Chapter 64: Encounter – 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
In the small French village where Ebby is staying, village life means you eventually cross paths with everyone again—including Robert, the man she met at a café weeks earlier. Driving along a country road, Ebby spots Robert crouched by his bicycle with a flat tire. She stops to help, and they load the bike into her car. As they drive, Robert laughs about his elderly grandfather having called the holiday cottage by mistake after mixing up phone numbers. The grandfather even asked about “la femme sympa” (the nice woman) who used to answer—unaware that it was Robert’s own recent hookup. Ebby and Robert then share an intimate moment; he traces the linea nigra on her belly, and she notices he has one too. Ebby knows women can get this line during pregnancy, and the mention of children triggers a pang of sorrow for the baby she lost. She keeps this grief to herself, but Robert seems to sense her sadness and kisses her belly. Ebby fights her growing emotional attachment, yet when Robert invites her to hear a jazz band and eat crêpes the next night, she agrees. Driving away, she smiles, telling herself it is only food and music.
Key Events
- Ebby finds Robert on the roadside fixing a flat bicycle tire and gives him a ride.
- Robert explains his grandfather’s mistaken phone call and asks about “la femme sympa.”
- Robert and Ebby have a physical encounter, during which they discuss their linea nigra lines.
- The word “children” makes Ebby think of the baby she lost, but she does not share this feeling.
- Robert kisses Ebby’s belly in response to her unspoken sadness.
- Ebby accepts Robert’s invitation to a jazz concert and crêpes the next evening.
Character Development
Ebby – This chapter deepens Ebby’s emotional conflict. She is drawn to Robert physically and enjoys his company, yet she consciously avoids labeling what is happening as “a thing.” Her grief over her lost pregnancy intrudes when Robert mentions children, revealing that she carries unresolved pain. Despite her fear of attachment, she allows herself to feel warmth and says yes to another outing. She is as yet unwilling to confront the depth of her feelings.
Robert – Robert is attentive and perceptive. He notices Ebby’s linea nigra, compares it to his own, and then, without being told about her loss, kisses her belly—a gesture of comfort. He is playful about the grandfather’s phone confusion, but also tender. His invitation suggests he wants to spend more time with Ebby beyond a casual fling.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Serendipity and village life – The chapter opens by noting that in a small village you bump into everyone twice. Ebby’s chance encounter with Robert reinforces the idea that fate or geography keeps pulling them together.
- Physical intimacy as emotional gateway – The moment of connection through their linea nigra lines (a symbol of shared biology and vulnerability) leads to a nonverbal exchange about loss. Touch becomes a language for grief.
- Grief and hidden pain – Ebby’s silent sorrow over her lost baby contrasts with her outward cheerfulness. The linea nigra itself, a marker of potential motherhood, reminds her of what might have been.
- Reluctance to commit – Ebby repeatedly tells herself that the relationship is just music and food—defense mechanisms to avoid naming her growing feelings for Robert.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 64 marks a turning point in Ebby and Robert’s relationship. What began as a brief fling is becoming emotionally charged. Ebby’s grief, previously hinted at, surfaces directly here, linking her past loss to her present hesitation. Robert’s intuitive kindness suggests he could be a source of healing, but Ebby is not yet ready to trust that. The chapter sets up the next encounter (the jazz concert) as a potential step toward deeper intimacy or further withdrawal.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Ebby feel a “pang of sorrow” when Robert mentions children?
The mention of children reminds Ebby of the baby she lost earlier in her life. The linea nigra on her belly, which can darken during pregnancy, triggers that memory. She keeps this grief private, but her reaction shows that the loss still affects her deeply.
2. How does Robert respond to Ebby’s unspoken sadness, and what does this reveal about his character?
Robert kisses Ebby’s belly without being told about her loss. He seems to sense her longing or sorrow and offers a wordless gesture of comfort. This reveals that Robert is intuitive, tender, and emotionally present—not just a casual fling.
3. What role does the setting (village life) play in the chapter’s events?
The narrator notes that sooner or later in a village you see everyone a second time. This explains how Ebby and Robert cross paths again, turning a one-time encounter into a possible relationship. The setting creates a sense of inevitability and intimacy that forces Ebby to confront her feelings.