Chapter 28 (The Fall): Evie Confronts Her Father’s Wedding
⚠️ 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
Evie comes home from school to find her mother gripping the patio doorframe and her sister Danica on the phone with their father. Evie’s mother forces her to speak with him. On speakerphone, Evie’s father announces that he is marrying Shirley—the woman he cheated on her mother with. Evie responds with cold anger, refusing to attend the wedding. Her mother tries to reason with her but eventually agrees not to force her, though she asks Evie to think about it. After the call, Evie retreats to her phone, where she receives excited texts from Sophie and Cassidy about their new relationship and a casual text from X, which she rebuffs. Alone that night, Evie reflects on her visions of love’s inevitable demise and concludes that falling in love is like leaping onto spikes made from the bones of previous jumpers.
Key Events
- Evie arrives home to find the patio door open and her mother visibly upset.
- Danica is on the phone with their father; Evie is forced to take the call.
- Evie’s father tells her he is marrying Shirley.
- Evie refuses to attend, using the bathroom excuse to end the conversation.
- Evie’s mother attempts a parental talk but gives in when Evie begs not to be forced.
- Evie receives texts from Sophie and Cassidy (now girlfriends) and from X, but she shuts down the conversation with X.
- The chapter closes with Evie’s internal monologue comparing love to a deadly fall.
Character Development
Evie remains consumed by anger toward her father, unable to separate his past betrayal from his current happiness. Her refusal to attend the wedding shows her commitment to self-preservation, even at the cost of family harmony. She also withdraws from X, repressing any romantic hope. Danica is portrayed as the forgiving optimist, unaware of the real reason for the divorce. Mom exhibits emotional strain and attempts to mediate, but ultimately she prioritizes Evie’s feelings over her father’s wishes. Evie’s father (unnamed in the chapter) reveals his duplicity and continues to use pet names (“sweet pea”) that Evie rejects, highlighting their broken bond.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Duplicity and Trust: The chapter underscores how infidelity destroys trust. Evie cannot believe her father’s sympathy because he acted deceptively.
The Fall as Metaphor: Evie imagines love as a literal fall onto spikes, symbolizing the pain that awaits anyone who risks vulnerability. This image directly echoes the chapter title.
Communication Barriers: Speakerphone, bathroom excuses, and abbreviated texts all represent Evie’s attempts to avoid genuine connection.
Family Fragmentation: The divorce is now cemented by a remarriage, making reconstruction impossible for Evie.
Why This Chapter Matters
This is the emotional turning point where Evie’s cynicism solidifies. Her father’s wedding announcement forces her to confront the permanence of the divorce and the reason for it—his infidelity. The chapter also deepens her internal conflict: she wants to be happy for Sophie and Cassidy, but her visions and personal pain prevent her from believing in happy endings. Her refusal to engage with X sets up a central tension for the rest of the story. The closing metaphor of spikes made from “bones of other jumpers” is the novel’s most direct statement about the perceived danger of love.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Evie refuse to attend her father’s wedding?
Evie refuses because she fears witnessing her father’s happiness will be too painful. She also knows her visions would show how his new marriage ends, and she does not want to commemorate the “official end of our family.” Additionally, she cannot forgive his duplicity: he cheated on her mother with Shirley, and attending would feel like condoning that betrayal.
2. How does this chapter develop the theme of trust?
Trust is shown as fragile and easily shattered. Evie’s father disarmed his previous closeness with her through infidelity, and now any attempt at sympathy rings false. Evie’s unwillingness to trust X—even though he has done nothing wrong—demonstrates how past betrayal can poison future relationships. Even Sophie and Cassidy’s joy is tinged for Evie because she fears their relationship will end.
3. What is the significance of the fall metaphor at the end of the chapter?
The fall metaphor crystallizes Evie’s belief that love is a dangerous leap with a guaranteed horrific landing. She rejects the common notion that taking a chance on love is worth the risk; instead, she insists that those who jump are blind to the spikes awaiting them. This image foreshadows her ongoing struggle to open her heart and sets up a potential reversal if she ever chooses to trust again.