Chapter summaries The First Time I Saw Him Laura Dave

Chapter 10: In Big Sur, the Landscape Changes – 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

Driving through Big Sur, the narrator finally gets a call from Patty. Patty instructs the narrator to head to the Napa County Airport the next morning, using Runway 19R/1L and tail number 82165. She tells them to go straight to the tarmac and, if needed, ask for Tami O’Sullivan under the name “Roberts party” without showing ID. The narrator asks if the person meeting them is someone she knows; Patty replies “Not who you hope, not yet.” Bailey asks if Patty has seen Owen, but Patty deflects, offering sympathy for Bailey’s grandfather. Patricia warns that this is just the beginning.

Key Events

  • Patty calls the narrator while they drive through Big Sur.
  • She gives detailed flight instructions: Napa County Airport, Runway 19R/1L, tail number 82165, and a contact name (Tami O’Sullivan, under “Roberts party”).
  • The narrator asks if the person meeting them is someone she knows; Patty evades directly answering.
  • Bailey asks if Patty has seen Owen; Patty deflects and offers condolences for Bailey’s grandfather.
  • Patty ends the call with a warning: “This is just getting started.”

Character Development

  • Narrator: Displays resourcefulness and memory (refusing to write down instructions, claiming she’ll remember). Her caution is evident: she doesn’t reveal their true location, only their destination. She also tries to protect Bailey by putting the call on speaker so Bailey can hear.
  • Bailey: Shows emotional vulnerability—she asks directly about Owen and shares grief over her grandfather. Patty’s gentle tone toward her suggests Bailey is a sympathetic figure.
  • Patty: Demonstrates careful planning and control. She orchestrates the escape co-ordination (“we chose it”) but remains cryptic about the larger network. She deflects Bailey’s question with kindness, showing her preference for the young woman.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Trust and Secrecy: The narrator trusts Patty’s instructions despite many unknowns. The chapter emphasizes the need to appear confident (“look like you know where you’re going”) and the use of code names and no-ID protocols.
  • The Journey as Transformation: Big Sur’s dramatic landscape—a winding highway carved between mountain and sea—mirrors the perilous, in-between state of the characters. The narrator notes it’s “one of my favorite roads” but now she is “just trying to get over it, as fast as possible,” linking physical travel to emotional urgency.
  • Fragile Hope: Patty’s promise “not yet” creates a sliver of possibility while underscoring the distance from the hoped-for reunion.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter moves the plot decisively toward a concrete escape plan. Patty transitions from a remote contact to an active organizer, providing flight details and a new alias. The mention of Napa County Airport—a place previously connected to Belle and Avett (Owen’s former boss and wife)—deepens the web of relationships. Bailey’s grief over her grandfather adds emotional weight, and Patty’s evasiveness about Owen increases suspense. The final line signals that the protagonists are entering a more dangerous phase.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does the narrator avoid telling Patty their exact location?
She says she tries to say where they are going rather than where they are, “just in case.” This shows her cautious mindset: she cannot be sure who might intercept the call, so she deliberately withholds details to protect herself and Bailey.

2. What does Patty’s response “Not who you hope. Not yet.” suggest about the person meeting them?
It implies that the narrator is hoping for a specific person—likely Owen—but that person will not be there. Patty hints that Owen might be alive and eventually reachable (“not yet”), but the immediate contact will be someone else, raising questions about the network helping them.

3. How does Patty’s tone shift when speaking to Bailey compared to the narrator?
Patty uses a softer, kinder voice with Bailey, calling her “sweetheart” and expressing sympathy for her grandfather. With the narrator, her tone is more businesslike and urgent. This suggests Patty has a personal fondness for Bailey, possibly because of Bailey’s direct connection to Owen or her recent loss.

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