Chapter Sixteen: Lily – Atlas’s Brother and a Heartfelt Text
⚠️ 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
Lily wakes with her one‑year‑old daughter Emmy, reflecting on how motherhood has changed her mornings. She thinks about the difficulty of divorcing Ryle and the challenge of co‑parenting with a person she still fears and feels sorry for. Her mother Jenny and stepfather Rob arrive to take Emmy to the botanical gardens, giving Lily a rare free day. After they leave, Lily video‑calls Atlas. He reveals he has moved to a house closer to his restaurant. Through the call, Lily sees a boy who looks like Atlas—his younger brother, Josh. Atlas explains that Josh, now fourteen, has been the one vandalizing his restaurants because he thought Atlas knew about him. Atlas had only learned of Josh’s existence the night before. Atlas admits he is considering seeking custody of Josh, fearing what will happen if the boy stays with their mother. Lily encourages him, and after the call Atlas sends a long text thanking her and saying “I absolutely should have kissed you.” Lily replies, “You’re right. You absolutely should have kissed me.”
Key Events
- Lily contemplates the ongoing complications of co‑parenting with Ryle.
- Jenny and Rob pick up Emmy, and Rob hints that he knows Lily plans to sneak off to see Atlas.
- Lily video‑calls Atlas and learns he moved closer to the restaurant.
- Atlas introduces his younger brother Josh, whom he just met the previous night.
- Josh vandalized Atlas’s restaurants out of anger, believing Atlas knew he existed.
- Atlas discusses with a lawyer the possibility of gaining custody.
- Atlas confesses his fear of failing as a guardian.
- Lily reassures Atlas that all parents feel like impostors.
- After the call, Atlas sends a vulnerable text and Lily reciprocates with a clear sign of romantic interest.
Character Development
Lily: This chapter shows Lily asserting her own needs despite her lingering concern for Ryle’s feelings. She acknowledges she is “tired of always feeling sorry for him” and wonders how long she must wait before dating without Ryle’s jealousy being justified. Her willingness to support Atlas emotionally—even when his news is shocking—demonstrates her growing empathy and trust.
Atlas: Atlas is thrust into a new role as a potential guardian. He reveals his tender side by worrying about whether he is “capable of something like this.” His decision to confront his mother and seek custody shows his desire to break the cycle of neglect he experienced. The text exchange also reveals his romantic vulnerability and his clear feelings for Lily.
Josh: Though Josh does not appear in person, his introduction as a vandal driven by a sense of abandonment echoes Atlas’s own past and adds a new layer of family trauma.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Co‑parenting and divorce: Lily’s internal monologue about navigating shared holidays, daily schedules, and feelings of resentment captures the messy reality of ending a marriage when a child is involved.
- Family trauma and redemption: Josh’s anger and Atlas’s immediate desire to help him mirror the abuse Atlas suffered. Atlas hopes to offer his brother the stability he never had.
- Communication as connection: The chapter relies on video calls and texts to convey emotional intimacy. The final text exchange serves as a turning point, solidifying the romantic bond between Lily and Atlas.
- Motherhood: Lily’s delight in Emmy (even as she rushes through mornings) and Jenny’s eagerness to spend time with her granddaughter highlight both the joy and the constant negotiation of parental roles.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter Sixteen introduces a major new character (Josh) and deepens Atlas’s backstory, making him more than just Lily’s romantic interest. It explains the vandalism subplot that has simmered in earlier chapters and raises the stakes for Atlas’s personal growth. At the same time, Lily’s reflections on co‑parenting advance the theme of independence and set up future conflicts with Ryle. The chapter ends with a romantic affirmation—Atlas and Lily acknowledge they should have kissed—which promises a more open relationship moving forward.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Lily hesitate to send Ryle a picture of Emmy at the start of the chapter?
She is still upset about the previous night’s confrontation with Ryle and does not feel like reaching out while angry. This shows how the emotional aftermath of their divorce affects even small, everyday gestures.
2. What reason does Atlas give for Josh vandalizing his restaurants?
Josh believed Atlas knew he existed and had been ignoring him. In reality, Atlas only discovered Josh’s existence the night before, when their mother contacted him. Josh’s anger was misdirected but understandable given his history.
3. How does the text exchange between Lily and Atlas advance their relationship?
Atlas admits he “absolutely should have kissed” Lily, and she agrees. This direct acknowledgment of mutual romantic interest moves them past their earlier hesitation about taking things slow and signals a readiness to pursue a deeper connection.