Chapter 13 Summary, Themes, and Key Moments

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Summary

On Saturday morning, Geraldine and Tara finally begin the long-delayed task of sorting through the cluttered room that used to be Tara's. Geraldine is deeply uncomfortable having her sister touch her belongings, but her therapist Judy had suggested that returning Tara's things would be a good-faith gesture to keep peace in the house. The room is packed with Geraldine's collections: six years of local newspapers, stacks of Good Housekeeping magazines, sentimental items like Eddie's old baseball uniforms and Conor's baby clothes, and boxes of paperwork—taxes, medical bills, pay stubs, and report cards. Geraldine explains that every item has a purpose, though Judy has hinted that accumulating stuff might be filling an emotional hole.

As they sort, Tara discovers a box of crucifixes Geraldine plans to donate to the church bazaar but isn't ready to part with. Geraldine also asks Tara about detective Brian Nolan, the man who arrested her and later sent her money. Geraldine doesn't trust the police, remembering how they questioned her after her father left and threatened to take Eddie and Tara away. Tara says she probably won't see him again, which relieves Geraldine.

They then find an old dance photo of Geraldine from over twenty years ago, showing her in a leotard and tap shoes, smiling with a line of girls. Tara remembers going to her recitals and asks why she quit. Geraldine says she had no time after their mother died. Tara also points out Jenny, Geraldine's former best friend, and asks why Geraldine doesn't accept her lunch invitations. Geraldine dismisses the idea, saying they have nothing in common.

The conversation shifts when Tara opens a box of their mother's clothes. Geraldine reveals that their mother was sick for a long time before seeing a doctor—she distrusted modern medicine and tried prayer, rosaries, and even a healer from Dublin. Geraldine hid the severity of the illness from Tara and Eddie, sending them out of the room during coughing fits and making excuses for their mother's bedridden days. Tara, stunned, says she thought their mother was only sick near the end. She apologizes for not making things easier, and Geraldine is overwhelmed by the compassion in her sister's touch.

They finally reach the closet and find two boxes labeled TARA'S THINGS. Tara's face lights up as she rifles through old clothes, books, and mementos. Watching her, Geraldine feels a pang of regret for not doing this sooner, and Judy's words echo in her mind: sometimes people who collect things feel more attached to objects than to the people in their lives.

Sunday morning, Geraldine wakes with regrets about the donations she made the day before—she agreed to let Eddie take the crosses to the church and to drop off children's clothing at Goodwill, but only to prolong the day with Tara. Now she wonders about getting her things back. More pressing, however, is her work problem: the quarterly taxes are three weeks late, and the estimated tax money is still sitting in the Bertucci business account. She needs to hide it temporarily. The solution comes to her when she remembers Tara's old checking account, which Geraldine was supposed to close but never did. She plans to transfer the money there, believing it's foolproof since the account is at a different bank and Tara isn't connected to Bertucci's.

That morning, Tara convinces Conor to skip church for his baseball game and Eddie to come watch. Geraldine protests, but Conor is already upstairs changing, and Eddie follows. Geraldine is furious, feeling that Tara has no respect for her routines. Tara invites Geraldine to join them after church, and even offers to help with her work, but Geraldine declines, afraid that accepting help would give Tara more control. Before leaving for Mass, Geraldine notices the dance photo has been added to the family mantel—Tara must have put it there. Geraldine studies it, feeling no connection to the happy girl in the picture, then takes it down and hides it in a kitchen drawer.

Key Events

Geraldine and Tara sort through the cluttered room, revealing Geraldine's hoarding habits and emotional attachments.
Geraldine questions Tara about detective Brian Nolan, expressing distrust of the police.
They find an old dance photo of Geraldine, prompting a conversation about her past and why she quit dancing.
Geraldine reveals that their mother was sick for a long time before seeing a doctor, and that she hid this from her siblings.
Tara apologizes for not making things easier, and the sisters share a rare moment of connection.
They find Tara's boxes of belongings, and Tara's joy makes Geraldine regret not returning them sooner.
Geraldine wakes Sunday with regrets about the donations and devises a plan to hide the estimated tax money in Tara's old bank account.
Tara convinces Conor to skip church for his baseball game and Eddie to attend, challenging Geraldine's authority.
Geraldine declines Tara's offer to help with work and hides the dance photo in a kitchen drawer.

Character Development

Geraldine is the focus of this chapter. Her hoarding is revealed as a coping mechanism—a way to hold onto memories and control her environment. Her secret-keeping about their mother's illness shows her lifelong pattern of taking on burdens to protect others, even at great personal cost. Her fear of losing control is evident in her resistance to Tara's help and her decision to hide the dance photo, which represents a self she no longer recognizes. The chapter also exposes her financial desperation, as she contemplates a risky deception to cover her mistakes at work.

Tara emerges as a catalyst for change. She is empathetic and perceptive, noticing Geraldine's discomfort and offering genuine apologies. She challenges Geraldine's rigid routines, especially regarding Conor's baseball game, and tries to draw Geraldine out of her isolation. Her offer to help with work, though declined, shows her willingness to contribute.

Eddie shows a shift in loyalty. He initially follows Geraldine's lead but quickly agrees to skip church when Tara insists, suggesting he is beginning to side with her more openly.

Conor is given a voice when Tara asks him directly what he wants—he clearly prefers baseball to church, and Tara empowers him to make that choice.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Hoarding and Emotional Attachment: Geraldine's collections symbolize her need to hold onto the past and her fear of loss. Judy's observation that she may be more attached to things than people is a key motif.
Family Secrets and Hidden Illness: Geraldine's concealment of their mother's sickness mirrors her broader pattern of hiding problems, from her father's illegal activities to her own financial troubles.
Sacrifice and Caretaking Burden: Geraldine's childhood was consumed by caring for her siblings and mother, a burden that shaped her adult personality.
Control and Letting Go: Geraldine's resistance to Tara's help and her decision to hide the photo illustrate her struggle to relinquish control.
Faith vs. Family Priorities: The conflict over church versus baseball highlights the tension between Geraldine's rigid religious observance and Tara's more flexible, family-centered approach.
Financial Deception: Geraldine's plan to use Tara's old account foreshadows a serious ethical lapse, driven by desperation.
Sibling Reconciliation: The sorting session and Tara's apology create a rare moment of understanding between the sisters.
Memory and Nostalgia: The dance photo and the fairy tales Tara remembers represent lost innocence and the gap between Geraldine's past and present self.
Trust and Mistrust: Geraldine's distrust of the police and of Tara's intentions underscores her isolation.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens Geraldine's backstory and reveals the emotional roots of her controlling behavior. It also sets up a major plot development: Geraldine's decision to hide the tax money in Tara's old account, which will likely have serious consequences. The sibling dynamics shift as Tara gains influence over Eddie and Conor, challenging Geraldine's role as the family's authority figure. The chapter also humanizes Geraldine, showing her vulnerability and the sacrifices she made as a child, which helps readers understand her flaws.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Geraldine hide the dance photo in a kitchen drawer?

The photo represents a version of Geraldine she no longer recognizes—a happy, carefree girl who loved to dance and had friends. Tara placed it on the mantel to remind Geraldine of her younger self, but Geraldine feels no connection to that person. Hiding it is her way of avoiding the painful contrast between her past joy and her present life, which is consumed by worry and responsibility.

2. How does Tara's handling of Conor's baseball game challenge Geraldine's authority?

Geraldine has established a rule that Conor skips baseball when it conflicts with Mass. Tara directly asks Conor what he wants, and when he clearly prefers the game, she tells him to go change. This bypasses Geraldine's authority and empowers Conor to make his own choice. It also forces Eddie to side with Tara, showing that Geraldine's rigid control is being eroded.

3. What does Geraldine's plan to use Tara's old bank account reveal about her character?

The plan shows Geraldine's desperation and her willingness to deceive others, even her own sister, to solve her problems. She rationalizes it as temporary and harmless, but it reveals a pattern of secret-keeping and a belief that she must handle everything alone. It also demonstrates her fear of asking for help, which is a central theme of the chapter.