried about them. Maggie assures her that they’re both home and fine, but accuses Betty of interfering in her family’s lives. “I assure you, Mrs. Keys, that your meddlesome behavior is neither wanted nor needed and I don’t want you luring them over here again,” Maggie snaps. Although Betty attempts to set Maggie straight, Maggie turns on her heel and storms out of the house, only pausing long enough to turn back and warn Betty to stay away from her family. “And that goes double for that daughter of yours, too!”