Chapter Five: Alana – The Truth About Camila’s Father

⚠️ 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

Alana wakes exhausted after Cal’s unexpected appearance the night before. She pushes through her fatigue to make breakfast for her daughter, Cami, and gets ready for their Saturday tradition of watching a soccer game together while honoring Alana’s late mother. The doorbell rings, and through her phone’s security app, Alana sees Cal pacing nervously on the porch, talking to himself about his fear of being a bad parent.

Alana steps outside to speak with him. Cal asks directly if Camila is his. Alana denies it, but when Cal presses for the identity of Cami’s father, Alana reveals that her sister Antonella was the biological mother and that Antonella struggled with addiction during the pregnancy. Cal apologizes for assuming Alana had moved on quickly after their breakup. Alana’s hurt surfaces as she asks Cal how he managed to move on from her, but he refuses to answer. The chapter ends with Alana asserting that she deserved better from him, not just better from someone else.

Key Events

Alana wakes exhausted and prepares breakfast and hair for Cami, maintaining their soccer-game tradition.
Cal appears at her door early in the morning, visibly anxious and hungover.
Alana steps outside to talk; she lies to Cami about checking the mail.
Cal asks point-blank if Cami is his daughter.
Alana says no and then reveals that Antonella—her sister—is Cami’s biological mother and was high for most of the pregnancy.
Cal apologizes for believing Alana had slept with someone else shortly after their breakup.
Alana asks Cal if he was able to move on from her; Cal deflects and refuses to answer.
Cal tells Alana she always deserved better than him; Alana retorts that she deserved better from him.

Character Development

Alana

Resilience: Despite exhaustion, Alana prioritizes Cami’s routine and her mother’s memory.
Vulnerability: She admits she has trouble speaking about Antonella without becoming emotional. She also reveals how deeply Cal’s accusation hurt her.
Protectiveness: She avoids letting Cal see Cami during the conversation, and she defends the integrity of their past relationship.

Cal

Anxiety: He paces, talks to himself, and appears hungover, revealing his continued struggle with anxiety and addiction.
Regret: He shows remorse for assuming Alana moved on quickly. His refusal to answer her question suggests unresolved feelings.
Fear of inadequacy: His self-talk about being a bad parent shows that he is intimidated by the idea of fatherhood, even before confirming Cami is not his.

Cami (off-page)

Through Alana’s actions, Cami is depicted as a loved and protected child, unaware of the tension outside.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Addiction as a Family Wound: Antonella’s drug use during pregnancy is a painful backdrop. Alana struggles to separate her sister’s addiction from her love for her sister, showing how addiction ripples through families.
Trust and Accusation: Cal’s assumption that Alana slept with someone else soon after their breakup reveals deep mistrust. Alana’s reaction underscores how much that assumption damaged her.
Moving On vs. Letting Go: The entire conversation orbits around whether either of them truly moved on. Alana’s direct question—“Moving on from me?”—remains unanswered, leaving the emotional door ajar.
Tradition as Comfort: Alana’s soccer-game ritual with Cami honors her mother and provides stability, contrasting with the chaos of Cal’s arrival.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the first direct confrontation between Alana and Cal about Camila’s parentage. It clears up a major mystery (Cami is not Cal’s biological daughter) while deepening the emotional stakes. Alana’s revelation about her sister explains her protectiveness and her reluctance to trust Cal. Cal’s refusal to answer whether he moved on suggests that his feelings for Alana are unresolved, setting the stage for future tension. The chapter also reinforces Alana’s strength as a single mother who has rebuilt her life after betrayal.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Alana lie to Cami about checking the mail?
Alana wants to speak privately with Cal without exposing Cami to a difficult conversation about her parentage. She also wants to protect Cami from Cal’s emotional state.

2. What does Cal’s self-talk (“What if I suck at being a parent?”) reveal about his character?
It shows that Cal is deeply insecure about his ability to be a good father, likely due to his own relationship with his narcissistic father. It also suggests that he is seriously considering the possibility that he might be Cami’s father, which fuels his anxiety.

3. Why does Alana become angry when Cal says she “always deserved better than me”?
Alana interprets the phrase as a deflection. She wants accountability for how Cal treated her specifically, not a vague compliment. Her retort—“I deserved better from you”—shifts the blame onto his actions in their relationship, not just his self-perception.