Blythe doesn’t see Violet again for many weeks after the field trip. In addition, she grows weary of her literary agent friend, whose presence no longer eases her loneliness.

One day, Violet calls to ask if she can stay with Blythe. They go to the movies and get ice cream, and while they don’t talk much, Blythe senses that Violet is “less agitated. Less bristly” (268).

That night, Blythe overhears Violet enter her bedroom, open one of her drawers, and quickly close it before leaving quietly.

When Blythe drops Violet off, she sees Gemma through the window and gets the idea to start spying on the family at night.

Blythe recalls going to see her father the month she graduates college. As they share a bottle of whiskey, Blythe asks him, “Why did she leave me?” (272).

The next morning, Blythe leaves without saying goodbye, but her father is dead of a heart attack. The last thing he said to her the night before was, “I would look at you and say to Cecilia, ‘Aren’t we lucky.’ But she couldn’t see—” (272), before getting up and leaving the table.