Chapter 26 Summary: Aubrey's Point of View
⚠️ 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
Aubrey and Milly ride to Catmint House in Gran's Bentley, with Milly unusually composed and dry-eyed. She refuses to discuss Jonah, though Aubrey senses a melancholy air. Aubrey scrolls through her phone and reads a new text from her father, full of criticism about her being ungrateful and disappointing. Her mother then texts to share that Coach Matson's pregnancy has become public knowledge, and that the baby will be a boy. Aubrey feels a pang of guilt for having distanced herself from her mother, and she fires back a series of supportive texts, promising to call soon and offering to move out with her if needed.
Just as she hits send, Thomas calls. He asks bluntly if her father really knocked up her swim coach, and Aubrey, having had enough, ends their relationship. Thomas admits he'd wanted to break up for a while, and they part amicably. Milly applauds Aubrey's newfound assertiveness.
At Catmint House, Theresa opens the door and invites Aubrey in but turns Milly away, insisting the invitation was for Aubrey only. Milly tries to charm her way in, but Theresa is firm. Aubrey is led to the balcony where Gran is seated, dressed elegantly, with a tray of tea and coffee. Gran tells Aubrey to help herself, and Aubrey struggles with the carafe, spilling coffee into her saucer.
Gran explains that she wanted to meet Aubrey out of curiosity about Adam, but now that curiosity is satisfied. She declares that the ties she severed with her children twenty-four years ago are absolute, and that allowing Aubrey into her life was a mistake. She tells Aubrey she is not welcome on the island and hopes she leaves. Aubrey, though hurt, asks if Gran doesn't want to get to know her or her parents. Gran retorts by asking if Aubrey thinks her father is a man worth knowing. Aubrey reflects on her father's flaws but remembers a photo of him and Gran smiling together, and says, “He could have been.” Gran dismisses the world of “could have been.”
Aubrey, feeling the word “sensible” is code for docile, decides not to leave quietly. She asks Gran if there is something unusual about how Kayla Dugas died. Gran is visibly shocked, spilling tea on her gloves, and demands to know what Aubrey is talking about. Aubrey, nervous, reaches for the coffee carafe and accidentally knocks it over, spilling scalding coffee onto Gran. Gran shrieks, and Theresa rushes in to help, wrapping ice in a napkin. Theresa orders Aubrey to show herself out.
Aubrey, flustered, takes a wrong turn and ends up in a library-like room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a massive desk. On a side table, she spots a slim silver card—identical to the one the chauffeur used to open the gates. Without hesitation, she slips it into her pocket.
Key Events
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Aubrey and Milly travel to Catmint House; Milly remains composed and refuses to discuss Jonah.
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Aubrey receives texts from her father (critical) and mother (Coach Matson's pregnancy is public; baby is a boy).
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Aubrey texts her mother with support and promises to call.
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Thomas calls; they mutually break up.
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Theresa admits Aubrey but turns Milly away.
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Gran tells Aubrey that the severed ties with her children are absolute and that Aubrey is not welcome.
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Aubrey asks about Kayla Dugas's death, shocking Gran.
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Aubrey accidentally spills scalding coffee on Gran, burning her.
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Theresa rushes Gran inside; Aubrey gets lost and finds a library-like room.
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Aubrey steals a silver gate card like the chauffeur's.
Character Development
Aubrey undergoes significant growth in this chapter. She begins by feeling nervous about meeting Gran, but her interactions with Thomas and Gran reveal a new assertiveness. She ends her relationship with Thomas without hesitation, recognizing that it had been comfortable but unfulfilling. She also challenges Gran's dismissive attitude, asking pointed questions and refusing to leave quietly. Her decision to steal the gate card is a deliberate act of defiance, showing that she is no longer willing to be the “sensible” or docile one.
Milly shows composure and loyalty, even when turned away at the door. She supports Aubrey and tries to lighten the mood, but her refusal to discuss Jonah hints at deeper emotional turmoil.
Gran is revealed as cold and absolute in her severance. She views her grandchildren with suspicion and distrust, calling Milly “unstable” and JT a “viper.” Her shock at the mention of Kayla Dugas suggests she knows more about the mystery than she lets on.
Thomas is portrayed as self-centered and oblivious, calling Aubrey “dude” and only reaching out to get gossip about her father. His casual attitude toward their breakup underscores the shallowness of their relationship.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Family Estrangement and Absolute Severance: Gran's declaration that the ties she severed are “absolute” reinforces the theme of family estrangement. She refuses to consider reconciliation, and her words “you are not welcome here” echo the emotional rejection that has defined the Story family for decades.
Secrets and Their Weight: Aubrey's question about Kayla Dugas's death exposes a secret that Gran is desperate to hide. The chapter emphasizes how secrets can be “dangerously seductive,” as Aubrey reflects, and how they burrow deep into a person's heart and soul.
Assertiveness vs. Docility: Aubrey's journey from nervousness to defiance is central. She rejects the label “sensible” as a euphemism for docile, and her theft of the gate card symbolizes her refusal to be controlled.
Digital Age Communication: The chapter is filled with texts and phone calls, highlighting how relationships are negotiated through screens. Aubrey's breakup with Thomas happens over the phone, and her support for her mother is conveyed through a series of texts. This motif underscores the difficulty of genuine connection in a digital world.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for Aubrey. She moves from passive acceptance to active agency, breaking up with Thomas, confronting Gran, and stealing the gate card—an act that will likely have consequences in the unfolding mystery. It also deepens the mystery of Kayla Dugas's death, as Gran's shocked reaction suggests she knows something crucial. The chapter reinforces the theme of family estrangement and sets up Aubrey as a more proactive character, ready to uncover the truth about her family's past.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Aubrey's attitude toward her family change in this chapter?
Aubrey begins the chapter feeling nervous and grateful for Milly's support, but she becomes more assertive as she confronts Gran. She challenges Gran's dismissal, asks about Kayla Dugas, and ultimately steals the gate card—a clear act of defiance. This shift shows her moving from a passive, “sensible” role to one of active resistance.
2. What does Gran's reaction to the mention of Kayla Dugas reveal?
Gran is visibly shocked, spilling tea on her gloves and demanding to know how Aubrey knows about it. Her extreme reaction suggests she has knowledge about Kayla Dugas's death that she wants to keep hidden, making her a potential key to the mystery.
3. Why does Aubrey steal the silver gate card?
Aubrey steals the card because she recognizes it as a tool for access—the same card the chauffeur used to open the gates. Her decision is impulsive but symbolic, representing her refusal to be shut out of the family's secrets and her determination to take control of her own path.