At the end of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, Maeve dies from a heart condition. This tragedy prompts Danny to reevaluate his life, leading him to move back to the Dutch house with his family. The novel comes full circle when Andrea, the stepmother who had once evicted Danny and Maeve, returns to the house in her old age. Danny, embodying Maeve's lessons of forgiveness, lets her stay. This reconciliation emphasizes the inescapable pull of the past and the house's enduring presence in their lives.