It Happened One Summer

Brendan sets out on his morning routine. He likes routines and consistency. As a sea captain, predictability is important to him. He’s aggravated, though, that he can’t get Piper out of his mind. He’s surprised—and aggravated again—to find Piper in the supermarket early in the morning, asking her phone what she can make for an easy dinner.

Brendan is struck by Piper’s beauty and continues to be irritated by his attraction to her. Responding to his surliness, Piper challenges him that he’s not being a very good representative of Westport given that he’s so protective of it. Feeling guilty, Brendan tells her there is a memorial to her father in the harbor. He says that Henry belonged to Westport, and they take care of their own.

Piper confesses that she doesn’t remember much about her father, and Brendan starts to revise his first impression of her: “Was she actually an overindulged brat from the land of make believe?” (54). If she’s in the store to buy ingredients to make a meal for her sister, maybe she’s not as selfish as he thought. He puts ingredients in her basket and tells her how to cook them, but when she gets frustrated with him, Piper shouts that she feels sorry for his wife.