Chapter 44 Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways

⚠️ 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

Elias and Sage fly to Connecticut to visit his parents in Greenwich. On the drive from the airport, Sage is anxious about meeting them in person for the first time. They agree on ground rules for dinner conversation: no sex talk, no dirty jokes, and nothing about Elias's biological father or the money he's been paying him. Elias reassures her that his parents already love her from their phone conversations and online presence.

They arrive at the Westbrook estate, a large property with wrought iron gates, manicured lawns, and magnolia trees. Elias's parents rush past him to embrace Sage in a group hug, immediately making her feel welcome. His father jokes about their usual sophistication, and Elias shares an anecdote about the bright green poster board they brought to one of his games, which blocked an entire section of parents' view.

The family shares an outdoor dinner of roast chicken. When his father asks how long the couple has been together, Sage says a few weeks while Elias corrects her to three months. The conversation turns to Elias's teenage years, and his mother becomes emotional, expressing regret over doubting him after the world juniors. She reveals she's carried guilt about that period. Sage's reassurance—praising Elias's growth and crediting his parents—helps ease the tension.

After dinner, Sage explores Elias's childhood bedroom. She asks if he wants kids, and they discuss adoption. Sage reveals she's thought about adopting because of her fear of Sean going through foster care, and seeing Elias's parents has shown her there's good in the system. They then become intimate, with Sage playfully asking Elias to pretend he's picking her up in high school—a roleplay that leads to a passionate encounter in his childhood bed.

Before their flight home, Elias makes a detour to Parkville to visit his biological father, Elias Johnson. He knocks on the door of a neglected house and comes face to face with a man who looks like his mirror image. Elias hands him a final check, telling him it's the last one and to never contact him again. Johnson threatens to go to the media, but Elias walks away, feeling nothing but resignation. He returns to the car where Sage waits.

Back in the car, Sage notices a fresh tattoo on Elias's wrist—a sage plant. He reveals he got it as a declaration of love: he wants her with him always, even when they're apart. Sage is overwhelmed with emotion, climbs over the console to embrace him, and whispers that they should go home.

Key Events

Elias and Sage travel to Connecticut to meet his parents for the first time in person
The couple establishes boundaries for the visit, agreeing to keep his biological father and the blackmail situation secret
Elias's parents warmly welcome Sage, and the family shares an outdoor dinner
Elias's mother expresses regret over doubting him after the world juniors, revealing the weight she's carried
Sage and Elias discuss adoption in his childhood bedroom, with Sage revealing her desire to adopt
Elias confronts his biological father in Parkville, delivering a final check and cutting ties permanently
Elias reveals a new sage plant tattoo on his wrist as a permanent declaration of love for Sage

Character Development

Elias: This chapter shows Elias at his most resolved. He's made the decision to cut his biological father out of his life completely, and he follows through with it. His confrontation with Elias Johnson is marked by emotional detachment—he feels nothing but resignation rather than anger. His decision to get a tattoo of a sage plant demonstrates a new willingness to make permanent, visible commitments. His interactions with his parents also reveal growth: he's able to accept his mother's apology and recognize that his past struggles affected his family too.

Sage: Sage's anxiety about meeting Elias's parents shows a vulnerable side. Her comment about never having sat at a family table like this before reveals her difficult upbringing. Her desire to adopt—rooted in her fear for Sean in the foster care system—shows how her past experiences have shaped her values. Her emotional reaction to the tattoo shows how deeply she's come to care for Elias.

Jane Westbrook: Elias's mother reveals the guilt she's carried about doubting him after the world juniors. Her emotional confession shows that parents carry their children's struggles too.

Elias Johnson: The biological father appears briefly but makes an impact. He's depicted as a mirror image of Elias—same jawline, same nose—but worn down by a different life. His attempt to threaten Elias with media exposure falls flat, showing his power over Elias is gone.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Family (chosen vs. biological): The chapter contrasts two kinds of family. The Westbrooks represent warmth, support, and unconditional love. Elias Johnson represents blood relation without any of those qualities. Elias's choice to sever ties with his biological father while embracing his adoptive parents reinforces that family is defined by love, not biology.

The sage plant tattoo: The tattoo is the chapter's central symbol. It's a permanent mark on Elias's body representing his love for Sage—a commitment that can't be washed away. The plant itself, sage, is also associated with healing and wisdom, which resonates with Elias's emotional journey in this chapter.

Closure and letting go: Elias's visit to his biological father is an act of closure. He delivers the final check, says his piece, and walks away without looking back. The chapter suggests that true closure comes from within, not from the other person's response.

Adoption and foster care: The chapter weaves adoption throughout—Elias was adopted from foster care, and Sage expresses a desire to adopt. This creates a thematic link between Elias's past and their potential future together.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for Elias. He finally severs ties with his biological father, freeing himself from the blackmail that has shadowed his life. The tattoo is a permanent declaration of his love for Sage, marking a new level of commitment. The chapter also deepens the reader's understanding of both characters' pasts—Elias's complicated family history and Sage's difficult upbringing—while showing how they're building a future together. The adoption conversation plants seeds for their long-term relationship.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Elias choose to get a tattoo of a sage plant rather than a more conventional declaration of love?

Elias's tattoo is a permanent, visible commitment that he can carry with him at all times. He tells Sage he wants her with him even on the days she can't be there, suggesting the tattoo serves as a constant reminder of their connection when they're apart. The choice of a sage plant—her namesake—is both personal and symbolic, tying his love to her identity rather than to a generic symbol.

2. How does the chapter contrast Elias's two fathers?

Elias's adoptive father is warm, supportive, and proud of his son—he jokes about their poster at games and praises Elias's performance. Elias Johnson, his biological father, is depicted as a mirror image physically but morally bankrupt: he's blackmailed his own son for money. The contrast reinforces the chapter's theme that family is defined by love and behavior, not biology.

3. What does Sage's desire to adopt reveal about her character?

Sage's wish to adopt stems from her fear of Sean going through foster care. Her comment that seeing Elias's parents shows her there's good in the system reveals she's been shaped by her difficult experiences but hasn't become cynical. Her desire to be part of that goodness someday shows a hopeful, forward-looking perspective and a wish to create the kind of family she never had.