The Last Mrs. Parrish

The novel switches to the first-person point of view told from Daphne’s perspective. She describes meeting Jackson when attempting to secure funding for her nonprofit organization, Julie’s Smile. He funds her organization and, several months later, invites her to dinner. She is awed at his estate. They drink and share fragments of their past, ultimately having sex. The next morning, Jackson is tender, making it clear that Daphne was not a one-night fling.

Jackson sends a dozen rose bouquets to Daphne’s office. Daphne confesses to her secretary, Fiona, who they are from, and Fiona warns that Jackson will not be easily dissuaded. Their morning is interrupted when Daphne gets news that her father has had a heart attack.

Daphne calls Jackson, who arranges the use of his private plane. In New Hampshire, Jackson has Daphne’s father transferred to a better hospital, paying for a heart doctor to meet them there. The doctor re-diagnoses her father with an aortic dissection and operates. Jackson takes care of Daphne’s family’s bed and breakfast, endearing himself to the whole family.