Chapter 37: “Matau” — Summary, Key Themes, 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.

⚠️ This summary and analysis contains plot details from Chapter 37 of Greta & Valdin. If you haven't read the chapter yet, you may want to do so first.

Summary

Greta wakes up to the realisation that she left her phone at the party the night before. She messages her dad from her laptop, and he suggests that Giuseppe could bring it into town for her to collect from his office. Greta imagines a glamorous corporate tower and feels uneasy about the idea, so she asks if Thony is home instead. Learning that he is, she takes the train to Remuera.

Walking from the station without her phone forces her to notice her surroundings, including three private-school girls gossiping about teachers and classmates. She arrives at Thony's house and is surprised to find Geneviève there. The two are relaxing on the deck, drinking what turns out to be an alcoholic beverage at 11:30 in the morning. They chat about art, with Thony trying to commission a painting from Geneviève, and about Cosmo, who still hasn't been in touch. Geneviève says she doesn't ask where he is, just that he's healthy. Thony mentions that Giuseppe is upset about a fight with Xabi, but that Giuseppe never tells anyone how he really feels.

Thony goes inside to retrieve Greta's phone, but discovers that Giuseppe already took it into the city, thinking he could drop it off at lunchtime. Thony orders an Uber for Greta, and she reluctantly agrees to meet Giuseppe at a mall food court. Giuseppe apologises and insists on buying her lunch. They share empanadas and Korean food, and Giuseppe opens up about his past. He explains that he and Thony had dated briefly, that he came to New Zealand to see Xabi but arrived unannounced, and that Geneviève was the only one who welcomed him at a party. He and Geneviève ended up co-parenting, though they barely knew each other. Xabi, feeling betrayed, moved back to Spain. Giuseppe also talks about his refrigeration business, which he started selling air conditioners at seventeen, and admits a fantasy of being a middle manager with an ordinary life. He returns Greta's phone, mentions losing his own at a fish market, and notes that he bought a kahawai—which Greta points out is her mother's favourite fish.

Key Events

Greta realises she left her phone at the party and decides to retrieve it from Thony's house instead of Giuseppe's office.
She finds Geneviève and Thony relaxing on the deck; they discuss art, Cosmo's whereabouts, and Giuseppe's fight with Xabi.
Thony discovers Giuseppe already took the phone into the city and orders Greta an Uber.
Greta meets Giuseppe at a mall food court; he apologises and buys her lunch.
Giuseppe explains his complicated history with Xabi, Thony, and Geneviève, including how he ended up co-parenting with Geneviève.
He describes his refrigeration business and his fantasy of an ordinary life.
He returns Greta's phone and mentions losing his own at a fish market; Greta notes that kahawai is her mother's favourite fish.

Character Development

Greta – This chapter shows Greta's internal conflict about Giuseppe. She is trying to convince herself that he isn't having an affair with her mother, but her suspicions keep surfacing. She feels sick when she hears about his unhappiness, yet she also wants him to be happy—as long as it doesn't break up her family. Her discomfort with wealth is evident when she holds Giuseppe's black credit card, and she feels relieved that they're eating at a food court rather than a fancy business lunch. Her curiosity about Giuseppe's life reveals a more empathetic side, even as she struggles with her loyalties.

Giuseppe – He is apologetic and open in this chapter, sharing his personal history and his feelings about his brother Xabi. He admits he hasn't slept and that he feels stupid for being upset about his brother not telling him things. His fantasy of being a middle manager with a florist wife and two kids reveals a longing for simplicity and connection. He also shows a practical side, having built a refrigeration company from a young age. His mention of losing his phone at a fish market and buying kahawai—Greta's mother's favourite—adds a layer of ambiguity to his relationship with her family.

Thony and Geneviève – They are presented as relaxed, wealthy, and somewhat detached. Thony is casual about Cosmo's disappearance, while Geneviève is blunt about Giuseppe's emotional concealment. Their banter about art and their comfortable lifestyle highlights the class differences between them and Greta.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Emotional concealment – Giuseppe's habit of not telling anyone how he really feels is a central theme. Thony and Geneviève both comment on it, and Giuseppe himself admits he feels stupid for being upset about his brother. This concealment creates misunderstandings and distances between family members.

Family secrets and sibling conflict – The chapter reveals the long-standing rift between Giuseppe and Xabi, which stems from a misunderstanding and a party that Giuseppe attended against Xabi's wishes. Cosmo's mysterious absence also hangs over the conversation, with Geneviève accepting that she won't know where he is.

Class and wealth – Greta's discomfort with Giuseppe's credit card and her relief at the food court highlight the contrast between her world and the wealthy, artistic lifestyle of Thony and Geneviève. The mall is described as an egalitarian space where anyone can be, which contrasts with the exclusive, gated world of Remuera.

Fantasy of ordinary life – Giuseppe's dream of being a middle manager with a simple family life is a poignant motif. It suggests that even those who appear successful may yearn for a different, more grounded existence.

Past relationships shaping present – Giuseppe's history with Thony, Xabi, and Geneviève directly explains his current family structure and his strained relationship with his brother. The chapter shows how past choices continue to affect everyone.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it provides crucial backstory for Giuseppe, transforming him from a mysterious figure into a more sympathetic character. Greta's direct conversation with him allows her—and the reader—to see his vulnerabilities and his genuine desire for connection. The chapter also deepens the mystery around Cosmo and the potential affair between Giuseppe and Greta's mother, especially with the final mention of kahawai. The setting of the mall food court serves as a neutral ground where Greta and Giuseppe can talk openly, breaking down some of the barriers between them. This chapter sets up future conflicts and reveals the emotional complexity of the extended family.

Study Questions

Why does Greta initially resist going to Giuseppe's office to pick up her phone, and what does this reveal about her feelings toward him?

Answer: Greta imagines a fancy corporate tower and feels uneasy about the idea, likely because she is trying to avoid confronting her suspicions about Giuseppe's relationship with her mother. Her decision to go to Thony's house instead shows her desire to keep some distance from Giuseppe while still retrieving her phone.

How does Giuseppe's explanation of his past with Xabi, Thony, and Geneviève change the reader's understanding of his character?

Answer: Giuseppe's story reveals that he is not just a wealthy businessman but someone who has experienced rejection and loneliness. His co-parenting arrangement with Geneviève came about unexpectedly, and his brother's resentment still pains him. This makes him more sympathetic and complicates Greta's view of him as a potential homewrecker.

What is the significance of the kahawai fish at the end of the chapter?

Answer: Giuseppe mentions buying a kahawai at a fish market, and Greta notes that it is her mother's favourite fish. This detail could be a coincidence, but it also hints at a possible connection between Giuseppe and Greta's mother, reinforcing Greta's suspicions and adding a layer of ambiguity to their relationship.