Chapter 34: Brady – 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

The chapter opens with Brady and Collins visiting the Sweetwater Taffy Shop, where they watch Hugo (the taffy puller) and later meet Chayton. Collins explains the difference between hand-pulled and machine-pulled taffy. Brady enjoys the experience and notices Collins taking photographs again, something she has resumed over the past week. After buying chokecherry cream taffy, they walk back to the shop. Outside, a woman calls Brady’s name—it’s Jackie, his ex-girlfriend and the daughter of developer Ed. Jackie reveals she is scoping out properties for her father, having secured a signed contract. She confirms the contract involves three properties owned by the Cartwright family—Collins’s family. Collins is devastated, realizing her photographs in the magazine led Jackie to the town. Brady tries to shield Collins and negotiates with Jackie. He convinces her to give him a copy of the contract under the guise of “found on the road.” Jackie agrees to report the town as a dud to her father, protecting it from development. The chapter ends with Brady and Collins planning to call Clarke and go to Toades.

Key Events

Brady and Collins visit the taffy shop, where Brady learns about hand-pulled taffy and the local flavor chokecherry cream.
Collins takes photographs of the process, showing she is freely using her camera again.
Jackie arrives unexpectedly, revealing she is in town to assess properties for her father’s development project.
Jackie confirms a signed contract exists for three Cartwright properties.
Collins blames herself for leading Jackie there via her magazine photographs.
Brady takes responsibility, revealing he left the magazine at his old place.
Brady persuades Jackie to give him the contract and to lie to her father about the town’s viability.
Jackie provides the contract under the pretense of “found along the road,” warning Brady not to betray her.
The chapter closes with Brady and Collins preparing to call Clarke and head to Toades.

Character Development

Brady – He grapples with guilt over bringing Jackie to the town through the magazine he left behind. He takes a protective stance toward Collins, promising to fix the situation. His ability to appeal to Jackie’s logic and his stubbornness show his growth: he now has a home and people he cares about.
Collins – She is shocked and feels responsible for endangering her family’s properties. Her earlier joy in photographing the taffy shop contrasts sharply with her emotional collapse. She shows resolve by suggesting a cover story (snowstorm) and planning to call Clarke.
Jackie – Initially cold and businesslike, she reveals a more sympathetic side. She is genuinely concerned about Collins, gives Brady the contract despite the risk, and admits she is “glad” Brady found what he was looking for. Her willingness to help hints at a moral boundary even within her family’s business.
Chayton – The taffy puller is a minor but symbolic character. He embodies the local craftsmanship and community that is threatened by corporate development.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Community vs. Corporate Development – The taffy shop represents handmade, local tradition, while Ed’s project symbolizes homogenized, profit-driven development. Jackie’s decision to lie protects the town’s character.
Guilt and Responsibility – Both Brady and Collins internalize blame for the threat. The chapter explores how personal actions (leaving a magazine, taking photographs) can have unintended consequences.
Photography as Catalyst – Collins’s photographs, meant to celebrate the town, inadvertently attract the developer. Yet her renewed use of the camera also signals her healing and desire to document what matters.
Trust and Deception – Brady and Jackie engage in a careful dance of trust. Jackie provides the contract illegally but demands plausible deniability. The scene underscores how far characters will go to protect what they love.
The Taffy Puller as Symbol – The manual process of pulling taffy mirrors the labor required to preserve a community. Brady’s fascination with the strength involved hints at the effort needed to fight the development.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point. The external conflict—the threat of corporate development—moves from vague possibility to concrete reality. Brady and Collins must now actively fight to save her family’s properties. The reappearance of Jackie forces Brady to confront his past and measure his growth against his old life. Collins’s sense of responsibility deepens her connection to her hometown and her work as a photographer. The chapter also establishes a complex ally in Jackie, who chooses to help despite her family loyalty. This sets up the central conflict for the remainder of the novel.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Jackie agree to give Brady the contract?
Jackie is moved by Brady’s plea and his obvious care for Collins. She also recognizes that if the development goes through, she will have to manage the site where Brady lives, and he promises to fight the project every step. Her own moral discomfort with her father’s methods leads her to help, provided she has plausible deniability.
How does Collins’s reaction to the news mirror her earlier trauma?
Collins became withdrawn after her divorce and struggled to use her camera. Here, she goes blank, white-faced, and shaky, reminiscent of her earlier emotional shutdown. Yet she quickly offers a practical cover story (snowstorm), showing she can channel her pain into action.
What does the taffy pulling scene contribute to the chapter’s themes?
The taffy pulling highlights the value of handmade, local craftsmanship—a stark contrast to the machine-made, corporate taffy at the factory. It symbolizes the community’s character that development threatens to erase. Brady’s awe at the process suggests he is embracing the town’s culture.