Chapter summaries A Love Song for Ricki Wilde Tia Williams

Chapter 19: Little Spooned – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After waking at 4 a.m., Ricki leaves a flower arrangement at the former site of Harry Hansberry’s Clam House to ground herself. Later, she meets Ezra at a Harlem Starbucks, having confirmed his story with Ms. Della (whose real name is Adelaide) and online research. Ezra explains his past: his family died in a 1910s church fire set by the Klan; he later blackmailed the sheriff who ordered it, using the money to invest and sustain himself over decades. Ricki declares she believes him. She then takes him to three spiritual specialists—a psychic, an energy healer, and a Wiccan—to find a way to break the curse. When the Wiccan suggests a Bond-Cutting Ceremony, Ezra stabs himself to prove his immortality. Ricki, shaken but resolute, mentions one last idea: Eva Mercy.

Key Events

  • Ricki wakes in a panic, creates a flower arrangement, and leaves it at the former Clam House site.
  • She posts on Instagram, unaware of journalist DMs.
  • Ricki and Ezra meet at a crowded Starbucks to avoid romantic distractions.
  • Ezra admits he has never been to Starbucks and didn’t know to order at the counter.
  • Ricki reveals that Ms. Della is Adelaide, Felice Fabienne’s daughter, and that she has the inscribed pearl bracelet.
  • Ezra explains his immortality: the church fire, his family’s murder, blackmailing Sheriff Rourke, and investing the money.
  • Ricki accepts his story, comparing it to her childhood belief in a magic cloak.
  • They visit Madame Sessy (psychic, proposes a psychopomp ritual for $16,000 in gift cards).
  • They visit Phoebe Lore (energy healer, suggests a magic mirror box that takes months).
  • They visit Mistress Jojo (Wiccan, claims Ezra may have cursed himself and performs a Bond-Cutting Ceremony).
  • Ezra stabs himself with the ceremonial knife, instantly heals, and proves his immortality to Ricki.
  • Ricki pulls him away, throws a twenty, and says Jojo won’t remember them in a month.
  • Ricki tells Ezra she has one more idea: Eva Mercy.

Character Development

  • Ricki Wilde: Shifts from frantic disbelief to determined action. She becomes Ezra’s advocate, fiercely defending him against the Wiccan’s condescension. Her vulnerability and protective instincts deepen her connection with Ezra.
  • Ezra Walker: Opens up about his traumatic past for the first time. He shows exhaustion and raw emotion, yet also a willingness to let Ricki take the lead. His demonstration of immortality underscores his isolation and the weight he carries.
  • Ms. Della / Adelaide: Off-page, but her confirmation of the story solidifies Ricki’s trust and moves the plot forward.
  • The spiritual specialists: Act as comedic foils and highlight the difficulty of breaking such powerful magic. Each reveals a different approach to the supernatural.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Belief vs. Skepticism: Ricki chooses to believe Ezra despite rationality, mirroring her childhood “magical thinking.” The chapter questions what constitutes proof.
  • Healing Through Connection: Ricki’s presence lessens Ezra’s despair; he feels “more alive than he had in decades” after confiding in her.
  • The Weight of History: Ezra’s past (Jim Crow, church terrorism, blackmail) is woven into his present. The flowers left at the Clam House site acknowledge Harlem’s LGBTQ+ history (Gladys Bentley).
  • Clothing as Armor: Ricki’s careful red cape coat symbolizes the magic cloak from her childhood, projecting confidence she doesn’t fully feel.
  • The Inescapable Curse: Each spiritual specialist fails, reinforcing the power of the hex and the urgency of Ricki’s ten-day deadline.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the emotional and plot turning point of the novel. Ricki fully commits to believing Ezra’s story, shifting from passive recipient of information to active problem-solver. Ezra’s vulnerability about his family’s murder and his centuries of loneliness forges an irreversible bond between them. The failed attempts to break the curse raise the stakes and pave the way for Ricki to seek out Eva Mercy—a character likely central to the resolution. The chapter also deepens the novel’s exploration of legacy, magical realism, and the cost of immortality.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Ricki choose to meet Ezra at a crowded Starbucks?
She wants a neutral, unromantic setting to keep a clear head and avoid being overwhelmed by her feelings. The public space also provides safety in case Ezra turns out to be dangerous.

2. What does Ezra’s willingness to stab himself reveal about his character?
It shows his frustration with being disbelieved and his desperation to prove his truth to Ricki. The act also underscores his detachment from pain and his long-standing weariness with life.

3. How does the chapter use humor to balance the heavy subject matter?
Moments like Ezra’s confusion at Starbucks, the psychic’s demand for Amex gift cards, and Ricki’s outburst about antibacterial properties lighten the tension. The humor keeps the story from becoming too grim while underlining the absurdity of the characters’ situation.

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