Olivia 10: Chapter 20 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.

You can return to the chapter 19 summary if you need a refresher before continuing.

Otherwise, read on for a full breakdown of this pivotal chapter.

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Continue to chapter 21 when you're ready to move forward.

(This notice is part of the study companion, not the original text.)

Summary

The chapter opens on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, five months after Lily's death, with Olivia, Asher, Jordan, Selena, and Jordan's son Sam waiting in a courthouse conference room while the jury deliberates. The judge recesses for the night after the jury reports they are not close to a verdict. Olivia reflects on the agony of waiting, comparing it to her ex-husband Braden's patients' spouses who avoided the hospital during surgeries—she now understands why some people can't bear to keep vigil.

On Wednesday, Selena takes Sam back to Portsmouth, and the tension among the adults escalates. Asher, unable to bear the uncertainty, asks Jordan directly what will happen if they lose. Jordan admits the penalty would be life in prison but reassures Asher that he believes the case went well, citing his thirty-five years of experience, including the Peter Houghton mass murder case. That evening, Selena returns with a bottle of vodka, and the group drinks to pass the time.

At dawn on Thursday, Olivia goes out to check her beehives after a skunk attack. She finds claw marks and agitated bees. Mike Newcomb arrives, ostensibly to buy honey, but really to check on her. Their conversation turns intimate, and they share a passionate kiss—a moment of distraction and comfort for Olivia, who admits she doesn't like not seeing what's coming, but makes an exception for him.

At 9:00 a.m., the bailiff announces the jury has reached a verdict. Asher is terrified, nearly unable to walk. In the courtroom, Olivia watches the jurors; eleven avoid eye contact, but the twelfth looks directly at Asher. The foreperson announces a verdict of not guilty on the first-degree murder charge. The courtroom erupts in celebration, but Asher collapses into sobs, and across the gallery, Ava Campanello curls into a mirror image of grief.

After the verdict, Jordan and Selena pack to leave. Olivia tells Jordan his debt is clear—he saved Asher even if he couldn't save her from Braden. Jordan reminds Asher that being acquitted doesn't make the loss hurt any less and offers to meet for breakfast monthly. He also teases Olivia about Mike, having seen them from his bedroom window.

Exhausted, Olivia falls asleep at the kitchen table. She wakes to the sound of hammering and finds Asher in the tree house, boarding up its windows, removing all traces of occupation—the ship's wheel, hammock, and games are gone. He leaves only the afghan and the initials carved in the rafters. He nails the trapdoor shut from the outside, then plants wild daylilies at the base of the tree. Olivia watches, understanding this is something he must do alone. When he finishes, he says, “Okay,” and they walk back to the house together, leaving his childhood sealed behind.

Key Events

The jury deliberates for two full days without reaching a verdict, causing intense anxiety for the family.
Asher forces Jordan to confront the possibility of a guilty verdict; Jordan explains the life-in-prison penalty but expresses confidence in the case.
Selena provides vodka as a coping mechanism on Wednesday night.
A skunk attacks Olivia's hives, prompting her early-morning inspection and a visit from Mike Newcomb, leading to a kiss.
The jury returns a verdict of not guilty on the first-degree murder charge.
Asher breaks down in tears while Ava Campanello grieves visibly.
Jordan and Selena depart, and Olivia acknowledges Jordan's role in saving Asher.
Asher boards up the tree house, removes its contents, nails the trapdoor shut, and plants daylilies at its base—a symbolic act of closure.

Character Development

Olivia: Her internal monologue reveals her deep anxiety and her tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios. Her interaction with Mike shows her vulnerability and her need for human connection, even as she struggles with the lack of control. Her observation of Asher's actions demonstrates her growth as a mother who understands when to step back and bear witness.
Asher: He moves from paralyzed fear to overwhelming relief, but the relief is tinged with grief. His decision to seal the tree house—a space associated with Lily—shows his attempt to compartmentalize the past and begin healing. His sobbing after the verdict indicates that acquittal does not erase the emotional weight of the trial.
Jordan: He remains the pragmatic lawyer, offering reassurance while acknowledging the unpredictability of juries. His parting advice to Asher—that acquittal doesn't lessen the pain—reveals his empathy. His teasing about Mike shows a lighter side and his care for Olivia.
Selena: Though less prominent, she provides comic relief and emotional support, bringing vodka and later hugging Olivia. Her presence grounds the family.
Mike Newcomb: His early-morning visit demonstrates his concern for Olivia. The kiss reveals a growing intimacy, and his restraint (he pulls away first) suggests respect for her boundaries.
Ava Campanello: Her mirrored grief underscores the tragedy of Lily's death, reminding readers that the verdict does not bring closure for everyone.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Waiting and Uncertainty: The chapter's structure—snapshots across three days—emphasizes the agony of waiting. Olivia's reflection on hospital vigils and her description of the mind as a “Tilt-A-Whirl of worst-case scenarios” captures the psychological toll.
Vigil and Keeping Watch: Olivia's initial judgment of spouses who avoid the hospital gives way to understanding; waiting is a form of vigil, but it can be unbearable.
Worst-Case Scenario Thinking: Asher's insistence on discussing a guilty verdict and Olivia's fear of losing her child illustrate how the mind spirals in the absence of knowledge.
Innocence and Childhood: Sam's innocent assumption that everyone gets a turn to pick a book contrasts with Asher's scarred past. The tree house represents childhood, and Asher's act of sealing it off marks the end of that innocence.
Gender Strength and Femininity: Olivia recalls Éowyn from The Lord of the Rings, who defeats the Witch-king by revealing her identity as a woman. This memory ties to Olivia's own struggle to see femininity as strength, a theme that resonates with the trial's gender dynamics.
Beekeeping as Solace: Olivia's inspection of the hives provides a mechanical, methodical escape from her anxiety. The skunk attack symbolizes external threats, while the queen's survival offers a small reassurance.
Distraction and Comfort: Mike's kiss serves as a distraction, but Olivia acknowledges it's only a start. The vodka and the kiss are temporary escapes from the waiting.
Grief and Celebration Juxtaposition: The courtroom's celebration contrasts sharply with Asher's sobs and Ava's grief, highlighting that a verdict cannot undo a death.
Sealing Off the Past: Asher's boarding up of the tree house and nailing the trapdoor shut is a powerful symbol of his attempt to close off memories of Lily. The daylilies he plants—bright and wild—suggest remembrance and the possibility of new growth.
Debt and Gratitude: Olivia tells Jordan his debt is clear, referencing his failure to save her from Braden. This moment underscores the theme of family obligation and redemption.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the emotional climax of the trial arc. The verdict of not guilty resolves the central legal conflict, but the chapter immediately complicates that resolution by showing Asher's breakdown and Ava's grief. It also sets up the novel's aftermath: Asher's need to process his trauma, Olivia's evolving relationship with Mike, and the symbolic act of sealing the tree house, which foreshadows the novel's deeper revelations about Lily's death and Asher's hidden truths. The chapter's focus on waiting and the fragility of hope makes it a powerful meditation on how people cope with uncertainty and loss.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Asher insist on discussing the possibility of a guilty verdict, and what does Jordan tell him?

Asher wants to prepare for the worst-case scenario because the prolonged deliberations make him fear the outcome. Jordan explains that if found guilty, the penalty would be life in prison, but he reassures Asher that he believes the case went well, citing his experience with the Peter Houghton case. Jordan also notes that a jury's behavior is unpredictable, and he can't make promises.

2. What does Olivia's interaction with Mike reveal about her emotional state?

Olivia is overtired, anxious, and overwhelmed by the trial. She admits she doesn't like not seeing what's coming, but she makes an exception for Mike, allowing herself to be kissed and to kiss him back. This shows her need for comfort and distraction, as well as her willingness to let down her guard despite her usual caution.

3. What is the significance of Asher boarding up the tree house and planting daylilies?

The tree house is a space associated with his childhood and, implicitly, with Lily. By removing its contents, nailing the trapdoor shut, and planting daylilies at its base, Asher is symbolically sealing off that part of his past. The daylilies—bright and resilient—represent remembrance and the possibility of moving forward, even as he leaves the afghan inside as a sacred relic. The act is a private ritual of closure, which Olivia witnesses without intruding.