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Summary: Part 6

The Sun’s special nourishment heals Josie, and she grows up into a healthy young adult; she does well in her studies and chooses where she wants to go to college. In the time leading up to her departure, she goes on trips to meet friends and often has them stay in her room. Rick does not go to college—instead, he buys an old car and fixes it up, driving into the city to hang out with his new friends. Josie and Rick grow apart as they age.

Rick drives over one day and talks to Klara while Josie and the Mother are out. He asks her about the trips to Mr McBain’s barn, wondering if she was in fact behind Josie’s miraculous recovery. Klara refuses to reveal much, afraid that the Sun will rescind his help and Josie will get sick again if she tells Rick the truth, and Rick understands. She tells Rick that she is anxious watching him and Josie drift apart, and he tells her that although they are both leading separate lives, a part of them will always love each other. Klara wonders if Josie and Rick will find each other again like Coffee Cup woman and the Raincoat Man.

Read more about Klara’s observations about love.

Josie’s friends begin sleeping over and Klara moves from Josie’s room to the Utility Room, understanding that she is no longer needed in the house as she once was. One day, Josie finds Klara in the Utility Room and builds her a makeshift step ladder up to a small window in the room so Klara can look out onto the landscape.

Mr Capaldi comes to visit one day, and Klara comes down to meet him at the Mother’s request. He offers her a chance to serve him as part of an experiment to better understand AFs and the Mother refuses on Klara’s behalf, claiming that Klara deserves her slow fade. The Mother grows angry at Mr Capaldi for asking, and he leaves after wondering aloud why the Mother is so mad at him all the time when she was the one who originally came to him, asking for his help. 

On the morning Josie leaves for college, Josie holds Klara in a tight embrace. She says that Klara has been wonderful, and alludes to the fact that she might not be there the next time Josie comes back. Klara thanks Josie for choosing her, and they say goodbye. 

Klara lives out the rest of her days in a place that she calls the Yard. She can no longer move her body, but enjoys sitting where she is and going back over her memories. One day, she sees Manager come into the Yard. Manager recognizes her and Klara is filled with joy at seeing her again. Manager is happy to see her too, and Klara tells her a bit about how her life with Josie had gone. Manager asks what Klara means when she says she doesn’t think she could have “continued Josie,” and Klara tells her she doesn’t think she could have copied Josie with complete accuracy because the people around her would never have loved her like they loved the real Josie. Manager tells Klara that things didn’t work out as well for Rosa, but that she is happy for Klara. They part on good terms, and Klara watches Manager walk away.

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