At Toby's birthday, Aunt Ellie persuades Aiden—who planned to visit his mother in prison—to stay for cake, promising a slice will be taken to her. The Lowell relatives resent Aiden, call him a "cursed kid," and fear Mr. Penn and the old lady will dig up old secrets. Toby gives Aiden cake, but Ellie and adults push a plan: they've picked a man to be Aiden's new dad and tell him to eat quickly and leave with him. Aiden refuses, saying he's not that man's son, then a Lowell snaps, "I'm telling you, today you're going with him!"