Summers at the Saint — Chapter 56: The Power Play
⚠️ 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
Traci receives a Sunday morning call from Ric, who reveals that his father Fred changed his will before dying, giving Ric the majority share of Saint Holdings. Ric controls the land under the Saint resort and threatens to renegotiate the lease, which previously cost a symbolic dollar a year. Traci realizes Ric knows her financials — occupancy is down, costs are up. After the call, she contacts family lawyer Andy Plankenhorn, who finds a potential flaw in the will and advises patience. Emotionally raw, Traci impulsively calls Whelan to ask him on a beach walk, uncertain whether she just asked him on a date.
Key Events
- Ric’s phone call: Traci answers, and Ric clears his throat (his tell for bad news). He announces the existence of a new will for their late father Fred.
- Will changes: Ric inherits most of Fred’s stock, making him majority owner of Saint Holdings. Traci receives 20% as a gesture.
- Lease renegotiation: The resort sits on land owned by the holding company. The old $1/year lease expired with Hoke’s death. Ric will now demand market-rate terms.
- Traci’s panic: She calls lawyer Andy Plankenhorn on a Sunday morning. He reviews the will and spots a legal flaw — the videotaping could be seen as coercion, and Fred’s mental capacity is questionable.
- Impulsive call to Whelan: Distraught, Traci invites Whelan for a beach walk and picnic. Lola the dog refuses a second walk, adding comic relief.
- Traci’s self-awareness: She realizes she likely just asked a man out on a date, something she didn’t plan to do.
Character Development
Traci Eddings
Traci shows resilience but also vulnerability. She remains sharp during Ric’s interrogation, doing mental math on stock percentages and counter-punching about his empty storefronts. Yet after the call she spirals, unable to eat, drink, or concentrate. Her decision to reach out to Whelan marks a new emotional openness — she acts on impulse, breaking her usual self-contained control.
Ric
Ric’s smugness is unguarded. He uses legal jargon (frat-boy lawyer, videotaped will) to mask a power grab. His tell (throat clearing) reveals nervous guilt, and he admits knowing Traci’s occupancy figures, implying he has been monitoring her business.
Andy Plankenhorn
The aging lawyer is steady and reassuring. He immediately identifies a potential fatal flaw in the new will — Fred’s incapacity — and promises to research further. His calm presence contrasts with Ric’s aggression.
Whelan
Whelan appears only briefly on the phone but shows immediate willingness to meet Traci. His “Sounds great” and prompt agreement suggest emotional availability, setting up a possible romantic subplot.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Power and Inheritance
The chapter explores how family legacy can be weaponized. Ric uses technical ownership of land to threaten the hotel Traci built with Hoke. The “new will” symbolizes a revisionist history — Ric tries to rewrite his father’s intentions.
Isolation vs. Connection
Traci’s moment of crisis leads her to break isolation by calling Whelan. The beach walk is both an escape and a tentative step toward trust and intimacy.
The Dog as Emotional Barometer
Lola rejects a second walk, highlighting Traci’s agitation. The dog’s refusal mirrors Traci’s own indecision and need for comfort.
Land as Leverage
The resort’s physical location — the land itself — becomes a weapon. Traci owns the buildings but not the dirt beneath them. This motif of “territory” echoes earlier conflicts in the novel.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 56 is a turning point in the central conflict. For the first time, Ric’s long-brewing scheme is out in the open: he controls the land and will squeeze Traci financially. The chapter also deepens the personal stakes — Traci’s lonely panic leads her to ask Whelan for companionship, altering the novel’s interpersonal trajectory. The legal twist (the dubious validity of Fred’s will) keeps hope alive for the reader and sets up a potential courtroom clash. Finally, the scene reinforces that Traci, though wounded, is not passive — she seeks expert help and acts on her own behalf.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Ric videotape the signing of the new will?
Ric videotapes to prove Fred was of sound mind. However, lawyer Andy suggests the act of taping could itself be seen as coercion, especially given Fred’s incapacitated state. This hint of legal weakness gives Traci a possible path to challenge the will.
2. How does Traci react emotionally after the phone call?
She becomes agitated: she paces, walks Lola, starts laundry, cannot read, eat, or risk drinking. She describes feeling numb and later tells Andy she is “losing her mind.” Her impulse to call Whelan shows she is trying to soothe her distress through connection rather than isolation.
3. What is the significance of the one-dollar-a-year lease?
The nominal lease was a symbolic gesture by Fred to support Hoke’s operation of the hotel. Its expiration with Hoke’s death left Traci vulnerable. Ric now intends to renegotiate at market rates, which could bankrupt the resort. The lease symbolizes the fragile, informal trust that existed in the family — now shattered by greed.