Chapter 4: Milly — 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.

Summary

The chapter opens with Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah on the ferry approaching Gull Cove Island. Jonah dismisses the island as unremarkable, while Aubrey finds it charming. Milly notices her grandfather's broken Patek Philippe watch, which always reads three o'clock, a symbol of the family's stalled history. The conversation turns to their grandmother: Milly calls her Mildred, Aubrey says Gran, and Jonah says nothing.

After docking, the cousins collect their luggage. Jonah has only a duffel bag, while Milly has multiple suitcases, prompting a remark about her mother's finances. Milly reflects on her mother's secondhand Tumi luggage and the family's strained circumstances. She also recalls a Providence Journal article that called her uncle Anders “the Bernie Madoff of Rhode Island,” though the fraud allegations were never proven.

As they wait for a cab, an elderly man mistakes Milly for her mother, Allison, and warns her she shouldn't have come. His granddaughter, Hazel Baxter-Clement, explains that he is Dr. Fred Baxter, the family's former doctor, who has early-stage dementia. Hazel recognizes the Story name and asks to interview the cousins for a school project, but they decline. Before leaving, Dr. Baxter again tells Milly, “You shouldn't have come, Allison.”

The cousins take a cab to Gull Cove Resort, a grand Victorian-modern building. They are directed to Edward Franklin's office, but instead meet Carson Fine, the head of hospitality, who says Edward quit two days ago and knew nothing about their arrival. Carson is surprised to learn they are Mildred Story's grandchildren. He fetches Mildred, who is conducting a site visit. When she arrives, she is visibly shocked to see them, and Milly realizes with certainty that their grandmother had no idea they were coming.

Key Events

• The cousins arrive by ferry at Gull Cove Island and observe the island's modest appearance.

• Milly's grandfather's stopped watch is introduced as a family memento.

• Jonah's financial strain is hinted at through his minimal luggage and his comment about science camp.

• Milly recalls the Providence Journal article about her uncle Anders and the “Bernie Madoff” comparison.

• Dr. Fred Baxter mistakes Milly for her mother, Allison, and warns her not to come.

• Hazel Baxter-Clement introduces herself and her grandfather, revealing his dementia.

• Hazel asks to interview the cousins for a school project; they politely decline.

• The cousins arrive at Gull Cove Resort and meet Carson Fine, who says Edward Franklin quit two days ago.

• Carson brings Mildred Story, who is clearly surprised to see her grandchildren.

• Milly realizes that Mildred had no idea they were coming, undermining the invitation's premise.

Character Development

Milly

Milly is observant and anxious, biting her thumb knuckle as a nervous habit. She wears her mother's red dress as a subtle act of defiance toward her grandmother. She is aware of her family's financial struggles and feels the weight of her mother's history. Her realization at the end—that Mildred didn't know they were coming—marks a turning point in her understanding of the situation.

Aubrey

Aubrey is optimistic and helpful, catching Dr. Baxter when he stumbles and trying to smooth over awkward moments. She calls her grandmother “Gran” and seems to hold a hopeful expectation that Mildred will be waiting for them. Her reaction to Mildred's shock is one of alarm, showing her investment in a positive reunion.

Jonah

Jonah is cynical and guarded, making sarcastic remarks about the island and Milly's luggage. His financial situation is hinted at through his inability to afford science camp and his single duffel bag. He is distant and avoids engaging with Hazel's request, preferring to look at his phone.

Hazel Baxter-Clement

Hazel is curious and persistent, immediately recognizing the Story name and wanting to interview the cousins. She is protective of her grandfather and explains his dementia with patience. Her interest in the family suggests that the Storys are a subject of local fascination.

Carson Fine

Carson is cheerful but oblivious, not recognizing the Story surname and assuming it's a coincidence. He is eager to please and quickly fetches Mildred, unaware of the tension he is about to unleash.

Mildred Story

Mildred appears composed and elegant, but her initial shock at seeing her grandchildren reveals that she is not in control of the situation. Her transformation into a smooth, expressionless mask suggests she is skilled at hiding her true feelings.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Mistaken Identity

Dr. Baxter's confusion of Milly for her mother, Allison, highlights how the past haunts the present. It also foreshadows the idea that the cousins are stepping into roles they don't fully understand.

Family Estrangement

The chapter emphasizes the distance between Mildred and her children. Milly's mother's red dress and the family video of her singing “Africa” underscore the lost connection. The fact that Mildred didn't know her grandchildren were coming deepens the estrangement.

The Stopped Watch

Milly's grandfather's Patek Philippe watch, which always reads three o'clock, symbolizes the family's frozen history and the inability to move forward. It also hints at a moment in time that changed everything.

Wealth Disparity

The contrast between the resort's luxury and the cousins' modest backgrounds is evident. Jonah's comment about room prices and Milly's secondhand luggage highlight the tension between appearance and reality.

Dementia and Memory

Dr. Baxter's dementia serves as a motif for the unreliability of memory and the way the past can be distorted. His warning to Milly suggests that something important is being forgotten or hidden.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter establishes the central mystery of the novel: why were the cousins invited to Gull Cove Island? The revelation that Mildred had no idea they were coming transforms the invitation from a generous gesture into a potential deception. It also introduces key characters—Hazel, Carson, and Mildred—and sets up the island as a closed, insular community where the Story family's secrets are known but not spoken. The chapter deepens the theme of family estrangement and hints at a hidden past that the cousins will need to uncover.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Milly wear her mother's red dress, and what does it signify?

Milly wears the dress as a deliberate choice to connect with her mother and to subtly challenge her grandmother. The dress is one of the few items her mother kept from her youth, and wearing it feels like a “dig” at Mildred for ignoring her children. It signifies Milly's loyalty to her mother and her desire to make a statement about the family's fractured history.

2. What does the stopped watch symbolize, and why is it mentioned in this chapter?

The stopped watch, which always reads three o'clock, symbolizes the family's arrested development and the unresolved past. It is the only memento Mildred passed to her mother, yet it doesn't work, suggesting that the family's connection is broken. The watch also hints at a specific moment in time that may be key to the mystery.

3. How does Dr. Baxter's mistake of calling Milly “Allison” contribute to the chapter's themes?

Dr. Baxter's confusion highlights the theme of mistaken identity and the way the past intrudes on the present. His warning that Allison “shouldn't have come” suggests that there is a reason the Story children are estranged, and that returning to the island may be dangerous. It also foreshadows that the cousins are stepping into a history they don't fully understand.

Navigation

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Book Hub