Chapter 37 Summary: Fourteen Ashlyn
⚠️ 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
On October 25, 1984, in Rye, New Hampshire, Ashlyn and Ethan share a casual dinner of lobster rolls and fries. The week has been busy—Ethan has been teaching double classes after a colleague's baby arrived, and he's also polishing chapters for his editor. Ashlyn has finished her newsletter and sent it to the printer. Their conversation is light, but both are aware of an unspoken tension: the kiss from their previous conversation hasn't been mentioned, and they've been waiting for days to hear from Marian.
Four days have passed since Zachary agreed to pass along a message to his mother, and there's been no response. Zachary had warned Ethan that Marian is extremely private and unlikely to call back, but Ashlyn had hoped her affection for Richard Hillard might change that. They've agreed to wait a full week before trying again, and then they'll have to give up.
As they settle in to eat, the phone rings. Ethan answers, and after a moment, he puts the call on speaker. Marian's voice fills the kitchen—low and smoky, just as Hemi described. She says her son told her Ethan has letters and cards she sent to his father over the years. Ethan confirms he also found photos and offers to return them. Marian accepts without hesitation, expressing regret that she never got to see Richard before he died.
Then she asks if they found anything else. Ethan and Ashlyn exchange looks. They confirm they have both books from Richard's study and that they've read them. Marian asks who “we” is, and Ethan explains that Ashlyn is a friend who found the books and they've been reading them together. After a pause, Marian invites them to her home in Marblehead on Saturday at three in the afternoon, asking them to bring the letters. She gives her address and warns them to bring a good map.
After the call, Ashlyn notes that Marian didn't ask for the books—only the letters. Ethan suggests that after forty years, Marian might not want them back. Ashlyn insists they'll bring the books anyway, because they're hers. Ethan agrees, and then points out that if they're returning the books on Saturday, this is their last chance to read the final pages of Belle's book. He suggests they do that after dinner, and Ashlyn is up for it.
Key Events
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Ethan and Ashlyn have dinner together, catching up on their week.
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The phone rings, and Marian calls after four days of silence.
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Marian confirms she wants the letters and photos Ethan found.
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She asks about the books and learns they've been read.
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Marian invites them to Marblehead for Saturday afternoon, asking them to bring the letters.
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Ashlyn decides they'll bring the books as well, even though Marian didn't ask for them.
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Ethan proposes they read the final pages of Belle's book that evening.
Character Development
Ashlyn shows her determination and empathy. She's the one who insists on bringing the books, even though Marian didn't request them, because she believes they belong to Marian. This reflects her deep respect for the emotional weight of books and her desire to see closure for the people connected to them. She's also willing to close her shop early for the trip, showing how invested she is in this mystery.
Ethan is more cautious and practical. He's the one who suggests that Marian might not want the books back, and he's mindful of the logistics of the trip. Yet he's also open to Ashlyn's perspective and agrees to bring the books. His decision to read the final pages with Ashlyn shows he values their shared experience and wants to see the story through together.
Marian comes across as guarded and reluctant. Her voice is described as low and smoky, and her pauses feel like confessions. She asks about the books but doesn't ask for them, suggesting she's not ready to reclaim that part of her past. Her invitation to meet is cautious—she wants the letters but seems hesitant about the books. This sets up her character as someone who has kept her distance for decades.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Books as emotional anchors are central here. The books from Richard's study are more than objects; they carry the weight of a decades-old relationship. Marian's reluctance to ask for them shows how painful they are to reclaim, while Ashlyn's insistence on returning them reflects her belief that they belong with their original owner.
Reconnection across decades is the driving force of the chapter. Marian's call after forty years is a fragile bridge between past and present. The invitation to Marblehead is a step toward resolution, but it's tentative—she only asks for the letters, not the books.
Reluctance to reclaim the past is evident in Marian's hesitation. She doesn't ask for the books, and Ethan speculates that she might not want them back. This theme suggests that some memories are too heavy to carry again.
Closure after loss is hinted at through the planned meeting. Both Ashlyn and Ethan hope that returning the letters and books will bring some kind of peace to Marian, and perhaps to themselves as well.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the novel. It marks the first direct contact with Marian, the woman whose story has been intertwined with Richard and Hemi's. The phone call opens the door to answers, but it also raises new questions—why didn't Marian ask for the books? What will she reveal when they meet?
The chapter also sets up the final reading of Belle's book. By deciding to read the last pages that evening, Ethan and Ashlyn are committing to finishing the story together, which will likely bring them closer and reveal the truth about the past. This moment of decision is crucial because it moves the plot from discovery to resolution.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Marian ask about the books but not ask for them?
Marian's question about the books shows she's aware of them and curious about what Ethan and Ashlyn found. However, she only asks them to bring the letters, not the books. This suggests she's not ready to reclaim the books—perhaps because they hold painful memories or because she feels they belong to the past. Ethan even speculates that after forty years, she might not want them back. Her reluctance indicates that the books are emotionally charged and that she's guarded about reopening that part of her life.
2. What does Ashlyn's decision to bring the books reveal about her character?
Ashlyn insists on bringing the books even though Marian didn't ask for them. She says, “They're hers,” showing her respect for ownership and the emotional significance of the books. This decision reveals her empathy and her belief that closure requires facing the past directly. It also shows her commitment to the mystery—she wants to see the story through to the end, even if it means taking an extra step that wasn't requested.
3. How does the phone call change the dynamic between Ashlyn and Ethan?
The phone call brings them closer as a team. They exchange looks and silently coordinate their responses, with Ashlyn nodding to confirm they've read the books. After the call, they discuss the implications together, and Ethan suggests reading the final pages as a shared activity. The call also removes some of the tension from their earlier kiss, as they focus on the practical matter of the upcoming trip. Their collaboration on this mystery strengthens their bond and sets the stage for deeper connection.
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