Chapter 28 Summary and Analysis: “27. Alicia”
⚠️ 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 visiting Miss Fairchild, the sisters return to their cottage at Driftwood Cottages. The discovery that the bones found under the house belong to a child unsettles Alicia deeply; she feels it changes everything. Norah and Jessica try to process the new information. Back at the cottage, Alicia takes a phone call from Aaron, a teenage foster kid she works with. Aaron asks if he could foster another child, Theo, when he turns 18. Alicia gently explains the practical difficulties but promises to find Theo a good placement. Later, Norah reassures Alicia that a child would be lucky to have her as a foster mother. That evening, Alicia listens to a voicemail from her girlfriend Meera about the termination of parental rights for Theo. They talk on the phone, and Alicia hypothetically asks about fostering Aaron; Meera points out that adult adoption is possible instead. Alicia ends the call without revealing her deeper feelings.
Key Events
- The sisters learn that the skeletal remains found are those of a child, which shocks them.
- Back at the cottage, Norah’s service dogs cause tension with Jessica.
- Alicia receives a call from Aaron, who wants to know if he can foster Theo after he turns 18; Alicia explains the timeline constraints but promises to look after Theo’s placement.
- Norah tells Alicia that a child would be lucky to have her as a foster mother.
- Alicia listens to Meera’s voicemail about Theo’s parental rights petition.
- On a phone call, Alicia asks hypothetically about fostering Aaron; Meera reveals adult adoption is possible.
- They share a meaningful silence, but Alicia does not tell Meera she loves her.
Character Development
Alicia: Her emotional vulnerability deepens. She cries over the child bones and shows fierce protectiveness toward Aaron and Theo, insisting kids deserve love and security as a right, not a privilege. Her hypothetical question about adoption hints at her desire to form permanent family bonds. She also struggles to express her feelings for Meera, highlighting her fear of unworthiness.
Aaron: Though not physically present, his caring nature is evident. He’s willing to give up university to foster Theo, showing maturity and a strong sense of responsibility.
Meera: She remembers small details about Alicia’s sisters, demonstrating care. She provides clear, professional guidance on adoption and seems to sense Alicia’s deeper feelings without pressing.
Jessica and Norah: Their roles are quieter but supportive. Norah’s comment about Alicia as a foster mother is a pivotal moment that encourages Alicia to consider her own capacity to love.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Foster care and family: The chapter explores what makes a family, from sibling bonds to foster placements to adult adoption. Alicia’s work with children in care mirrors her own history.
- Worth and deservingness: Alicia corrects Aaron’s idea that he is “lucky” to have stability; she insists safety and love are basic rights. This theme carries to her own belief that she might not be worthy of love.
- Communication and hesitation: Alicia repeatedly stops herself from telling Meera how she feels, representing her internal barriers. The silence between them carries more weight than words.
- Bones as a catalyst: The discovery that the bones belong to a child forces Alicia to re-evaluate the past and her present, shaking her sense of closure.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter bridges the murder mystery with Alicia’s personal life, showing how the past trauma of her childhood continues to shape her actions. It deepens the novel’s emotional core by focusing on Alicia’s relationships with Aaron, Norah, and Meera, and introduces the possibility of adult adoption—a potential path for Alicia to create the family she never had. It also reinforces the theme that love and security are fundamental rights.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Alicia react so strongly to the information that the bones belong to a child?
Alicia’s own childhood was marked by foster care and instability. The child’s bones represent the vulnerability she tries to protect in the kids she works with, and the discovery forces her to rethink the case and her own past.
2. What does Aaron’s offer to foster Theo reveal about his character?
Aaron demonstrates selflessness, maturity, and a deep sense of responsibility. He is willing to sacrifice his university plans to provide Theo with a stable home, showing that he values family bonds despite his own difficult background.
3. Why does Alicia not tell Meera “I love you” at the end of the chapter?
Alicia fears she is unworthy of love and is emotionally vulnerable. She hesitates because admitting her feelings would require her to accept that she deserves happiness, which contradicts her longstanding belief that she must merely be grateful for basic care.