Chapter 20 Summary: Kenna’s Past and Present Collide
Spoiler Notice
This summary and analysis contain major spoilers for Chapter 20 of Reminders of Him. If you have not yet read this chapter, proceed with caution.
Summary
The chapter opens with Kenna alone in her apartment, wrestling with a dark impulse: she fantasizes about kidnapping Diem. She imagines a whirlwind week of treats and Disney World before turning herself in, hoping Diem would remember her forever. However, Kenna restrains herself because she clings to the possibility that Patrick and Grace may someday allow her to meet Diem legally. She also acknowledges that Diem does not know her and would be traumatized by being taken from the only parents she has ever known. Kenna resolves to live the next thirteen years in a way that makes Diem proud when she eventually learns the truth.
Unable to sleep due to insomnia that has plagued her since Scotty died, Kenna’s mind drifts to Ledger. She is angry that he intercepted her at his house, yet she feels a spark of hope in his presence. She wonders if he regrets kissing her because of his loyalty to Scotty or because of what she did. She desperately wants him to see the version of herself that Scotty saw.
The narrative then shifts to a flashback of the first time Kenna met Scotty’s parents. She felt out of place in their loving, normal home. During dinner, she was self-conscious about her low-cut shirt and awkwardness. After the meal, she sat on the porch with Scotty. His mother, Grace, caught Kenna holding a cigarette and silently gave her a cup for ashes. Kenna felt judged. Later, Scotty carried her upstairs past family photos, and they talked in his room. Kenna opened up about her neglectful mother and lack of family. Scotty promised to give her a home where she could be her true self. They made love, but Kenna was mortified that Grace might have heard. The next morning, Grace would not meet her eyes, confirming Kenna’s belief that she did not belong.
Key Events
- Kenna contemplates kidnapping Diem but decides against it for ethical and practical reasons.
- Kenna reflects on her insomnia and conflicted feelings toward Ledger.
- A flashback recalls her first—and only—visit to Scotty’s family home.
- Grace catches Kenna with a cigarette and offers a cup for ashes, deepening Kenna’s shame.
- Scotty reassures Kenna and promises to build a home where she feels safe.
- Kenna reveals her traumatic upbringing to Scotty, describing a mother who neglected her.
- The morning after, Grace’s cold demeanor convinces Kenna she will never be accepted.
Character Development
Kenna shows growth by choosing not to act on her kidnapping fantasy, putting Diem’s well-being above her own desperate need for connection. The flashback reveals her vulnerability, shame, and deep longing for normalcy—traits that humanize her and explain her current isolation. Her openness with Scotty about her past marks a rare moment of trust.
Scotty is portrayed as empathetic and supportive, offering Kenna a vision of a future home that she has never known. His promise underscores the love that was lost.
Grace is established as a warm mother to her son but suspicious of Kenna, foreshadowing the rift that continues after Scotty’s death.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Motherhood – Kenna’s conflicted desire to be a mother versus her awareness of what is best for Diem.
- Belonging and Class – The dinner scene highlights Kenna’s feeling of being an outsider in a stable, loving family.
- The Cigarette – A symbol of Kenna’s perceived “wrongness” in Grace’s eyes; Grace’s silent offer of a cup for ashes represents veiled judgment.
- The Promise of a Home – Scotty’s vow to give Kenna a place where she can be her true self foreshadows the dream that was shattered by his death.
- Memory and Guilt – Kenna’s insomnia ties directly to Scotty’s death; her present thoughts are haunted by both him and Ledger.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 20 deepens the novel’s emotional stakes by giving readers a clear picture of Kenna’s past and her lingering trauma. The kidnapping fantasy shows how desperate she is while also proving her moral restraint. The flashback explains the origins of Grace’s hostility and Kenna’s lifelong hunger for acceptance. This chapter also sets up Kenna’s fragile hope that Ledger might see her differently, laying groundwork for their complicated relationship to evolve.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Kenna ultimately decide not to kidnap Diem?
Kenna stops herself because she hopes Patrick and Grace might one day allow her to meet Diem legally. She also recognizes that Diem does not know her and would be traumatized by being taken from the only parents she has ever loved.
2. What does the flashback reveal about Kenna’s background and her feelings toward Scotty’s family?
The flashback shows Kenna grew up with a neglectful mother and no stable family. Meeting the McRaes, she feels both awe and shame. She longs to belong but senses Grace’s silent disapproval, especially after Grace sees her with a cigarette and hears the couple having sex.
3. How does Kenna’s view of Ledger shift in this chapter?
Kenna is angry at Ledger for intercepting her, but she also feels hope when she is near him. She wants him to see the good side Scotty saw. Her question about whether he regrets the kiss reveals her anxiety about being judged both as Scotty’s girlfriend and as the cause of his death.