Same As It Ever Was: A Novel

In the present timeline, Julia goes to Ben’s apartment. He’s preparing to move into a new apartment with his fiancée, Sunny. Julia takes him to Target to buy things for the new apartment. There, he asks her if he should invite Anita, Julia’s mother, to the wedding. When Julia says she thinks it would be a bad idea, they argue.

Later, while Julia sits in her car outside Helen’s house, she gets a call from Alma, who has been accepted into Herzog College in Iowa. As Julia begins to turn the car around to leave and return home, Helen comes outside and sees her.

In the past timeline, after Helen returns from Florida, Julia and Ben are at her house. Helen tells Julia that Nathaniel seems happier after their time together.

Later, Francine, the wife of Mark’s best friend, Brady, comes over with her friend, Monica and their children. Nathaniel knocks on the door. Julia goes outside and tells him to leave. Before leaving, he kisses Julia, and Francine sees them. Francine tells Julia that she won’t tell anyone about it.