Chapter summaries Not a Happy Family Shari Lapena

Chapter 6 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.

Summary

After returning home from the tense Easter dinner at his parents’ house, Dan and Lisa talk briefly before Lisa settles into the den to read. Dan, however, cannot sit still or focus. He pours himself a whiskey and paces in the dark living room, brooding over his father’s decision to sell the family business and the subsequent loss of his job. He recalls how he had initially hoped the new owners would keep him on, and even nursed a private ambition to rise within the company, but he was told his services would not be required. His father’s sneering response—"What did you expect?"—still stings.

Dan’s thoughts turn to his financial desperation. He had unwisely invested a large sum from their portfolio into a private mortgage with a high rate of return, but now he cannot access the money until the term ends. His father has refused to give him a short-term loan, and Dan feels ruined. He clings to the hope of his inheritance, though he knows his parents have always played favorites, with Catherine as the clear front-runner and himself as the least favored. He resents that his father will not advance him money, believing a real father would help.

After a long while, Dan tells Lisa he is going for a drive. She suggests a walk together, but he declines, saying he just wants to clear his head. Once in the car, he turns off his cell phone.

Lisa, left alone, cannot concentrate on her novel. She worries about Dan’s habit of night drives, especially after he has been drinking. She understands his anxiety—they are both stressed about money—but she is also troubled by his secrecy about his job search. He has been vague about interviews, and she knows he signed up with an executive search company but has had few recent leads. Driven by worry, she decides to snoop in his office for the first time. She opens his day planner and finds it nearly empty: only a dentist appointment in three weeks and a doctor’s appointment from a couple of weeks ago are recorded. She distinctly remembers him dressing in his steel-gray suit and navy suit for interviews in March, but there is no record of those appointments. Her heart sinks as she realizes he may have been lying to her—perhaps dressing up and going out to sit alone somewhere for hours.

Meanwhile, Catherine and Ted have returned home from the same Easter dinner and binge-watch Netflix to distract themselves. As the credits roll, Catherine voices her worry that her mother, Sheila, had hinted at something important she wanted to discuss. Ted suggests she call or wait until tomorrow, but Catherine is obsessive once she has something on her mind. She calls her mother’s cell phone, but there is no answer. She refuses to call the landline because she does not want to risk speaking to her father. Despite Ted’s protests, she decides to drive over to her parents’ house to find out what her mother wanted to say. She kisses Ted and leaves, and as he watches her car disappear, he notices she has left her cell phone on the hall table.

Key Events

  • Dan and Lisa return home from Easter dinner; Dan is restless and brooding.
  • Dan reflects on losing his job, his financial strain, and his father’s refusal to loan him money.
  • Dan goes for a night drive and turns off his phone.
  • Lisa, worried, searches Dan’s office and finds his day planner nearly empty, with no record of the interviews she remembers.
  • Catherine and Ted watch Netflix; Catherine worries about her mother’s hinted news.
  • Catherine calls her mother, gets no answer, and decides to drive over despite Ted’s objections.
  • Catherine forgets her cell phone as she leaves.

Character Development

Dan is consumed by financial desperation and resentment. His pride prevents him from accepting help, and he feels betrayed by his father. His decision to turn off his phone and drive alone suggests a need for escape and possibly a dangerous impulse. His thoughts about his inheritance and his father’s favoritism reveal a deep-seated bitterness.

Lisa emerges as a worried and increasingly suspicious partner. Her decision to snoop in Dan’s office marks a turning point—she has never crossed that line before. Her discovery of the empty planner shatters her trust and forces her to confront the possibility that Dan has been deceiving her.

Catherine is shown as obsessive and determined. Her inability to let go of her mother’s hint, even late at night, drives her to act impulsively. Her refusal to call the landline to avoid her father highlights the strained family dynamics. Her forgetfulness about her phone foreshadows potential danger.

Ted is supportive but concerned. He tries to calm Catherine and suggests waiting until morning, but he recognizes her obsessive nature. His observation of the forgotten phone adds to the mounting tension.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Financial desperation and pride: Dan’s refusal to let Lisa work and his anger at his father’s refusal to loan money illustrate how pride can worsen a crisis.
  • Deception and lying: Lisa’s discovery of the empty planner suggests Dan may be lying about his job search, eroding trust.
  • Snooping and privacy invasion: Lisa’s first act of snooping marks a breach in their marriage, driven by anxiety.
  • Parental favoritism and inheritance expectations: Dan’s resentment of Catherine’s favored status and his reliance on his inheritance highlight family tensions.
  • Night drives as escape: Dan’s habit of driving at night serves as a coping mechanism, but also a way to avoid facing his problems.
  • Unanswered questions and foreshadowing: Catherine’s unanswered call and her late-night visit set up potential danger, especially with her forgotten phone.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the mystery and raises the stakes. It reveals Dan’s financial desperation and his potential motive for harm, while also showing the erosion of trust between him and Lisa. Catherine’s impulsive decision to drive to her parents’ house at night, combined with her forgotten phone, creates a sense of impending danger. The chapter also highlights the family’s fractured dynamics and the secrets each member harbors, setting the stage for the central conflict of the novel.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What does Lisa discover in Dan’s day planner, and why is it significant?

Lisa finds that Dan’s planner is nearly empty, with only a dentist appointment and a doctor’s appointment recorded. She remembers him dressing in suits for interviews in March, but there is no record of those appointments. This suggests Dan may have been lying about his job search, possibly going out to sit alone instead of attending interviews. The discovery shatters Lisa’s trust and raises questions about Dan’s honesty.

2. How does Dan’s attitude toward his father and inheritance affect his actions?

Dan feels betrayed by his father’s sale of the business and his refusal to loan money. He resents that his parents favor Catherine and that he is the least favorite child. He clings to the hope of his inheritance as a solution to his financial problems, but he needs money now. This resentment and desperation may drive him to drastic actions, as hinted by his urge to do "something drastic, something final."

3. Why does Catherine decide to drive to her parents’ house despite Ted’s objections?

Catherine is obsessive about the hint her mother gave about something important. She cannot let it go and worries she will not sleep without finding out. She calls her mother’s cell phone, but gets no answer, and refuses to call the landline to avoid speaking to her father. Her determination overrides Ted’s advice to wait until morning, leading her to leave her phone behind—a detail that may prove crucial later.

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