Chapter Seventeen: Intimacy and a Life-Changing Offer
⚠️ 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 Arden and Gideon sharing their first night together. Arden, motivated by need and trust rather than fear, initiates a passionate encounter that leads to emotional and physical intimacy. The next morning, Gideon returns home, where he spends hours woodturning a salad bowl in his workshop. Later, Riverbend Police Chief Tom Franklin visits Gideon and, after revealing his recent health scare and planned retirement, offers Gideon the position of chief of police. Gideon is initially stunned but promises to think it over. That evening at dinner with his grandfather Joe, Gideon reveals the offer. Joe strongly encourages Gideon to accept, arguing that Gideon is a cop at heart and should not let past disappointments or loyalty to Joe hold him back. Joe even jokingly fires Gideon from the hardware store to remove any obstacle. Reassured, Gideon decides to accept the job.
Key Events
- Arden and Gideon become intimate for the first time; Arden initiates the encounter.
- Their conversation afterward shows mutual uncertainty but openness to a relationship.
- The next morning, Arden and Gideon share a playful breakfast; Gideon leaves promising to return with pizza.
- Gideon works in his woodshop, turning a salad bowl, reflecting his craftsmanship and mental focus.
- Chief Tom Franklin visits Gideon and announces his retirement, offering Gideon the Riverbend police chief position.
- Gideon discusses the offer with his grandfather Joe during their monthly steak dinner.
- Joe urges Gideon to accept, stating that Gideon is meant to be a cop and firing him from the store to remove any guilt.
Character Development
- Arden: She overcomes her past fears of intimacy (alluded to as “ugly memories and fears”). She takes control of the sexual encounter, demonstrating growing trust in Gideon and a desire to reclaim her own pleasure and autonomy. Her vulnerability and need for connection are evident.
- Gideon: He shows patience and follows Arden’s lead. Later, he is faced with a major career decision. His conversation with Joe reveals his internal conflict between his identity as a cop and his desire for a simpler life. Joe’s encouragement helps him embrace his true calling.
- Joe Riley: Acts as a wise mentor. He sees Gideon’s potential and selflessly encourages him to pursue what he needs, even if it means leaving the family business. His love and understanding deepen Gideon’s resolve.
- Tom Franklin: Demonstrates integrity and affection for Riverbend by carefully choosing his successor. His health scare motivates him to prioritize family over duty.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Trust and Vulnerability: Arden’s willingness to be intimate despite her fears symbolizes her growing trust in Gideon. Their post-coital conversation about “just this or something else” highlights the uncertainty of new relationships.
- Transformation and New Beginnings: Gideon’s woodturning—shaping raw wood into a bowl—parallels his own reshaping of life after leaving the LAPD. The bowl represents patience, skill, and creation, mirroring the potential for a new career as chief.
- Family and Legacy: Joe’s encouragement and Tom’s retirement both emphasize the importance of family bonds and passing responsibility to those who will carry it well. Gideon’s decision honors his identity as a Riley while forging his own path.
- Rain as Atmosphere: The persistent rain throughout the chapter creates a cocoon-like setting for intimacy and later a reflective mood for Gideon’s decision-making. It also underscores the small-town setting.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for both protagonists. For Arden, the physical and emotional connection with Gideon marks a significant step in her healing from past trauma and her ability to trust a partner. For Gideon, the offer of chief forces him to confront whether he can truly leave police work behind. The chapter resolves his post-LA crisis of identity by reasserting his calling as a cop. The parallel intimate and professional developments strengthen the novel’s dual focus on romance and personal reinvention. Joe’s pivotal role also reinforces the theme of family support.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Arden’s perspective on intimacy change in this chapter?
Arden moves from a place of need and fear to active desire. She initiates sex because she trusts Gideon and wants to give part of herself. The experience is described as a release from her “ugly memories,” and afterward she feels “weak and wrecked, and wonderful” instead of exposed.
2. Why does Tom Franklin choose Gideon as his successor, and what does this reveal about Gideon’s past?
Tom explains that Gideon is a “Riley,” a good and honest cop who stood up against corruption in the LAPD (Major Crimes). Tom respects Gideon’s integrity and believes he is the right person to lead Riverbend’s police force. This reveals that Gideon’s departure from LA was principled, not due to incompetence.
3. What role does Joe play in Gideon’s decision to accept the chief position?
Joe acts as a catalyst. He insists that Gideon is a cop at heart and must not let guilt or loyalty to the hardware store prevent him from pursuing what he truly wants. By jokingly “firing” Gideon, Joe removes the last barrier, giving Gideon the permission he needed to embrace his future.