October 30th, 1793

• Nathaniel Benson becomes a constant visitor at the coffeehouse.
• Those who had fled to the country started flowing back into the city all well-fed and bright-eyed. Matilda – gaunt and pale from the fever – is a little resentful.
• Nathaniel and Matilda begin taking walks. One day, they visit Grandfather's grave. Grass has grown over the dirt. Nathaniel tells her not to worry about a headstone, and she agrees. Grandfather would have liked to be in a crowd with his friends, she tells him.
• Eliza suggests a feast of thanksgiving, and everyone is invited: Joseph and the boys, Mother Smith, and Nathaniel.
• At the meal, Mother Smith blesses the food. Later, Mother Smith also mentions that she knows Matilda's Mother will be back soon. She can feel it in her bones.
• Joseph asks Matilda if she's selling the coffeehouse. This gives Matilda the opportunity to bring up the plan she's been hatching: she'd like Eliza to become her business partner. After a little prompting from Mother Smith, Eliza accepts.
• Suddenly, there's a knock at the door. A messenger brings a bag of coffee beans and says that Jasper Blake's warehouse is open for business. This means that the Cook Coffeehouse will soon be open for business too – with Eliza and Matilda running the show.