Chapter Thirty-Nine: Harriet – Return and Reunion
⚠️ 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
Harriet stares at the golden candle Nolan left, struggling to accept that he isn’t coming home. She decides to blow it out and make a wish. A knock at the door reveals Darryl the mailman delivering a late package. After he leaves, Harriet blows out the candle, then hears another knock. She opens the door to Nolan, who looks healthier and nervous. He explains he was given a choice: move on to a peaceful afterlife or return to her. He chose her. They embrace, kiss, and Nolan promises to be with her every tomorrow. The chapter ends with his declaration that his unfinished business is loving her.
Key Events
- Harriet stares at the still-burning candle and resolves to blow it out.
- Darryl arrives with a package at 9:32 PM; they exchange a brief conversation about letting go.
- After Darryl leaves, Harriet blows out the candle.
- A second knock reveals Nolan on her porch.
- Nolan explains he faced two doors: one leading to peace, the other returning him to Harriet.
- He chooses to return, saying she is the one he loves.
- They share an emotional kiss; Nolan holds her tightly and wipes her tears.
- Nolan promises to stay with her for every tomorrow and beyond.
Character Development
- Harriet: Begins the chapter resigned to loss, trying to let go. Her initial hope is crushed when Darryl appears, but it reignites when Nolan returns. She shifts from fear of heartbreak to acceptance of love.
- Nolan: Appears transformed—rested and sure. His choice to return instead of moving on proves his love is not a passing attachment but a profound commitment. He redefines his “unfinished business” as the relationship he was always meant to have.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The candle: Represents hope, waiting, and the lingering magic of Nolan’s presence. Blowing it out signifies Harriet’s attempt to move on, but its reappearance—via Nolan—shows that hope is not extinguished but transformed.
- Choice and sacrifice: Nolan’s test between peace and love mirrors the broader theme of sacrifice for connection. His choice underscores that love is worth more than rest.
- Unfinished business: The story subverts the typical ghost narrative. Instead of completing a task to move on, Nolan’s unfinished business is loving Harriet, and that love anchors him to life.
- The power of belief: Harriet’s initial wish and her eventual acceptance of Nolan’s return highlight how belief can manifest reality.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter delivers the climactic resolution of the central romance. After weeks of separation, Nolan’s return validates Harriet’s hope and the emotional journey they have shared. It redefines the novel’s supernatural premise: the “good spirits” are not just ghosts to be moved on but connections that hold a person in place. The chapter satisfies the reader’s longing for reunion while reinforcing that love is stronger than death.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What does the candle represent for Harriet at the beginning of the chapter?
The candle symbolizes her hope that Nolan will return and her fear of losing that hope. She worries that without the candle she will forget him, yet keeping it lit prolongs her pain. Blowing it out is an act of surrender.
2. Why does Nolan choose to return instead of moving on to peace?
Nolan is given a choice between two doors: one leading to rest and afterlife peace, the other returning him to Harriet. He chooses the latter because his love for her, as he says, “was always supposed to be you.” The woman he loves is his true destination.
3. How does the chapter redefine the concept of “unfinished business”?
Earlier in the story, unfinished business meant tasks left undone that kept a spirit earthbound. Nolan’s return turns that on its head: his unfinished business is not a duty but a person. Love itself becomes the tether that keeps him present.