Chapter 17 Summary: The Cloisters and a Costly Gesture

Spoiler Warning: This summary and analysis contains details from Chapter 17 of Summer in the City by Alex Aster. If you haven't read it yet, proceed with caution.

Story Recap

News of the billionaire's mystery woman spreads. Penelope calls to tease Elle about the "hot billionaire boyfriend" and the photos that look genuinely affectionate. Elle learns that Parker remembers their stairwell encounter, but she downplays its significance. She avoids him for three days, burying herself in writing. When she finally needs a new location for her screenplay, they visit the Cloisters museum. There, they explore medieval art—tapestries, a unicorn room, a narwhal tusk—and share light moments. Parker challenges Elle to walk the length of Manhattan by summer's end. Later, at the coffee shop, Elle finds her favorite scone back on the menu. She discovers Parker bought the entire coffee chain to make her happy. Instead of gratitude, she feels offended that he thinks he can buy her affection. She leaves him at the table, furious.

Key Events

Headlines announce Elle as Parker's mystery woman wearing a $50M necklace.
Penelope calls; she teases Elle about the fake boyfriend and notes the photos look real.
Elle tells Penelope that Parker remembers their first meeting in the stairwell.
Elle avoids Parker for three days, writing intensively.
On day four, they travel to the Cloisters, a museum of medieval art.
Parker compares the museum's ancient artworks to Elle's work as a storyteller.
They explore the unicorn tapestries and laugh about the narwhal tusk.
Parker sets a goal to walk the full length of Manhattan together.
Back at the coffee shop, Elle is thrilled to find her favorite scone available again.
Parker reveals he bought the entire coffee chain because she loves it.
Elle angrily rejects his gesture, insisting he cannot buy her happiness.

Character Development

Elle: Her emotional guard slips throughout the chapter. She feels jealousy when reading about Parker’s past relationships, yet she also shares genuine happiness with him at the museum and coffee shop. Her reaction to Parker buying the coffee chain shows her core fear: that he still sees her as someone whose affection can be purchased, the same assumption he made the night they met. This moment forces her to confront whether she can trust his intentions.
Parker: He reveals a deeper investment in Elle’s happiness. His purchase of the chain is a grand, impulsive gesture, but his earlier words—"Believe in yourself, Elle. I do."—show a quieter, more sincere belief in her. The contradiction between his romantic actions and Elle’s perception of him creates tension. He seems genuinely hurt when she accuses him of trying to buy her.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Storytelling: The Cloisters features artworks that took years to create and tell stories across centuries. Parker calls the medieval artisans "storytellers," linking their work to Elle's screenwriting. This reinforces the idea that Elle’s writing is part of a long tradition of creative expression.
Buying Affection vs. Genuine Care: Parker's purchase of the coffee chain is the most extreme version of a pattern: he uses wealth to solve problems. Elle’s strong rejection clarifies that she values authentic connection over material gifts. The gesture symbolises the gap between how Parker expresses care and what Elle actually needs.
Isolation vs. Community: Elle initially works as a "goblin" alone, but at the coffee shop she enjoys being among people and having the barista know her name. This hints at her growing desire for a life that includes relationships beyond her laptop.
The Unicorn Hunt Tapestries: These depict the hunt and killing of a unicorn—an allegory for innocence lost. The museum guide notes that the fashion in the tapestries dates them precisely, reminding Elle (and the reader) that even ancient trends are fleeting. The unicorn’s death also echoes Elle’s lingering grief for her mother, mentioned when she sees the lion statue.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a clear turning point in Elle and Parker’s fake relationship. Until now, their arrangement had clear boundaries. Parker’s purchase of the coffee chain and his admission that he "just wants to make her happy" blur the lines between pretence and genuine feeling. Elle’s angry departure raises the stakes: she must decide whether she can accept that Parker might care for her for real, or whether she will retreat into her script and her walls. The chapter also deepens Elle’s connection to her work through the museum visit, reinforcing that her screenplay is not just a job but a personal journey tied to memories of her mother.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Elle react so strongly to Parker buying the coffee chain?
Elle has always believed Parker’s interest in her is shallow—he first approached her thinking she was available for money. Buying the chain feels like a repetition of that assumption: he thinks material gifts can earn her affection. Elle wants to be valued for who she is, not for what he can provide. Her anger shows that despite the growing closeness between them, she still questions his motives.

2. What does the Cloisters setting reveal about Elle’s character?
Elle immerses herself in the art, taking notes and asking how her characters would react. She connects the museum’s ancient storytelling to her own work, feeling gratitude for modern tools like Final Draft. The visit also stirs a memory of her mother calling her a lion, linking the location to her personal history. The museum becomes a place where her professional and emotional lives intersect.

3. How does Parker’s challenge to walk the length of Manhattan function in the chapter?
The walk is presented as a shared goal for the remaining summer, a way to spend time together outside the demands of the fake relationship. Parker’s comment "Believe in yourself, Elle. I do." suggests he sees potential in her that she doesn’t see in herself. The challenge becomes a metaphor for Elle’s larger journey: learning to trust her own strength and, possibly, to trust Parker.