20

Summary

• Emily is on the ground feeling unwell with Maisie and Nell comforting her as they discuss the complexities of their family history involving Emily's biological father, revealing that Duke is not her father.
• The narrator reflects on whether to have revealed Duke’s relationship with Emily earlier and the emotional impact it may have had on Emily as a child.
• Emily has partial memories of Duke from her childhood, which have now crystallized due to the recent conversation.
• The narrator, presumably the girls' mother, and Maisie discuss the truth about their father and their mother's personal history, including intimate details that have only recently come to light.
• Maisie discloses an event from the night of Duke's death, where she helped with a dog's labor and later saved another dog, Duchess, from getting hit by her car.
• The narrator remembers the night she was informed about Duke's death and reflects on her past relationship with him, adding emotional weight to the news.
• A detailed past encounter between the narrator and Duke at a mental health facility is recounted, revealing the complexity of their relationship and Duke's struggles.
• An intimate and vulnerable moment occurs between the narrator and Duke during the visit, exposing deep emotions and old connections.
• The narrator reflects on a subsequent consoling encounter with Sebastian, Duke's brother, and a what-if scenario of their relationship, which remained platonic.
• The chapter concludes with the narrator keeping a part of her history with Duke secret from her family, acknowledging a decision she made that she feels is hers alone.