Chapter summaries This Could Be Us Kennedy Ryan

Chapter Forty-Five Summary: Judah Grapples with News of Edward's Release and Family Crisis

⚠️ 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

Judah is interrupted by Delores Callahan who brings unsettling news: Edward, Soledad's ex-husband, has secured an early release from prison and will be out next month. Delores points out that Edward is a first-offender white male who committed white-collar crime and cooperated, implying systemic leniency. Despite Judah's attempts to hide his feelings, Delores teases him about his interest in Soledad. Judah's internal thoughts reveal he deeply misses Soledad beyond physical attraction. The conversation is cut short when Tremaine calls in panic — her husband Adam has suffered a severe seizure, hit his head, and is in the hospital. Judah immediately leaves to be with his sister.

Key Events

  • Delores informs Judah that Edward will be released from prison early next month.
  • Judah struggles to contain his reaction, concerned for Soledad's wellbeing.
  • Delores jokes about Judah's feelings for Soledad, pointing out his defensiveness.
  • Judah receives an urgent call from Tremaine about Adam's seizure and head injury.
  • Judah rushes out of his office to go to the hospital.

Character Development

  • Judah: This chapter deepens Judah's emotional vulnerability. His internal monologue reveals that his feelings for Soledad go far beyond physical desire — he misses the small details of her presence. He also shows his protective instincts when he immediately begins strategizing ways to keep Edward imprisoned. The call from Tremaine shifts his focus to family loyalty, highlighting his role as a dependable brother.
  • Delores: She acts as a catalyst, delivering uncomfortable news while also perceptively calling out Judah's suppressed emotions. Her newly waxed eyebrows symbolize a subtle personal change, but her sharp observations show she remains a key confidante.
  • Tremaine: Though heard only via phone, her panicked plea reveals the gravity of Adam's medical emergency and her reliance on Judah for support.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Systemic Inequality in Justice: Delores's comment about Edward's early release — first-offender, white, white-collar — underlines how the legal system treats privileged defendants more leniently than others, especially compared to other characters' experiences in the novel.
  • Family Crisis: The sudden medical emergency involving Adam pulls Judah away from his own concerns, emphasizing that family obligations can override personal dramas.
  • Suppressed Emotion vs. Action: Judah internally acknowledges his longing for Soledad but refuses to act on it, while simultaneously springing into action for his sister. This contrast highlights his compartmentalization.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter introduces two major plot developments: Edward's impending release threatens Soledad's hard-won stability, and Adam's seizure sets the stage for a family health crisis. It also cements Judah's emotional depth and his unresolved feelings for Soledad, foreshadowing future conflict between his loyalty to her and the unexpected complications ahead.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What news does Delores bring to Judah, and how does he react internally and externally? Delores tells Judah that Edward is getting out of prison early next month. Internally, Judah is upset and immediately considers ways to keep Edward incarcerated, worried for Soledad. Externally, he maintains a composed demeanor until the end of the conversation.

  2. How does the author use Delores's character to advance Judah's emotional arc in this chapter? Delores functions as a mirror, pointing out Judah's feelings for Soledad when he tries to deflect. Her teasing forces him to confront his own suppressed emotions, even though he quickly changes the subject.

  3. What is the significance of the phone call from Tremaine at the end of the chapter? The call shifts the chapter's focus from Edward's release to a family emergency. It demonstrates that despite Judah's personal conflicts, he prioritizes his sister's crisis, reinforcing his role as a caring brother and setting up a major subplot involving Adam's health.

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