Chapter 44: “Lemon” — Summary, Themes & 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 44 of Greta & Valdin. If you haven't read this chapter yet, you may want to do so first.

Summary

The chapter opens with Valdin recalling the first time Xabi called him his boyfriend. During a filmed interview at the Venice Biennale, an interviewer asked Xabi whether he felt a duty to create art representing the struggles of the Catalonian people. Instead of answering, Xabi said he would really like to go to Sitges with his boyfriend. He then ignored all subsequent questions, stared into space, fanned himself with a brochure, and asked for repetitions in Catalan—a language Valdin cannot understand. Valdin watched the interview on his phone from under a tree outside his old workplace, reading the subtitles. It was November, and university exams were ending; younger people were lying on the grass, holding hands, and saying goodbye.

Valdin reflects on how strange it is that strangers can know about him without meeting him, remember him when he is absent, and even love him. He places his keys on the counter, not wanting his hands to smell like metal, because everything must go perfectly today.

In the present, Valdin is at his mother's house. She enters the kitchen, surprised to see him. He asks whether a cake tastes better if baked a couple of days before serving, specifically a lemon and poppyseed cake made with yoghurt. She says it depends on the cake, and he insists he needs to make it today. His mother sighs and begins gathering ingredients: lemons, oil, flour, eggs, yoghurt, caster sugar, baking powder, and poppy seeds.

Valdin asks when Vlad will arrive. His mother says Vlad is in Singapore now, leaving at nine tonight, and will be there tomorrow (Friday), so he will be present on Saturday. Vlad will stay in the downstairs room she has prepared. Valdin asks what if other people want to stay, but his mother questions who. He looks at the keys on the counter; she asks whose they are. He reveals he bought a car—a black Toyota, though he doesn't know the model.

His mother asks if Xabi is arriving today. Valdin initially says he doesn't know, then corrects himself, saying Xabi is coming later. He left his phone at home because it kept dying. He then asks if his father has a wedding ring. His mother confirms, noting he must have seen his father's hands. She explains she gave it to him at their wedding; she had no pocket, so Geneviève kept it in her bra, and it was very warm when returned, making Linsh try not to laugh.

Valdin asks what else is needed at a wedding. His mother says nothing is strictly needed, but nice things include flowers, friends, food, a location, music, and a marriage licence. Valdin panics, realizing he might need one for Saturday. His mother, standing still on the burnt-umber tiles, says she has never decided on a Thursday morning to get married on Saturday. She slides her phone across the counter, telling him to research the requirements while she starts making the cake.

Key Events

• Valdin recalls Xabi's public declaration of love at the Venice Biennale, where Xabi called him his boyfriend on camera.

• Valdin arrives at his mother's house with a plan to bake a lemon and poppyseed cake for an upcoming event.

• He reveals he has bought a car, a black Toyota, without knowing the model.

• He asks about his father's wedding ring, learning the story of how it was kept warm in Geneviève's bra.

• He confirms Xabi will arrive later that day.

• He asks what is needed for a wedding, and his mother mentions a marriage licence, causing him to panic.

• His mother suggests he research the licence requirements while she begins baking the cake.

Character Development

Valdin is shown in a state of heightened anxiety and impulsiveness. His memory of the Venice interview reveals his deep insecurity about being loved and known by others—he finds it strange that someone could depend on him. This vulnerability contrasts with his impulsive actions: buying a car on a whim and apparently deciding to get married within days. His nervousness is symbolized by his reluctance to touch the keys, as if the metal smell would disrupt his careful plans. He is also somewhat evasive, initially denying knowledge of Xabi's arrival, then correcting himself. His questions about wedding logistics show his lack of preparation and his reliance on his mother for guidance.

Valdin's mother emerges as a calm, practical, and supportive presence. She does not question his sudden decisions but instead helps him gather ingredients, answers his questions about the ring, and offers her phone for research. Her bemused but non-judgmental reaction to his marriage timeline—she has never decided on a Thursday to marry on Saturday—highlights her acceptance of his chaos. She also demonstrates a dry wit, as seen in her comment about the ring's warmth. Her willingness to start baking while he researches shows her role as a steady anchor.

Xabi, though not physically present, is central through the memory. His public declaration of love, made in a way that deliberately avoids the interviewer's question, underscores his commitment and his playful, defiant nature. The fact that he spoke Catalan, which Valdin cannot understand, adds a layer of intimacy and also distance, but the subtitles confirm the meaning.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Impulsive marriage and commitment: The chapter revolves around Valdin's sudden plan to marry, likely on Saturday. His lack of knowledge about licences and his panicked reaction reveal the tension between his desire for commitment and his unpreparedness. The car purchase—an impulsive act—mirrors this pattern of making big decisions without full forethought.

Family support: Valdin's mother is the primary source of stability. She provides ingredients, information, and practical help, embodying the theme of family as a safety net. The story of the wedding ring, passed through Geneviève's bra, also highlights the family's quirky but loving history.

Public declaration of love: The Venice memory is a powerful motif of love being announced to the world, even if indirectly. Xabi's refusal to answer the interviewer's question and his insistence on mentioning his boyfriend shows that love can be a form of resistance and personal truth.

Preparation ritual: The lemon cake, which must be baked days in advance, symbolizes the care and timing required for a meaningful event. Valdin's insistence on making it today suggests he is trying to control the uncontrollable, using baking as a way to prepare for the wedding.

Keys and new beginnings: The keys on the counter represent ownership and transition—the new car, the new life. Valdin's aversion to the metal smell hints at his anxiety about these changes.

Catalan identity: Xabi's mention of Sitges and his use of Catalan tie his identity to his homeland, even as he expresses his love for Valdin. This suggests that love and cultural identity are intertwined.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it reveals the emotional and logistical groundwork for the wedding that is likely to occur in the following chapters. It deepens our understanding of Valdin's character—his impulsiveness, his anxiety about being loved, and his reliance on his mother. The memory of the Venice interview provides crucial backstory for Valdin and Xabi's relationship, showing that Xabi has publicly claimed Valdin in a way that still astonishes him. The chapter also establishes the mother-son dynamic as a source of warmth and humor, contrasting with Valdin's internal turmoil. The focus on the marriage licence introduces a practical obstacle that raises the stakes for the upcoming wedding, making the reader wonder whether Valdin will manage to get everything in order in time.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Valdin recall the Venice Biennale interview at the start of the chapter?

The memory serves to contrast Xabi's confident, public declaration of love with Valdin's current nervousness. It also explains why Valdin is so anxious about the wedding: he still finds it unbelievable that someone could love and depend on him. The memory sets the emotional tone, showing that Valdin is about to make a major commitment despite his insecurities.

2. What does the car purchase reveal about Valdin's state of mind?

The car purchase is impulsive and ill-informed—he doesn't even know the model. This mirrors his approach to marriage: he has decided to do it without fully researching the requirements. It suggests that Valdin is trying to take control of his life through concrete actions, but his lack of preparation indicates underlying anxiety and a tendency to act on emotion rather than logic.

3. How does Valdin's mother react to his wedding plans, and what does this reveal about their relationship?

She is calm and supportive, not questioning his timeline but instead offering practical help. She provides the cake ingredients, tells him about the ring, and gives him her phone to research the licence. Her bemused comment about never deciding on a Thursday to marry on Saturday shows her acceptance of his impulsiveness. This reveals a relationship built on trust and unconditional support, where she lets him make his own mistakes while being ready to help.

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