Chapter 3: Session Three – 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
Cara Romero enters session three late, apologizing for her tardiness. She explains that her daily ritual with her friend Lulú—sharing coffee and discussing dreams—was broken when Lulú did not appear that morning. Cara worries that Lulú is avoiding her because of a recent conflict involving Lulú's son, Adonis, who appeared on television. This leads Cara to reflect on her own son, Fernando, who left home years ago.
She recalls a Christmas party when Fernando was a teenager, where he met Elvis, a cousin visiting from the Dominican Republic. Cara sensed something had shifted in Fernando after that night—a new secrecy she could not name. She also remembers an incident when Fernando let two boys steal a radio from him, and she scolded him harshly for not defending himself.
Cara then tells the story of how her brother-in-law, Hernán, gave her Fernando's address in the Bronx in September 2001. Against the advice of Lulú and others, she went to the apartment. There she met Alexis, a flamboyant man who initially refused to let her in. After a confrontation, Alexis allowed her inside and explained that Fernando did not want to see her. Cara agreed to stay away but insisted on being contacted if anything happened to Fernando. She put his name on the electric bill and the lease, and sent him food from his favorite Dominican restaurant.
The chapter closes with a series of documents: a rent-stabilization guide, a billing invoice from February 2009, and notes on succession rights. These legal papers hint at Cara's financial struggles and her ongoing efforts to secure the apartment for Fernando.
Key Events
- Cara arrives late to the session because Lulú failed to appear for their morning coffee ritual.
- She recounts her dreams and Lulú's habit of playing the lottery based on dream interpretations.
- Flashback to a Christmas party where Fernando met Elvis, a cousin who was rumored to be gay.
- Cara recalls scolding Fernando for not fighting back when his radio was stolen.
- Hernán gives Cara Fernando's address in the Bronx after the 9/11 attacks.
- Cara visits the apartment and meets Alexis, a man wearing makeup and a transparent shirt.
- Alexis tells Cara that Fernando does not want to see her, and she reluctantly agrees to stay away.
- Cara adds Fernando's name to the lease and electric bill, and sends him food with a note.
- The chapter ends with official-looking documents about rent stabilization and a billing invoice showing Cara's overdue rent.
Character Development
Cara is shown to be deeply vulnerable. Her obsession with finding Fernando, her harsh parenting methods, and her fear of his “softness” reveal a woman shaped by traditional expectations and the need to survive. Her willingness to negotiate with Alexis—trusting his Pisces sign and Walter Mercado's message—shows a more flexible side. The legal documents at the end underline her insecurity and her determination to provide for Fernando even if he rejects her.
Alexis is introduced as a caretaker and gatekeeper. He is flamboyant, quick to anger, but eventually kind. His connection to Walter Mercado and his willingness to share coffee with Cara suggest he is not entirely hostile, only protective of Fernando.
Fernando remains absent, but his presence looms. Through Cara's memories, we see a boy who was passive and sensitive, which his mother tried to correct. His rejection of Cara speaks to the lasting damage of their relationship.
Lulú is offstage but central to Cara's emotional state. Her absence triggers Cara's anxiety and sets the stage for the session's revelations.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Actually Evidenced Here
- Motherhood and Control: Cara's love for Fernando is expressed through control— grabbing his neck, yelling, pushing him to be “strong.” She equates softness with danger and tries to shape him into a fighter.
- Dreams as Guidance: The chapter opens with Cara and Lulú interpreting dreams. Cara's dream of Fernando on a boat symbolizes her inability to reach him. Dreams are presented as a source of truth and warning.
- Gentrification and Rent Stabilization: The legal documents highlight the precarious housing situation in Washington Heights. Cara's actions—putting Fernando on the lease—are a practical response to systemic pressure, not just maternal love.
- The Fear of Difference: Cara's anxiety about Fernando being “soft” or “different” (code for gay) drives many of her past actions. The chapter questions whether this fear is rooted in love or societal prejudice.
- Signs and Superstition: Astrology (Capricorn, Pisces), dream numbers, and Walter Mercado's message all serve as ways Cara and her community make sense of chaos. Cara trusts Alexis partly because of his Pisces sign.
Why This Chapter Matters
Session Three deepens Cara's backstory, revealing the unresolved pain of Fernando's departure and the shame she carries over her treatment of him. It introduces Alexis, a complex figure who challenges Cara's worldview and who may play a larger role later. The inclusion of rent-stabilization documents grounds the emotional narrative in concrete economic realities, showing how housing instability is intertwined with family separation and grief. This chapter also foreshadows the legal conflicts that may arise around Cara's apartment.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Cara react so strongly to Lulú's absence at the beginning of the chapter?
Cara's daily routine with Lulú provides structure and emotional support. Lulú's disappearance—especially after the conflict over Adonis—triggers Cara's fear of abandonment, which is tied to Fernando's rejection. Lulú is the only constant left in Cara's life, so her absence destabilizes Cara completely.
2. What does the story about the Christmas party and Elvis reveal about Cara's fears for Fernando?
The party reveals that Cara saw Fernando as different after he met Elvis, whom she describes as “soft.” She later learns that Elvis was attacked for being with another boy. Cara fears that Fernando is also soft and will face a life of suffering or be taken advantage of. Her attempts to make him “strong” stem from this fear, but they also push him away.
3. Why does Cara put Fernando's name on the lease and electric bill even though he refuses to see her?
Cara wants to ensure Fernando has a home and legal claim to the apartment if something happens to her. The rent-stabilization documents show that succession rights require documented co-residency and financial ties. By adding his name, she is trying to protect him from homelessness and preserve the only asset she can leave him—a rent-stabilized apartment in Washington Heights.