Chapter Thirteen Summary: War’s Aftermath and New Beginnings

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens in mid-August 1945 as news of the atomic bombings reaches Bonhomie. Everett compares the new weapon to the poison gas of World War I, calling it an act of extermination rather than warfare. Becky feels relief mixed with deep unease, troubled by the massive civilian casualties. She continues her spiritual practice, noting that grief from the war may bring more seekers. She and Cal begin to mend their relationship after months of coldness, though she still feels he does not believe in her abilities. Margaret discovers she is pregnant and battles morning sickness and ambivalence. Her husband Felix returns from the Navy but seems emotionally hollow, often lost in thought or unable to go to work. Margaret secretly worries that Cal might be the father. She gives birth to Thomas Aquinas Salt in April 1946. Breastfeeding proves agonizing, so she switches to formula. Felix's parents visit briefly and are critical. Months later, Margaret encounters Cal at a garden shop with his son. She tells him she became pregnant right after Felix got home, a lie meant to protect both families. Cal seems relieved, and they part with unspoken finality, leaving the baby's true paternity unresolved.

Key Events

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki end World War II; Everett and Becky react with moral dismay.
Becky notes an increase in people seeking her out and grapples with questions about Heaven and the source of her abilities.
Becky and Cal slowly reconcile after months of estrangement following the LaGrange incident.
Margaret suffers through early pregnancy, compares the fluttering to snakes, and asks a doctor if a mother can be allergic to her child.
Felix returns from war but is withdrawn, frequently absent from work, and sleeps poorly; Margaret fears he is traumatized.
Margaret gives birth to Tom after eleven hours of labor; she finds breastfeeding unbearably painful and switches to formula.
Felix's parents, Russ and Lillian Salt, visit briefly and make cutting remarks about Margaret's parenting.
Margaret encounters Cal at Sherwood Garden Shop; she deliberately claims Tom was conceived after Felix's return.
Both Cal and Margaret recognize the lie closes the door on their affair and leaves Tom's paternity uncertain.

Character Development

Becky deepens her commitment to her practice, stops worrying about whether her gift comes from God, and prioritizes helping the living. She also admits she still hopes Cal will eventually believe in her.
Cal shows a softer side when he is seen caring for his son at the garden shop. The chapter suggests he is trying to move on from the affair.
Margaret matures from a woman who did not want children into an exhausted, conflicted mother. She becomes more aware of how women are trapped by biology and social expectation.
Felix devolves from a returning veteran into a man struggling with what is now called PTSD. He cannot explain his sadness, rarely sleeps, and loses weight. His only spark comes from the pregnancy.
Everett reemerges briefly to offer a veteran's perspective on the atomic bomb, linking it to his own experience with gas warfare.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Atomic Bomb as Moral Threshold: The bombings are portrayed not as a triumphant end to war but as a troubling escalation of destruction. Everett calls it "extermination" rather than war, and Becky feels grief for the sudden dead.
Pregnancy and Ambivalence: Margaret's pregnancy is depicted as a trap. She resents the physical pain, the loss of her body, and the expectation that she must be delighted. The baby is both a bright spot for Felix and a source of dread for her.
Paternity Uncertainty: Margaret's uncertainty about Tom's father becomes a central tension. She lies to Cal to preserve her marriage and his, but the question remains unanswered, symbolizing the hidden costs of the affair.
Postwar Trauma: Felix's behavior—loss of appetite, emotional absence, sleeping in the nursery—illustrates the invisible wounds soldiers carry home. Margaret feels she must care for two helpless people.
Mending vs. Closure: Becky and Cal tentatively rebuild their relationship, while Margaret and Cal close their chapter with a polite lie. Both couples must decide how to move forward.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks the end of the war and the beginning of new personal wars for the characters. It deepens Margaret's storyline by introducing paternity doubt, which will likely have long-term consequences. It also solidifies Becky's role as a healer who must navigate her own marriage while helping others. Felix's trauma adds a somber note to the postwar atmosphere, contrasting with the national celebration. The chapter sets up future questions about family secrets, the durability of marriages, and the price of the choices made during the war.

Study Questions and Answers

How does Margaret's experience of motherhood differ from the expectations of the women around her?
Margaret finds breastfeeding agonizing, dislikes the constant attention pregnancy attracts, and admits to a doctor that she fears she is "allergic" to her baby. Other women like Ruth and Brenda seem to embrace their pregnancies, but Margaret feels trapped and resentful. She also switches to formula, which draws criticism from her mother-in-law.
Why does Margaret lie to Cal about when she became pregnant?
She tells Cal she got pregnant "right after Felix got back" to prevent him from suspecting he might be the father. She has already decided that no one gains anything by bringing Cal into the paternity question. Her lie protects both marriages and closes the door on their affair for good.
What do the references to Pompeii and the atomic bomb reveal about Becky's worldview?
Becky compares the atomic bomb victims to the plaster casts of people frozen mid-crawl at Pompeii. She imagines the dead "drifting and crying" in the afterlife, unsure of their bearings. This shows she sees death as disorienting rather than peaceful, and she refuses to offer easy answers about Heaven. It also highlights her emphasis on helping the living, since the afterlife seems confusing at best.