Chapter summaries Summers at the Saint Mary Kay Andrews

Summers at the Saint: Chapter 70 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.

Chapter Summary

Driving back to the Saint, Traci mentally replays her jailhouse interview with KJ Parkhurst. He casually admitted to setting the dorm fire with Garrett Coulter—hiding in the woods while Livvy and Felice were locked inside unconscious—and to stealing from the hotel, though he claimed Charlie Burroughs blackmailed him and Garrett. KJ refused to discuss Parrish’s murder, calling it “a big mistake.”

Back at the hotel, Traci finds Whelan and Felice eating Chinese takeout. Fortune cookies reveal personal messages: Whelan’s reads “Make yourself necessary to someone,” Felice’s urges courage, and Traci’s, “The one you love is closer than you think,” embarrasses her. Whelan teases her.

During dinner conversation, Traci reveals the fire marshal’s findings—the dryer was turned into a firebomb with kerosene-soaked towels—and KJ’s confession. She then develops a theory: Parrish may have been killed by mistake. A selfie shows Livvy and Parrish looking alike; someone hired a band member to drug the girl in the flowered dress, intending to kill Livvy to prevent her inheritance from Fred Eddings. Who else knew? Possibly Madelyn Eddings, who might have found the nondisclosure agreement while moving Fred out of his house. Felice adds that she once saw Madelyn and Garrett emerging from a storage room looking “sex-drunk,” hinting at a potential affair and motive.

Later, with Felice asleep, Whelan and Traci share a passionate moment on the porch. Lola barks in protest, and Traci hesitates because an employee is staying in the next room. Whelan urges seizing the day, but the mood breaks when Traci’s phone rings: the sheriff reports that Charlie Burroughs crashed his car at nearly 100 mph while fleeing a state trooper. He has severe head injuries and is being life‑flighted to Jacksonville; Marcie, his passenger, suffered broken ribs and a femur. Traci tells Whelan she doesn’t know if she wants Charlie to die or to live so she can confront him. Whelan, frustrated, leaves without a word.

Key Events

  • Traci recalls KJ’s casual confession about setting the fire and his refusal to discuss Parrish’s murder.
  • Traci, Whelan, and Felice eat Chinese takeout; fortune cookies hint at romance and courage.
  • Traci explains the arson details and her theory that Parrish was mistaken for Livvy.
  • Felice reveals she once saw Madelyn Eddings and Garrett looking intimate.
  • A romantic moment between Traci and Whelan is interrupted by a phone call about Charlie’s high‑speed car accident.
  • Traci learns Charlie is life‑flighted; Marcie is hospitalized but less injured.
  • Whelan leaves, frustrated by Traci’s hesitation and the interruption.

Character Development

  • Traci Eddings: Her internal conflict deepens as she processes KJ’s betrayal, Charlie’s deception, and her growing feelings for Whelan. She shows resilience by piecing together the murder theory, but also vulnerability in her romantic hesitation and raw reaction to Charlie’s accident. She wants Charlie to live so she can demand answers, revealing her need for closure.
  • Whelan: He is direct and impatient with regret, urging Traci to act on their attraction. His frustration at being shut out again underscores his growing investment in their relationship.
  • Felice: Despite her physical and emotional trauma, she remains observant and supportive. Her memory of Madelyn and Garrett demonstrates her sharp memory and adds a critical clue.
  • Charlie Burroughs (mentioned): Even offstage, his accident and betrayal loom large, forcing Traci to confront the depth of his disloyalty.
  • KJ Parkhurst (via memory): His lack of remorse and deflection onto others solidifies him as a cowardly, self‑serving antagonist.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Fortune Cookies as Foreshadowing: Each cookie’s message echoes the character’s situation. Whelan’s “Make yourself necessary” mirrors his persistence with Traci; Felice’s “Courage” reflects her ordeal; Traci’s “The one you love is closer than you think” highlights the romantic tension she tries to ignore.
  • Mistaken Identity / Fate: Traci’s theory that Parrish died because she resembled Livvy ties into the fragility of identity and the randomness of tragedy.
  • Betrayal and Trust: The chapter layers betrayals: KJ and Garrett’s arson, Charlie’s manipulation, and the potential involvement of Madelyn. Traci’s trust in her family‑like employee is shattered.
  • Seizing the Moment vs. Caution: Whelan’s “tomorrow isn’t guaranteed” philosophy clashes with Traci’s cautious professionalism, embodied by her refusal to check into the Saint with him.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 70 is a pivot point. Traci connects the arson to Parrish’s murder through a plausible motive—inheritance—and implicates Madelyn Eddings as a possible orchestrator. The romantic tension with Whelan reaches a peak, only to be undercut by Charlie’s accident, which forces Traci to examine her complicated feelings toward a man she once trusted like family. This chapter solidifies the conspiracy around Livvy’s inheritance and sets up the next phase of the investigation.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What new theory does Traci propose about Parrish’s murder, and what evidence supports it?
    Traci theorizes that Parrish was killed by mistake because she looked like Livvy in the selfie they took. She believes someone hired a band member to target the girl in the flowered dress, intending to kill Livvy to prevent her from inheriting Fred Eddings’s wealth. Evidence includes the selfie’s resemblance, the drugged punch and joint given to Parrish, and the fact that Livvy was the unknown heir.

  2. How does Felice’s memory of Madelyn and Garrett add to the suspicion?
    Felice recalls walking into the storage room and seeing Madelyn and Garrett emerging looking “sex-drunk,” implying an affair. This suggests Madelyn may have had a personal motive to help Garrett and harm Livvy, especially if she knew about the NDA and wanted to ensure Ric inherited the entire estate.

  3. What is Traci’s conflicted reaction to Charlie’s accident, and what does it reveal about her character?
    Traci says she does not want Charlie to die, but she wants him to live so she can look him in the face and ask why he betrayed her. This reveals that she values confrontation and understanding over vengeance, and that even in betrayal, she still holds a measure of care for the man who was like an uncle. It also shows her need for closure to move forward.

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