Chapter 39: Audrey — 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
Chapter 39 opens on the morning of April 22, 2023, in Pittsburgh. Audrey wakes to find Mr. Montgomery tapping her leg, holding up a quarter—the same token that sent her back in time. She's disoriented, her head pounding, but the familiar sounds of the city—car horns, street noise—confirm she's finally home. Lucy is beside her, still in her ornate wedding dress, taking in the overwhelming sights and sounds of the modern world.
Audrey reaches for Lucy's hand, and Lucy pulls her into a kiss before Mr. Montgomery interrupts, telling them there will be plenty of time for that later. Audrey thanks him, and he jokes that it was her graduation present. He reveals that no time has passed in the present—she hasn't missed her final exams or the last month of school. He hands her a newspaper dated April 22, 2023, and her leather bag containing her drawings.
The portfolio is full of pages that show how much Audrey has changed: her authentic style, her feelings for Lucy, her physical self. She realizes that if she gets into art school, she can go without leaving her parents behind. She can take risks if she trusts herself. Mr. Montgomery offers to send them on another trip—the Oregon Trail or medieval Europe—but Audrey declines, saying they're fine with not getting the plague.
As they walk through Pittsburgh, Lucy experiences culture shock: short skirts, nose piercings, ripped trousers, pink hair. Audrey worries Lucy might regret her decision, but Lucy smiles and says she's never better. They arrive at Cameron's Corner Shop, and Audrey says, “Home.”
Inside, Audrey's mom screams and hugs her, worried she was kidnapped. Audrey introduces Lucy as her girlfriend, nervous about coming out for the first time. Her mom doesn't bat an eye and hugs Lucy warmly. Her dad comes around the corner with Cooper the dog, and he also seems oddly calm.
Then Mr. Montgomery walks in, and Audrey's parents reveal they already know about his time travel. They tell Audrey that when she was in elementary school, Mr. Montgomery sent them to early 1900s Paris to settle an argument over a family recipe—boeuf bourguignon. They spent twenty-five days there, and while they did find the recipe, they realized the real purpose of the trip was to figure out what they wanted out of life: whether to keep the store, and what they wanted from each other. They even met Audrey's great-grandparents, who owned a grocery store.
Mr. Montgomery then explains his own origin story. As a boy, he was trapped in the Maple Creek coal mine with only a quarter and a lunch pail. He wished to be anywhere but there and woke up in the middle of a jousting tournament in the 1300s, where he met his best friend, Nicholas, who came back with him. Nicholas majored in history at CMU and lives in Braddock. Mr. Montgomery says it took years to understand that his ability was always connected to helping people, just as he was helped with his wish in the mine. He mentions that his brother lost an arm to a saber-toothed tiger but found his first wife, so “you win some, you lose some.”
The chapter ends with Audrey's dad turning the shop sign to closed and heading upstairs to the apartment. He says Lucy can stay, but they can't sleep in the same bed—Lucy gets the couch or a sleeping bag. Audrey and Lucy exchange a knowing look, remembering all the nights they spent together at Radcliffe. Audrey feels grateful for everything that happened and excited for everything to come: art school, traveling, helping Lucy find her place in the modern world. She squeezes Lucy's hand, knowing the best part will be doing it all together.
Key Events
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Audrey wakes in Pittsburgh on April 22, 2023, with Lucy beside her; Mr. Montgomery confirms no time has passed in the present.
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Mr. Montgomery returns Audrey's portfolio, which now contains her authentic, personal artwork.
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Audrey and Lucy walk through Pittsburgh, with Lucy experiencing modern culture shock.
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Audrey introduces Lucy to her parents as her girlfriend—her first time coming out to them.
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Audrey's parents reveal they already knew about Mr. Montgomery's time travel, having visited 1900s Paris themselves.
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Mr. Montgomery explains his origin: trapped in a coal mine as a boy, he wished away and landed in the 1300s, later using his ability to help others.
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Audrey's dad sets a boundary: Lucy can stay, but they can't share a bed.
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Audrey feels grateful and excited about building a future with Lucy.
Character Development
Audrey has transformed dramatically over the course of the novel. In this chapter, she demonstrates her growth by coming out to her parents for the first time—something she never thought she'd do. She also shows newfound confidence in her art, recognizing that her portfolio now reflects her true vision rather than what others expect. Her decision to decline Mr. Montgomery's offer of another time-travel adventure shows she's ready to embrace her own present and future.
Lucy faces the overwhelming challenge of adapting to a completely unfamiliar world. Despite the culture shock, she remains calm and even playful, giggling at the modern conveniences and patting Cooper's head. Her willingness to meet Audrey's parents and her quiet confidence suggest she's ready to build a new life in 2023.
Mr. Montgomery is revealed to be more than a quirky old man—he's a man who was once trapped and desperate, and who has spent his life helping others find their way, just as he was helped. His backstory adds depth to his role as a guide and mentor.
Audrey's parents show remarkable openness and acceptance. Their own time-travel experience in Paris reveals that they, too, once needed to step away from their lives to figure out what they truly wanted. This shared experience creates a bond between the generations and normalizes the extraordinary.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The quarter as a time travel token — The quarter that Mr. Montgomery holds up at the start of the chapter is the same one that sent Audrey back in time. It symbolizes the small, ordinary objects that can carry extraordinary meaning and the idea that a single choice can change everything.
Time travel as a gift for personal growth — Mr. Montgomery's explanation of his ability—that it's always been about helping people figure themselves out—reinforces the novel's central theme. Time travel isn't about escaping; it's about returning with clarity. Audrey's parents' trip to Paris serves the same purpose: they went to find a recipe but discovered what they wanted out of life.
Homecoming and family acceptance — Audrey's return to Cameron's Corner Shop is a literal homecoming, but it's also an emotional one. Her parents' immediate acceptance of Lucy—and of Audrey's coming out—represents the safety and love that make home feel like home.
Authentic artistic self-expression — Audrey's portfolio is described as showing her true style and vision, including her feelings for Lucy and her physical self. This represents her growth from creating art to please others to creating art that is authentically hers.
Shared experience across generations — Audrey's parents' time-travel story mirrors Audrey's own journey, showing that the need to step back, reflect, and find one's path is universal across generations.
Building a shared future — The chapter ends with Audrey and Lucy looking forward together—art school, travel, helping Lucy find her place. The future is no longer something to fear but something to build together.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter serves as the emotional and thematic resolution of the novel. It brings Audrey home, reunites her with her family, and confirms that her relationship with Lucy can survive the transition to the modern world. It also deepens the novel's mythology by revealing Mr. Montgomery's origin story and the true purpose of his time-travel gift.
The chapter also completes Audrey's character arc: she arrives home with a portfolio that reflects her authentic self, she comes out to her parents without fear, and she faces the future with confidence rather than anxiety. The parallel between Audrey's journey and her parents' trip to Paris reinforces the idea that time travel is ultimately about personal growth, not escape.
Finally, the chapter offers a satisfying, hopeful ending that honors the romance at the heart of the story while grounding it in the practical realities of family, home, and the everyday future.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Mr. Montgomery's origin story reinforce the novel's central theme about time travel?
Mr. Montgomery's story—being trapped in a coal mine as a boy, wishing to be anywhere else, and ending up in the 1300s—shows that his ability was born from desperation and a desire for escape. But he explains that it took years to understand that his gift was always connected to helping people, just as he was helped with his wish. This reinforces the theme that time travel is not about running away but about gaining perspective and clarity, which then allows people to return to their lives with purpose.
2. What does Audrey's portfolio represent, and why is it significant that Mr. Montgomery returns it to her?
The portfolio represents Audrey's artistic and personal growth. The drawings show her authentic style, her feelings for Lucy, and her physical self—all things she previously suppressed or altered to please others. Mr. Montgomery returning it symbolizes the completion of her journey: she has earned the right to claim her true self. The portfolio also gives her a practical path forward, since she still has time to finish it for her art school application.
3. How do Audrey's parents' reactions to her coming out and to Lucy's presence reflect the novel's themes of acceptance and home?
Audrey's parents accept Lucy immediately, without hesitation or judgment. Her mom hugs Lucy warmly, and her dad's only boundary is about sleeping arrangements—a normal parental rule that grounds the extraordinary situation in everyday family life. Their acceptance is especially meaningful because Audrey never thought she'd introduce a girlfriend to her parents. Their openness, combined with their own time-travel experience, shows that home is a place of unconditional love and that acceptance across generations is possible.
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