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Ethan tells Mattie he will go buy glue the next day to fix Zeena's treasured broken china dish. The rest of their evening together progresses from awkward and tense to calm and relaxing. Ethan finds himself wishing desperately that his life was always like this. Mattie confesses to Ethan her worries that Zeena doesn't like her. Ethan say's he believe's Zeena likes her just fine. When the two of them are sitting at the table together, Ethan makes a sudden move as if to grab for Mattie's hand; she quickly moves her hand off the table. I think this gesture shows the reader that even though they love each other they don't want to betray Zeena (especially Mattie). The next day Zeena returns from staying at her aunt's house, she goes straight upstairs, because she is feeling even worse.