Chapter 40 (Chapter 39) Summary: The Letter – Reminders of Him
Warning: This chapter contains major plot developments. Spoilers ahead.
Summary
Ledger returns home from Kenna’s apartment but does not enter his own house. Instead, he goes directly to Patrick and Grace’s door. Grace opens, and Ledger says that Diem wanted to show him her turtle—a simple statement that signals his priority remains Diem. He goes to Diem’s room, where she shows him a turtle she names “Ledger.” Diem tells him she loves him. After she falls asleep, Ledger stays to ensure she is sleeping soundly.
While in the room, Ledger reveals he took Kenna’s phone when she was in the bathroom. He guessed her password (Diem’s birthday), opened her Google Docs, and found a file containing all the letters she wrote to Scotty. He forwarded the file to his own email. He then printed only one letter—the same one Kenna read to him earlier—without reading the others. He leaves the bed and picks up the printed letter from Patrick’s office.
Ledger confronts Patrick and Grace in the kitchen, insisting they must talk. He asks them to step outside to avoid waking Diem. Patrick initially refuses, but Ledger states he will not leave the property until they listen. Ledger says he has given his life to Diem and that he deserves this conversation. Patrick and Grace eventually come outside.
Ledger explains that every decision he makes is for Diem. He tells them they are making Kenna’s worst moment define her entire identity, which is unfair to Kenna, Diem, and even to Scotty. He shows them the printed letter, explaining that Kenna has been writing letters to Scotty for five years. He says he forgave Kenna even before reading it, but the letter confirmed her ongoing suffering. He argues that by keeping Kenna from Diem, they are slowly killing her, and Scotty would be furious with them.
He hands the letter to Grace, who begins to cry. Patrick pulls her close. Ledger asks only for twenty minutes of their time to read the letter, promising to respect whatever decision they make afterward. He immediately turns and walks back to his own house, not looking back.
Once inside, Ledger finds his parents in the backyard. His father is cleaning RV items; his mother is reading. Ledger sits beside her, breaks down crying, and she hugs him. He feels overwhelmed that the lives of everyone he loves are hanging in the balance.
Key Events
- Ledger goes to Patrick and Grace’s house and reconnects with Diem over her pet turtle.
- Ledger reveals he took Kenna’s phone, accessed her letters to Scotty, and printed one.
- Ledger confronts Patrick and Grace on their front patio, pleading for them to read the letter.
- He insists that keeping Kenna away from Diem is wrong and that Scotty would disapprove.
- Ledger leaves the letter with them and returns home to break down in his mother’s arms.
Character Development
Ledger shows immense growth. He prioritizes Diem above his own comfort, risking his relationship with Patrick and Grace. He demonstrates empathy for Kenna by stealing the letter not to expose her, but to advocate for her. His emotional breakdown afterward reveals the weight of his gamble.
Patrick and Grace remain largely silent but allow the conversation. Grace’s tears and Patrick’s embrace show they are receptive to reconsidering their stance, even if they are not yet ready to forgive.
Diem is a beacon of unconditional love, naming her turtle after Ledger and expressing her affection. Her innocence highlights the stakes of the adult conflict.
Kenna is not physically present, but her letters become the central piece of evidence that might change the grandparents’ minds. Ledger’s defense frames her as a suffering human rather than a criminal.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Sacrifice and Love: Ledger ended his engagement for Diem’s sake, and now he risks his place in her life to fight for Kenna. His actions embody sacrificial love.
Forgiveness and Justice: The chapter questions whether a person’s worst mistake should define them forever. Ledger argues that Kenna’s years of remorse and her letters demonstrate she deserves a chance.
Parenthood: Ledger argues that denying a child a loving parent is unjust, and he frames his own devotion as proof that he acts in Diem’s best interest.
The Letter as Symbol: The single printed letter represents the possibility of redemption. It is a tangible object that holds five years of grief and hope, and it becomes the catalyst for potential change.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is the turning point for Ledger’s character arc. He moves from passive supporter of Kenna to active advocate. By stealing the letter and confronting the grandparents, he risks everything he has built with Diem. The fate of Kenna’s relationship with her daughter now rests on whether Patrick and Grace will read the letter and reconsider their judgment. The emotional climax—Ledger crying in his mother’s arms—underscores the high personal cost of his stand.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Ledger feel it is necessary to steal Kenna’s letter rather than simply talk to Patrick and Grace again? Ledger knows that words alone cannot overcome five years of grief and anger. He needs concrete proof of Kenna’s ongoing love and remorse—something the grandparents have never seen. The letter provides undeniable evidence that Kenna has been suffering and privately communicating with Scotty. Ledger believes that only such proof can break through their hardened hearts.
2. What does Ledger’s decision to print only one letter reveal about his respect for Kenna’s privacy? Ledger could have read all the letters, but he deliberately stops himself after reading only the one Kenna shared with him. He considers that a violation enough. By printing only that single letter, he shows he values Kenna’s privacy even while acting against her wishes. He does not expose her entire inner world, only the portion she already chose to reveal to him.
3. How does Diem’s unconditional love for Ledger influence his determination to fight for Kenna? Diem’s innocent declaration “I love you” and her naming the turtle after Ledger remind him how much unconditional love Diem has to give. He realizes Diem deserves that same unconditional love from her biological mother. Seeing Diem’s capacity for love strengthens his resolve to push the grandparents to give Kenna a fair chance, so Diem can have another person who loves her as deeply as Scotty would have.