Chapter 28: Dooley – Summary and Analysis
Spoiler Notice
This chapter summary contains spoilers for Chapter 28 of My Beloved. If you have not read the chapter, proceed with caution.
Summary
During a hectic day at the clinic, Dooley and Lace steal a break in the storage room. They eat fried baloney sandwiches and talk about Christmas wishes, Harvey the beagle’s upcoming splenectomy, and their intense schedules. Dooley recalls Lace’s near-move to New York and how she ultimately chose a teaching job in Chapel Hill, which saved their relationship. They affirm they took chances on each other. Dooley mentions rehoming the old horse Ruby and raises concerns about aging farmhands Harley and Willie. They agree to discuss it later and focus on Christmas party plans. Lace snags a cookie for Dooley, and they share a laugh over Clyde Perry’s corny jokes. Blake and Amanda note that the couple is simply “livin’ th’ good life.”
Key Events
- Dooley and Lace sequester themselves in the clinic’s storage room for a private twenty-minute break.
- They unwrap sandwiches and chips; Dooley brings wooden crates for seats.
- Lace wishes for sleep and French fries with aioli; Dooley agrees.
- Dooley is nervous about performing a splenectomy on Harvey, a beagle who competed in the Westminster Dog Show.
- While eating, Dooley remembers a difficult period when Lace planned to move to New York City to paint murals.
- He recalls that he kept his fears to himself rather than argue with her.
- Lace instead accepted a low-paying art teaching job in Chapel Hill, which brought her closer to Dooley.
- She affirms she has no regrets about her choice.
- Dooley tells Lace he found a good home for Ruby, Thelma’s old mare, on thirty acres with a mule and two children.
- Dooley broaches the topic of Harley and Willie’s aging bodies and the need for younger help on the farm.
- Lace agrees they are family and that it’s important to think about, but they decide to address it later.
- They pivot to planning the Christmas party, which includes Dooley’s mother—a source of drama.
- Lace volunteers to get Dooley a peanut butter cookie from Harvey’s family.
- Dooley shares two bad jokes from Clyde Perry: his wife said the vacuum cleaner was “just gatherin’ dust,” and he sold his corn crop to a pirate.
- Blake and Amanda watch the door, speculating that Dooley and Lace are enjoying life and being in the moment.
Character Development
Dooley displays vulnerability as he admits being “jittery” about Harvey’s surgery and worries aloud about the farmhands’ physical decline. His care for animals extends beyond duty; he actively rehomes Ruby and carries the emotional weight of the farm’s future. He has learned to temper his speech, having kept silent during Lace’s New York plans to avoid pressuring her. His humor (repeating Clyde’s jokes) remains a coping mechanism.
Lace reinforces her role as a supportive partner. She listens, offers practical solutions (discussing matters later), and shows affection through small acts like getting a cookie. Her decision to stay near Dooley is portrayed as a conscious, regret-free choice that saved their relationship.
Together, their interactions reveal a resilient partnership built on open communication, shared burdens, and mutual respect. They can pivot from serious topics to laughter seamlessly.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Commitment and Sacrifice: Lace gave up a glamorous New York future for a modest teaching job and proximity to Dooley. Dooley, in turn, reeled in his anxiety to let her decide freely. Their mutual affirmation (“You took a chance on me”) underscores the theme of deliberate, chosen commitment.
Aging and Care: The chapter gently examines aging—through Harvey’s possible cancer, Ruby’s retirement, and Harley and Willie’s failing bodies. The characters must plan for the care of those who can no longer keep up.
Humor as Resilience: Jokes about vacuum cleaners and pirate corn sales are Dooley and Lace’s way of defusing stress. Even “bad jokes” become valuable when life is demanding.
Home and Belonging: Lace’s return to “home ground” and the couple’s determination to keep the farm community intact highlight the importance of rootedness.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 28 offers a quiet but crucial look at Dooley and Lace’s partnership. It shows that their love is not just romantic but practical—they manage tough conversations, support each other’s work, and find joy in simple moments. The chapter also deepens the novel’s concern with caring for aging beings, both animals and humans, and reinforces the theme that family extends beyond blood. It prepares readers for upcoming decisions about the farm and the Christmas gathering, while showcasing Dooley’s growth from a guarded youth to a man who shares his worries with his wife.
Study Questions and Answers
-
Why does Dooley say he “kept his mouth shut” about Lace’s New York plans? What does this reveal about his growth?
Answer: Dooley realized that protesting could push Lace away. His silence shows he had learned to trust her and to avoid unnecessary conflict—a marked change from his earlier, more impulsive reactions in previous books. -
How does the conversation about Harley and Willie reflect the theme of family?
Answer: Dooley and Lace both refer to Harley and Willie as “family,” not merely workers. Their concern for the men’s physical decline underscores that the Kavanagh household includes those who have long served the farm, and decisions about their care are made jointly and with love. -
What role does humor play in this chapter? Give two examples.
Answer: Humor allows Dooley and Lace to release tension. First, Clyde Perry’s vacuum-cleaner joke (“just gatherin’ dust”) makes them laugh despite its corniness. Second, the pirate corn-sale joke (“He got a buccaneer!”) lightens the mood before Dooley’s surgery. These moments show that shared laughter is essential to their bond.