Chapter 1

In the first chapter, Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn, an elegant hotel perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The hotel evokes a sense of nostalgia and excitement for her as she steps out of the cab dressed in a striking emerald silk dress, the only item she truly cherishes following her recent divorce. Leaving behind her old life in St. Louis, including her husband and all her belongings, Phoebe feels both liberated and lost amidst the ongoing lockdowns.

Recalling her mundane existence during the pandemic, she reminisces about the comfortable life of a professor, filled with predictable routines and simple joys. However, she has come to realize that she no longer fits into that normal mold, prompting her journey to Newport. Before boarding her flight, Phoebe consciously chooses the emerald dress—a departure from her professor attire—signifying her desire to reclaim herself.

As she enters the hotel, she experiences a mix of anticipation and bewilderment. The check-in line is unexpectedly long, filled with guests preparing for weddings, contrasting sharply with her state of solitude. Phoebe observes the wedding people, feeling disconnected from their joy and companionship. The bride, who appears to be the center of attention, embodies everything Phoebe wishes she could be.

Upon finally checking in and conversing with a staff member, Phoebe reflects on her happy place, the Cornwall Inn, which she has envisioned since seeing it in a travel magazine years ago. However, the conversation with the front desk attendant reveals her deep-seated feelings of isolation and her struggle with identity—her name, “Phoebe Stone,” now feels like a remnant of her past life.

Caught in her disconnection from others and her memories of happier times, Phoebe comes to a stark realization about her existence and the weight of her solitude. The chapter ends with her feeling that wherever she goes, her underlying sadness remains, echoing the sentiment that a ‘happy place’ is not merely about location but the emotional state one carries with them.