The Keeper of Stars

The narrative jumps ahead to February of 1962. Ellie is now an astronomy professor in Bloomington, Indiana. She and her assistant, Zora Wheaton, pick their way along an icy sidewalk. Zora, originally from Mississippi, complains about the weather. Ellie suggests a stop at her favorite bookstore. The bookstore owner, Sam, gives Ellie a package that recently arrived for her. It is not the book that Ellie was expecting and that she needs for her work, so Sam begins searching the morning’s mail to see if the book has arrived. They chat about whether Sam will sell the store to move to a warmer climate for his wife’s health. Sam locates Ellie’s book, and she pays for both it and a copy of Pride and Prejudice as a gift for Zora, which Zora has been quoting from. Before Zora and Ellie part, Zora reminds Ellie that they are supposed to go on a double date the following evening. Ellie has forgotten, and Zora is worried that she will once again stand up the man Zora is trying to fix her up with.