Chapter 13 — Cliff: Summary, 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.

All references are to the chapter as it appears in the book If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia.

No direct quotations longer than a few words are used; the text is a paraphrase of the original material.

If you’re looking for a quick recap, the Summary section covers everything you need to know.

For deeper insight, the Analysis sections break down character, theme, and significance.

Use the Study Questions to test your understanding or to guide discussion.

At the bottom, you’ll find links to the previous chapter, the next chapter, and the book’s main hub.

Happy reading!

Summary

The chapter opens with Cliff pacing his house, phone in hand, dreading a call he knows he has to make. He passes his daughter Emily’s closed bedroom door, which is decorated with a piece of paper covered in angry, block-lettered poetry—a clear signal that she wants to be left alone. Downstairs, his younger daughter Brittany and his mother-in-law Carol are watching wrestling on the couch, a Monday-night routine.

Cliff finally dials his ex-wife Tracy. The conversation is tense from the start. Tracy immediately assumes there’s a problem, and Cliff admits there is: Emily has a boyfriend and skipped school to see him. Tracy’s first reaction is worry about teen pregnancy, but Cliff defends Emily, pointing out that she’s smart and just brought home an all-A report card. Tracy remains skeptical and mentions that she has a work dinner in Chelsea. She says she’ll talk to the girls tomorrow, and the call ends without a proper goodbye—Tracy simply hangs up.

After the call, Cliff stands at the kitchen window, looking across the yard toward Michelle’s bedroom at the Bird & Breakfast. He reflects on Michelle’s emotional walls, which he admires even as they frustrate him. Then he sees her silhouette through the sheer curtains—she takes down her hair, moves around the room, and begins to lift her shirt. Cliff immediately turns away, uncomfortable with watching, and reminds himself he’s not that kind of guy. When he looks back, her room is dark. He tells himself he shouldn’t have been looking at all.

Key Events

Cliff avoids calling Tracy, pacing and passing Emily’s door with its “go away” poetry.
He observes Carol and Brittany watching wrestling, a familiar domestic scene.
Cliff calls Tracy and reveals Emily’s boyfriend and skipped school.
Tracy worries about teen pregnancy; Cliff counters with Emily’s good grades.
Tracy says she has a work dinner and will talk to the girls tomorrow; the call ends abruptly.
Cliff watches Michelle’s silhouette through her window, then stops himself and turns away.
He looks again and sees her room is dark, concluding he shouldn’t have been watching.

Character Development

Cliff is the focal point of this chapter, and we see several layers of his personality. He’s a protective father who feels the weight of co-parenting with a distant ex-wife. His internal monologue reveals nostalgia for his marriage to Tracy—he remembers her as a “perky blonde cheerleader” and admits he loved her and their imperfect family. Yet he also feels stung by her dismissive tone, and he struggles to communicate without conflict.

Cliff’s self-awareness grows when he reflects on his recent behavior with Michelle. He admits he’s been overbearing—barging into her house, making her eat lunch with him, and nearly confronting a teenage boy at the video store. He recognizes that his actions might have pushed her away, and he feels a pang of regret.

The window scene is pivotal for Cliff’s moral compass. He notices Michelle’s silhouette and is drawn to her, but he actively chooses to turn away when she begins to undress. This moment shows his respect for privacy and his desire to be a good man, even when tempted. His final thought—“I shouldn’t have been looking at anything anyway”—reinforces his internal struggle between attraction and propriety.

Tracy is only heard over the phone, but her characterization is clear: she’s guarded, quick to assume the worst, and emotionally distant. She doesn’t offer warmth or support, and her abrupt exit underscores the breakdown in their co-parenting relationship.

Michelle is not physically present, but Cliff’s observations reveal her strength and vulnerability. He admires her “screw everyone” attitude, yet he also sees her kindness and generosity. Her walls, he believes, are a defense mechanism, and he wishes he could see more of the person behind them.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Co-parenting tension is the chapter’s central theme. Cliff and Tracy’s phone call is a microcosm of their entire relationship: miscommunication, defensiveness, and a lack of closure. Tracy’s assumption that Cliff only calls when there’s a problem, and her refusal to say goodbye, highlight the emotional distance between them.

Communication breakdown is closely tied to this. Cliff struggles to express himself without being misunderstood, and Tracy’s curt responses leave him feeling bruised. The chapter shows how even well-intentioned updates can become battlegrounds.

Observation vs. intrusion is explored through the window scene. Cliff watches Michelle from a distance, but he’s aware that his gaze could cross a line. His decision to turn away is a deliberate act of self-restraint, contrasting with his earlier impulsive behavior.

Emotional walls are a recurring motif. Cliff explicitly thinks about Michelle’s walls, wondering when they were built and what they protect. He admires her toughness but also wishes he could see beyond them. This mirrors his own walls—he hides his loneliness behind humor and self-deprecation.

Nostalgia for past marriage appears in Cliff’s memories of Tracy as a young woman. He misses the simplicity of their earlier relationship, even as he acknowledges it wasn’t perfect. This nostalgia fuels his sadness and makes the current distance more painful.

Privacy boundaries are tested in the window scene. Cliff’s internal debate about whether it’s okay to watch Michelle shows his respect for her autonomy, even as he’s drawn to her.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for Cliff’s character. It deepens our understanding of his past and his present struggles, and it sets up his relationship with Michelle in a more nuanced way. The phone call with Tracy reveals the emotional baggage he carries, while the window scene shows his capacity for self-restraint and his growing feelings for Michelle.

The chapter also advances the theme of emotional walls—both Cliff’s and Michelle’s—and hints that their connection may be built on mutual vulnerability. Cliff’s admission that he’s been overbearing suggests he’s ready to change, which is a significant step in his arc.

Finally, the chapter’s quiet, domestic setting contrasts with the emotional turmoil inside Cliff, making the moment feel intimate and real. It’s a character-driven chapter that moves the story forward without relying on action, and it leaves the reader eager to see how Cliff will navigate his feelings for Michelle and his responsibilities as a father.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Cliff’s phone call with Tracy reveal his internal conflict about his past marriage?

Answer: Cliff’s memories of Tracy as a cheerful, carefree young woman contrast sharply with the guarded, dismissive person she is now. He admits he loved their imperfect family and misses the closeness they once had. Yet he also feels hurt by her coldness and struggles to communicate without defensiveness. This conflict shows that Cliff is still emotionally tied to his past, even as he tries to move forward.

2. What does the window scene reveal about Cliff’s character and his feelings for Michelle?

Answer: The scene shows Cliff’s attraction to Michelle—he notices her silhouette, her hair, and her movements—but it also demonstrates his self-restraint. He turns away when she begins to undress, reminding himself he’s not a peeping Tom. This moment reveals his respect for privacy and his desire to be a good man, even when tempted. It also shows that his feelings for Michelle are more than physical; he admires her strength and wishes to see past her walls.

3. How does the chapter use the motif of “walls” to develop both Cliff and Michelle?

Answer: Cliff explicitly thinks about Michelle’s emotional walls, wondering when they were built and what they protect. He admires her toughness but also wishes he could see more of her vulnerable side. This mirrors his own walls—he hides his loneliness behind humor and self-deprecation. The motif suggests that both characters are guarded, and their potential connection may require breaking down those walls.