Chapter summaries Swan Song Elin Hilderbrand

Swan Song, Chapter 25 – “24. Big Swing”: Summary and Analysis

Spoiler Warning: This section reveals plot details from Chapter 25 of Swan Song (Book 1). If you have not read up to this point, proceed with caution.

Summary

Delilah chafes at Leslee’s repeated pickleball violations – volleying from the kitchen – while her partner Andrea urges her to let it go. After a match Leslee dominates through cheating, Delilah channels her frustration into a strategic invitation: she asks Leslee to join her at the Nantucket food pantry the next day. Leslee arrives in designer flats and pledges $175,000, far exceeding Delilah’s expectations, but declines coffee afterward. Meanwhile, Sharon receives praise for her second writing-group character study and calls her sister Heather to share the news. Heather warns that Bull Richardson was investigated for environmental fraud and may be under IRS scrutiny. Sharon decides not to gossip. At Triple Eight, Coco discovers Bull has left for a week on business and finds Leslee making crepes for Lamont. Over the following days, Leslee and Lamont go on boat rides, dinners, and an overnight trip to Martha’s Vineyard. Coco, locking her door against Lamont, receives unsigned roses but ultimately sees them packing overnight bags and texts Kacy for a night out.

Key Events

  • Delilah and Andrea play pickleball against Leslee and Phoebe; Leslee repeatedly volleys from the kitchen, breaking a core rule.
  • After the game, Delilah invites Leslee to a food-pantry meeting, hoping to bond.
  • At the food pantry, Leslee pledges $175,000, impressing Delilah and Corwin, but flirts with Corwin despite his marriage.
  • Sharon’s online writing class loves her revised character study; she calls her sister Heather.
  • Heather reveals that Bull Richardson was investigated for environmental fraud and that the IRS may be targeting him.
  • Sharon chooses not to spread the information around Nantucket.
  • Coco returns home to find Leslee making crepes and champagne for Lamont; Bull has departed for a week.
  • Coco searches for her missing screenplay in Bull’s study, finding his email password but not the script.
  • Over the next week, Leslee and Lamont go out together daily, including day trips on the boat and an overnight voyage to Martha’s Vineyard.
  • Coco receives roses from an anonymous sender, but later sees Leslee and Lamont with overnight bags; she texts Kacy to go out.

Character Development

Delilah – Her anger at Leslee’s rule-breaking is palpable, yet she learns to channel frustration into action. Inviting Leslee to the food pantry shows strategic thinking; she prioritizes a charitable outcome over personal grievance. Her small satisfaction at the donation suggests growth in political finesse.

Leslee – The chapter deepens her complexity. She cheats at pickleball, but in a serious context she displays genuine generosity (the $175,000 pledge) and charm. Her flirting with Corwin hints at a predatory side, while her decision to spend increasing time with Lamont reveals her willingness to disregard boundaries.

Sharon – Her progression from gossip to restraint is significant. Learning of Bull’s legal issues, she holds back, contrasting with her former tendency to spread rumors. Her writing success gives her new confidence, enough to keep secrets.

Coco – Jealousy and hurt dominate her arc. She locks Lamont out, searches for her script, and endures watching Leslee take her place. The unsigned roses give her pause, but her final decision to go out with Kacy signals a turn toward self-preservation.

Lamont – Mostly seen through Coco’s eyes, he appears torn between job duties and his relationship with Coco. His abject misery when faced with the overnight trip suggests he is not entirely comfortable with the arrangement.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Social climbing and class – Delilah’s pickleball frustrations mirror class tensions; Leslee’s wealth and beauty allow her to flout rules. The food-pantry meeting contrasts opulent wealth (Chanel flats, $175,000) with real need (44% of children qualify for lunch).

Secrets and discovery – Sharon’s sister uncovers Bull’s past; Coco finds the email password; the missing screenplay becomes a McGuffin. The chapter explores what remains hidden in plain sight.

Power dynamics and infidelity – Leslee’s relationship with Lamont (Bull away, Lamont as substitute) echoes the novel’s broader themes of transactional intimacy. Coco’s locked door and the anonymous roses add layers of ambiguity.

Transformation/reframing – Delilah turns anger into a donation; Sharon turns gossip into restraint; Coco turns heartbreak into a night out. Each character attempts to reshape a negative situation.

Why This Chapter Matters

“Big Swing” advances several simmering plot lines. It deepens the mystery around Bull Richardson by introducing federal investigations, raising stakes for the entire community. It also formalizes Lamont’s emotional entanglement with Leslee, which will likely affect Coco and the larger household dynamic. Delilah’s strategic move at the food pantry builds her alliance with Leslee, setting up future conflict or cooperation. Sharon’s choice to stay silent marks a turning point in her character arc, while her writing success hints at a new identity independent of gossip.

Study Questions & Answers

  1. How does Delilah’s approach to handling Leslee’s cheating evolve in this chapter?
    Delilah moves from seething silence to active redirection: instead of confronting Leslee at the court, she invites her to a serious charitable meeting. The food-pantry appeal shows Delilah using Leslee’s vanity and her desire to be liked to achieve a tangible good, transforming personal irritation into community benefit.

  2. What does Sharon’s conversation with her sister reveal about the Richardsons’ background?
    Heather reveals that Bull faced a whistleblower complaint for environmental fraud and that the IRS may be investigating him and his company, Sweetwater Distribution. This information casts his lavish lifestyle in a new light and suggests legal vulnerability underneath the wealth.

  3. Why does Coco lock her door and later text Kacy to go out? What does this decision signify?
    Locking her door symbolizes her emotional withdrawal from Lamont and her refusal to be a passive participant in Leslee’s game. Texting Kacy indicates she is reclaiming agency, choosing friendship and self-care over waiting for Lamont’s attention. It is a small act of rebellion and self-preservation.