Darling Girls Chapter 23: “22. Jessica” – Summary & 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

In the months after the horse-riding incident, Norah’s behavior worsens after being locked under the stairs. She becomes more explosive and violent, leading to repeated punishments. The sisters learn to hide small comforts for Norah. One morning, Miss Fairchild presents a newborn baby named Rhiannon, taken from drug-addicted parents for respite care. Initially doting, Miss Fairchild quickly becomes frustrated when the baby won’t stop crying. Jessica successfully soothes Rhiannon, which sparks Miss Fairchild’s jealousy. She then forces Jessica to care for the baby full-time, pulling her out of school. Norah and Alicia help. More babies follow—always girls, always arriving at night. Each baby disappoints Miss Fairchild in some way (too much crying, aversion to touch, medical issues), and the sisters end up doing all the care work while Miss Fairchild grows meaner and drinks heavily. Social worker visits are staged to hide the truth. The girls become exhausted and trapped in a cycle of abuse that Miss Fairchild blames on them.

Key Events

Norah’s escalating violence: After being locked under the stairs, Norah starts getting into daily fights at school and even accidentally elbows Jessica.
Miss Fairchild brings home Rhiannon: A newborn for respite care; Miss Fairchild seems smitten at first.
Jessica soothes the baby: While Miss Fairchild fails, Jessica manages to get Rhiannon to sleep, triggering Miss Fairchild’s resentment.
Jessica becomes full-time caregiver: Miss Fairchild pulls Jessica out of school to look after Rhiannon; Norah and Alicia help in shifts.
Rhiannon is collected: Scott arrives to take the baby back; the girls are too exhausted to be upset.
Pattern repeats with Bianca: A one-year-old with a patch over her eye (abused by stepfather). Bianca dislikes being touched, which again disappoints Miss Fairchild.
More babies arrive: Each has a flaw (crossed eyes, fetal alcohol syndrome, etc.) that causes Miss Fairchild to lose interest.
Sisters take over all baby care: They develop routines but are worn down by fatigue; Miss Fairchild drinks and criticizes.
Staged visits from social worker: Miss Fairchild forces the girls to clean and pretend to be a happy family for Scott’s inspections.

Character Development

Jessica: Her deep need to be needed is exploited. She volunteers to care for babies hoping to earn Miss Fairchild’s approval, but each success backfires. She becomes increasingly aware of the impossible situation.
Norah: Her trauma manifests as uncontrollable rage. She shows surprising tenderness with the babies (borrowing a library book on reflux), but her anger remains volatile.
Alicia: Practical and observant, she coins the phrase “I think she’s in love” to describe Miss Fairchild’s obsession. She tries to solve problems (flashlight, scheduling care) but cannot fix the root abuse.
Miss Fairchild: Her need for unconditional adoration is revealed. She idealizes each baby, then discards them when they don’t meet her emotional demands. Her cruelty hardens as the chapter progresses.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Conditional love: Miss Fairchild’s affection is entirely conditional. Babies and girls are valued only as long as they fulfill her need to be loved perfectly.
Exploitation of foster children: The system intended to protect vulnerable children is used by Miss Fairchild to get free labor and emotional supply. Social workers like Scott fail to see the reality.
The cycle of abuse: The sisters are forced to care for babies who are themselves victims of abuse. The trauma is passed down and magnified.
The “off switch” : A recurring image of control. Jessica claims she “found the off switch” for Rhiannon, but Miss Fairchild punishes her for it. The true off switch—escape—remains out of reach.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the reader’s understanding of the sisters’ shared history and Miss Fairchild’s pathology. It shows how Jessica became the primary caretaker and why all three girls developed such strong survival instincts. The baby-respite pattern foreshadows how Miss Fairchild will treat the adult women in the present timeline. It also explains why the sisters are so loyal to one another and why they have difficulty trusting outsiders like Scott.

Study Questions & Answers

1. Why does Miss Fairchild react so negatively when Jessica gets Rhiannon to sleep?
Miss Fairchild sees Jessica’s success as proof that Jessica is better than her. Since Miss Fairchild craves adoration and competence, being outperformed by a child threatens her fragile self-image. She retaliates by punishing Jessica with the full care of the baby.

2. How do Norah and Alicia cope with the additional workload from the babies?
They share the burden by taking shifts and developing practical solutions—for example, Norah borrows a book on baby care to help with reflux. They also find dark humour (Alicia’s “baby alien” joke) to relieve tension. Their teamwork deepens their bond.

3. What does the pattern with the babies reveal about Miss Fairchild’s character?
Each baby initially seems to offer unconditional love, but Miss Fairchild quickly finds fault. This shows that her love is not about the child’s welfare; it is about meeting her own emotional needs. When a baby fails to adore her (or has a flaw), she discards it without guilt.