Chapter Seven: Lila's Memories and Reluctant Hospitality

⚠️ 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 a flashback to Lila Kennedy at age seven. She returns from a play-date to find her mother Francesca sitting beside a stranger named Bill McKenzie, a woodworker with a crew-cut and tweedy pullover. Francesca’s exaggerated enthusiasm for Bill’s handiwork (a bookshelf) marks the beginning of his steady presence in their lives. Bill soon becomes a fixture, repairing cabinets, fixing taps, and rehanging doors. Lila’s biological father, Gene, had left for America when she was four and gradually faded away, sending only late cards or inappropriate gifts. Lila initially feels uneasy about Bill intruding on her tight unit with Mum, but she later admits life improves: things are fixed, her mother stops crying, and Bill is careful not to overstep. On her eighth birthday, after Gene fails to send anything, Bill presents Lila with a handmade doll’s house with working lights and windows. Francesca watches with tears, saying it is what she always wanted for her daughter, and Lila realizes she hadn’t known anything was missing.

The narrative shifts back to the present. Lila cannot bear the thought of Gene sleeping on the sofa, so she sets up a sofa-bed in her study on the top floor, shoving her desk aside. She makes the bed while Gene stands in the doorway, expressing endless gratitude. Lila’s internal anger surges as she recalls his years of absence—missing her children’s births, failing to be a grandfather, and not returning after Francesca’s death. At Francesca’s funeral, Lila watched Bill’s shattered grief and felt any remaining warmth toward Gene turn to ice. She asks Gene what time he leaves in the morning; he says sometime late, claiming to be dead to the world until eleven. She hands him two towels from a distance, noting his aged appearance despite his youthful Nirvana T-shirt. He tries to compliment her daughters and express regret about her marriage, but Lila cuts him off, pleading an early start. She closes the door quickly, fighting a reflexive guilt. Only afterward does she realize Gene climbed four flights of stairs without favoring his injured leg.

Key Events

Lila recalls her first meeting with Bill at age seven, introduced by her mother Francesca.
Bill gradually moves in, fixing things around the house and improving the family’s stability.
Lila’s biological father, Gene, grows increasingly absent, eventually stopping contact.
On Lila’s eighth birthday, Bill gives her an elaborate handmade doll’s house, deeply moving Francesca.
In the present, Lila prepares a sofa-bed for Gene in her study instead of letting him sleep on the living-room sofa.
Lila’s anger toward Gene surfaces, rooted in his neglect during her childhood and after Francesca’s death.
She hands Gene towels and asks about his departure time; he is vague and overly grateful.
Lila cuts short their conversation and leaves, feeling guilty but also relieved.
She notices Gene climbed four flights of stairs with no sign of his earlier leg injury.

Character Development

Lila Kennedy: The flashback shows Lila as a child uncertain about Bill but eventually accepting him. The present reveals her deep-seated resentment toward Gene, which has hardened after Francesca’s funeral. She wants to maintain control and distance, yet a flicker of guilt suggests she is not entirely immune to his attempts at reconciliation.

Bill McKenzie: Bill is portrayed as a kind, practical presence who gradually becomes a father figure. His gift of the doll’s house demonstrates his attentiveness and emotional investment in Lila’s happiness, contrasting sharply with Gene’s neglect.

Gene (Lila’s biological father): Gene emerges as a failed parent and grandparent. Despite his efforts to be charming and grateful, Lila perceives his gratitude as hollow. His unimpeded climb up the stairs hints that his injury may be exaggerated or healed.

Francesca Kennedy: In the flashback, Francesca is exuberant and emotionally needy, but she also recognizes Bill’s value. Her tears over the doll’s house show her deep hope for Lila’s stability.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Absent vs. Present Father Figures: The chapter contrasts Bill’s steady, hands-on care with Gene’s abandonment. Bill’s doll’s house symbolizes the stable home he provides, while Gene’s late cards and non‑appearances underscore his unreliability.

Home and Belonging: Lila’s struggle to decide where Gene should sleep—the heart of the household or a remote study—mirrors her emotional ambivalence. The study sofa-bed represents a temporary, unwelcome intrusion.

Memory and Resentment: The flashback structures Lila’s present hostility. The memory of Francesca’s funeral solidifies her resentment, showing how past wounds shape current relationships.

Physical Space as Emotional Boundary: Lila’s careful manoeuvring of furniture (shoving the desk to extend the sofa-bed) and her outstretched handing of towels illustrate her desire to maintain distance.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the central family conflict by revealing Lila’s history with Bill and the origins of her anger toward Gene. The doll’s house episode provides a touchstone of the care Bill offered, raising the stakes for Lila’s present predicament. It also casts doubt on Gene’s sincerity, as his smoothly climbed stairs contradict his earlier story. The chapter sets up emotional friction that will likely intensify as the story progresses.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Lila set up the sofa-bed in her study instead of letting Gene sleep on the sofa?
Lila cannot stand the thought of Gene snoring in the heart of the household while Bill huffs through the morning. Putting Gene in the study allows her to keep him physically apart from the family’s daily life, reinforcing her emotional distance.
How does the flashback to Lila’s childhood explain her present feelings toward Bill and Gene?
The flashback shows Bill stepping in with kindness and reliability when Gene failed. The doll’s house becomes a symbol of Bill’s attentive love, while Gene’s repeated absences—especially after Francesca’s death—cement Lila’s resentment, making her unwilling to trust or forgive him.
What does Gene’s ability to climb four flights of stairs without favoring his leg imply?
It implies that Gene’s leg injury may be exaggerated or no longer painful, which in turn suggests he might be manipulating Lila’s sympathy. This revelation undermines his sincerity and deepens Lila’s wariness, hinting that his gratitude may be a performance.