Summary
Highlights
Hannah and Rowan are at odds over their differing priorities, particularly Hannah's intense focus on starting a family. Rowan decides to spend the holiday weekend apart at his parents' house, leaving Hannah feeling lost. After praying for guidance, she receives a strange call from Franklin, who found a watch engraved with 'ROWAN' and 'October 11th' on it at Pier Beach, despite Rowan not owning such a watch.
Hannah meets Franklin, who believes there are no coincidences. He explains his belief in God's mysterious ways and offers to help her investigate the watch. They visit Pearl, a vintage jewelry expert, who identifies the watch as an early model from a specialized clockmaker. She gives them the clockmaker's business card, hoping he can provide more information about the engravings.
Hannah and Franklin visit the clockmaker, Ernie, who recognizes the watch as his first gold creation. He shares his personal story of loss and finding faith after his twin brother went missing in action during the Vietnam War. Ernie emphasizes 'the secret of waiting,' encouraging Hannah to open her hands and embrace the long stretches of life, believing that possibilities will amaze her. However, he doesn't recognize the engravings on the watch.
Ernie's grandson, Jack, introduces them to Mabel, Ernie's wife, who makes legendary homemade ice cream. They learn that Ernie's brother, Mickey, unexpectedly returned alive years after being declared missing. Mickey eventually joins them and recalls delivering the watch to a diner owned by the daughter of the woman who bought it.
Hannah takes Franklin to her greenhouse, her sanctuary where she finds comfort in controlling every aspect of growth. She explains her need for predictability due to and contrasts it with the unpredictability of life. Franklin, drawing an analogy to a garden, suggests that God prunes things in life that are hurting us, even when we don't realize it.
Following Mickey's lead, Hannah and Franklin arrive at the diner. The current owner, Isabella, does not recognize the watch. Hannah expresses her disappointment, believing the journey was a dead end. She concludes that her marriage might be over and that she needs to find happiness on her own. Franklin reveals his own past mistakes, how self-sufficiency led to the breakdown of his marriage and his estrangement from his son, correcting Hannah's misconception about his 'togetherness'.
Hannah encounters Isabella and her mother, Irene, at church. Irene recognizes the phrase "best cup of coffee this side of the Mississippi" and the watch. She reveals that the engravings are not Rowan's name and their anniversary, but rather 'RO. 10:11', referencing Romans 10:11: 'Those that put their trust in God will never be disappointed.' She explains that her parents, who had a long and strong marriage, had it engraved to symbolize their consistent anchor in God.
Rowan finds Hannah at the church. They apologize to each other, acknowledging their mistakes and reflecting on their individual journeys. Rowan, inspired by his parents' challenge and a Bible passage, suggests rebuilding their marriage on a new foundation centered on faith. Hannah gratefully accepts, recognizing the divine orchestration in her journey.
Hannah and Rowan visit Franklin, who helped Hannah understand that the watch was a tool of divine orchestration. They inform him that the watch was accidentally dropped back into the sand. Hannah explains to Franklin that because of the watch, she got to meet Isabella, reinforcing the idea there are no coincidences, only God's plan.