Samantha's Chapter 31: Summary, Themes, 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 Nina and Jamie step out of the room, Sam and Jeff are left alone for the first time in a long while. Sam tentatively asks about Jamie, but Jeff deflects, saying it is a long story. Jeff grabs two beers from a refrigerated drawer in a Louis XIV dresser, and Sam opens hers using a trick Marshall taught her—flipping one bottle upside down to pop the cap of another. Jeff is amused and notes there is a bottle opener nearby, but Sam explains she likes doing it this way.

The mention of Marshall makes Sam's voice catch, and Jeff notices. He asks if they broke up. Sam says no, not yet, but admits they have not been talking much. She then confides that Marshall is in Hawaii, working on a fishing boat. Jeff is surprised—this confirms the tip they once received that Sam was on Molokai. Sam explains that she worked on a fishing boat until she heard Beatrice was hurt, and that Marshall offered to come back with her but she told him to wait for her. Jeff asks what Sam means by Marshall