Chapter 36 Summary: 5:00 a.m. — The Aftermath of the Night

⚠️ 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

After the chaos of the night, the six Rivas—Nina, Jay, Hud, Kit, Mick, and Casey—sit together on the beach in silence. The weight of the past two decades hangs over them: the question of whether Mick could ever belong to them has been answered, but the answer is complicated. Nina feels the Santa Ana winds picking up and notes the cold, prompting them to store the surfboards and climb the cliff back to the house.

As they ascend, Jay struggles to process everything that has happened. He realizes he does not want to be anything like his father, and he admits to himself that Hud has always been the man he looks up to. He catches up to Hud and asks him to be truly sorry—so sorry that Jay can trust him again. Hud allows his sorrow to surface, and Jay accepts his apology, taking Hud's weight onto his shoulder to help him up the cliff.

Hud's thoughts turn to their mother, June, and the story she told him about choosing to love him the moment he was handed to her. He resolves to love his own child the same way: actively, every day, without ambiguity. He imagines a future where his children might confront him about his mistakes, but he knows one thing for certain—he will never leave.

Kit, despite her resentment, feels something for her father. She is relieved to learn he has a soul, however imperfect, and it makes her less afraid of her own depths. She asks Nina about the place in Portugal Nina mentioned earlier. Nina reveals it is Madeira, where she dreams of living in a tiny house on the water, anonymous and free from her family's fame and her marriage to Brandon. Kit sees this as something they can do for Nina.

Mick, for his part, decides that if he truly loves his children, he should leave them alone. He plans to hug each of them, give them his number, and drive away in his Jag. He offers Casey a paternity test, and she squeezes his hand in response.

Back at the house, the remaining police officers leave after handling some vandals. Mick hugs his sons, his possible daughter, and Kit, then thanks Nina for the person she has been her entire life. Before she can respond, he is gone. Nina sits on the steps with her siblings, and Casey stands by the door. Hud invites her to sit with them, saying she is one of them. Kit scoots over, Jay squeezes her shoulder, and Nina pats her knee. The family makes room for Casey, and June's legacy lives on through her children.

Key Events

The six Rivas sit in silence on the beach before Nina notes the cold and they head inside.
Jay tells Hud he needs him to be truly sorry; Hud's sincere remorse restores their trust.
Hud resolves to love his child actively and never leave, inspired by June's example.
Kit asks Nina about Portugal; Nina reveals her dream of living in Madeira in anonymity.
Mick decides that loving his children means leaving them alone and offers Casey a paternity test.
The police leave after handling vandals; Mick hugs each child, thanks Nina, and departs.
Casey is welcomed into the family as Nina's siblings make room for her.

Character Development

Jay: He confronts his admiration for his father and rejects that path, instead recognizing Hud as his true role model. His demand for genuine remorse shows his need for honesty and trust.
Hud: He processes his betrayal and commits to being a present, active father, drawing on June's love. He also extends acceptance to Casey.
Kit: She begins to see her father as a flawed human, which helps her accept herself. She also notices Nina's honesty and pushes her to articulate her dream.
Nina: She reveals her desire for anonymity and a simple life, a significant step in her self-understanding. She also accepts Casey's presence.
Mick: He redefines love as leaving his children alone, offering a paternity test to Casey and expressing gratitude to Nina. His departure is a form of redemption.
Casey: She moves from the threshold to the family circle, accepting their embrace.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Belonging and family rearrangement: The chapter shows the family making room for Casey and for Nina's future departure, redefining who counts as family.
Absence and presence: Mick's decision to leave is framed as an act of love, while Hud's commitment to stay contrasts with his father's pattern.
Rejecting paternal legacy: Jay explicitly decides not to be like Mick, and Hud chooses a different path for his own child.
Active love: June's example of choosing to love Hud becomes a model for Hud's parenting.
Escape from fame: Nina's Madeira dream represents a desire for identity outside celebrity and family history.
The surfboards and the Jag: The surfboards symbolize shared history and the family's bond; the Jag represents Mick's departure and his role as an outsider.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter resolves the central question of whether Mick can belong to his children. It shows that belonging is not automatic but chosen, and that the Riva siblings can create their own family. It also sets up Nina's eventual departure and the siblings' unity, and it gives Mick a form of redemption through leaving. The chapter emphasizes that love can be expressed through absence as well as presence, and that the next generation can break the cycle of abandonment.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Jay ask Hud to be so sorry that he knows he'll never lie again?

Jay needs absolute assurance that Hud's betrayal won't repeat. He wants to preserve their trust and their relationship, which is more important to him than Hud's apology itself. Hud's sincere remorse allows Jay to forgive him and move forward.

What does Nina's dream of Madeira reveal about her character?

Nina's dream reveals her desire for anonymity and freedom from the pressures of fame and family expectations. She wants to live simply, without being known as Mick Riva's daughter or Brandon's ex-wife. This dream shows her longing for a self-defined identity.

How does Mick's decision to leave his children reflect his understanding of love?

Mick believes that his presence has caused harm, so he chooses to leave to protect them. He offers a paternity test to Casey and expresses gratitude to Nina, showing that he can acknowledge his failures. His departure is his way of giving them space to heal.