The Good Sister

After the weekend’s eventful IKEA visit, Fern is glad for the quiet of the library on Monday. She gets rattled when Carmel asks to “shadow” (157) her to learn from her work patterns, but Carmel proves an unintrusive presence. Fern reads to children and recommends reads for patrons, demonstrating her deep knowledge of literature. Carmel tells Fern she is a gift, which puzzles Fern. She lets it go since in her opinion the day has been a win. She is glad Carmel didn’t pester her to learn photocopying as she did in the past.

Fern still hasn’t told Wally about the pregnancy or Rose about her original motive for getting pregnant. She broaches the subject with Wally, asking him if he wants children. Wally says no. He has thought about the subject a lot and feels bringing a child into an overpopulated, resource-cramped planet is unfair. He is also afraid he may pass his anxiety issues to his offspring. If the child is not successful, the world may be unkind to them. Fern appreciates Wally’s reasoned-out and honest response but is internally devastated. She decides against telling him about the pregnancy. She considers seeking a pregnancy termination.

Rose has fixed Fern a meeting at the Family Planning Clinic. Rose is supposed to drive her but asks Fern to take a bus, as she is running late. Fern feels annoyed at Rose but knows she is being illogical. On the crowded bus, Fern sits on the seat reserved for pregnant women. A woman in the last trimester of her pregnancy indicates that Fern should leave the seat for her. Fern says she shouldn’t get up as she is pregnant as well, but the passengers and driver disagree. A shaken Fern gets off the bus several stops before her destination and walks to the clinic in the rain. Rose hasn’t arrived at the clinic, so Fern waits for her. She is not used to filling out forms on her own. Rose makes a late, dramatic entry and tells Fern to postpone the appointment, as she has a request for her.

Rose takes Fern to a café and tells her she’s had an epiphany. Since Rose can’t have a baby, Fern could have the child and give it to her. She’s discussed the idea with Owen, and he is on board. If the baby is raised by two parents, they would have a backup parent in case one died or was incapacitated like their mother. Fern is surprised Rose told Owen without asking her first, but she is also affected by the idea that her child could be raised by two “neurotypical loving parents” (167). This could be an ideal start for the baby. Fern agrees to Rose’s proposal, and Rose hugs her. Fern again feels suffocated.

To Rose’s relief, Danny was friendly and appropriate with her and Fern, never touching them beyond a high-five. He answered all of Fern’s questions about his life patiently. Rose notes that Fern has always had the knack of asking frank questions without annoying people. Danny told them he used to a be a pilot with a commercial airline. He was divorced from his ex-wife Trish, with whom he had a son, 14-year-old Billy. Soon, Danny suggested a camping trip for all of them. They picked up Billy from Trish’s place. Rose was surprised to see how cordial Danny and Trish were with each other. Nina, on the other hand, would call their father names, such as “Deadbeat. Loser” (168). As the group set out for their trip, the camaraderie in the car was infectious. Yet, Rose was alarmed by Nina’s gaiety, knowing it was a sign before her mother destroyed everything.

In the past, Rose has respected Fern’s need for forewarning and scheduled plans. Now, she visits Fern unannounced and texts her constantly. Fern doesn’t like the change in Rose but thinks the visits are lucky because Rose prevents her from doing potentially harmful things, such as eating deli meat. She also notices Fern has left her oil burner on, releasing harmful fumes. Fern is glad for Rose’s awareness, even though she rarely uses her burner.

Fern visits Nina at Sun Meadows, happy to be away from Rose’s fussing. Nina is making good progress with Teresa, speaking in full sentences often. Fern likes talking to Nina and remembers she used to be a good listener before her overdose. Fern misses the occasional wise advice Nina would give her. Fern tells Nina that she is pregnant and plans to give the baby to Rose, as she is not equipped to take care of a child. Nina seems to get worked up at Fern’s announcement before telling Fern she must not give her baby to Rose.

Fern asks Nina what she means, but Nina regresses into silence. Fern mulls over Nina’s advice and rationalizes she could be incoherent. The next afternoon, a dressed-up Wally turns up at the library to ask Fern out for dinner at a restaurant. Before Fern can respond that restaurants are too stimulating for her, Wally tells her they are going to dine at an empty top floor of a restaurant reserved for a wedding. They can both wear swimming goggles and noise-muffling headphones with speakers connected via Bluetooth. Fern is moved at Wally’s thoughtful planning. Wally has even brought her a dress to wear at the dinner, a long dress with diagonal stripes in different colors, each color unique.

At the restaurant, Fern decides she may tell Wally about the pregnancy after all. Just then, she is unnerved by an explosive sound. The noise is from the Greek wedding downstairs, during which smashing plates is a common ritual. Fern begins to shake and asks Wally to call up Rose. Rose is furious Wally would take Fern to a restaurant. When Rose arrives, she yells at Wally to pay the bill and takes Fern home. Before Rose and Fern leave, Fern apologizes to Wally for not being more normal, but Wally tells her she is perfectly normal. “It’s everyone else who are weirdos” (185). Fern reflects that at the start of the evening she felt like a woman. Now she feels like a child.

At the campsite, Danny and Nina shared a tent, Fern and Rose another, and Billy had his own. When Danny and Nina retired for the evening, Billy snuck into Fern and Rose’s tent to play poker. Rose felt scared and exhilarated; Nina didn’t usually allow such things. The game was Rose and Billy against Fern, who was an excellent poker player. Rose felt joyous that night, as if she had fallen into a regular, carefree life.

Rose takes Fern to her house for the night. Fern doesn’t like sleeping at other people’s houses, so she asks Rose to take her home. Rose counters that she doesn’t want to leave Fern alone after what has happened that night. Further, she is too tired to drive any more. She was on her way home from back-to-back meetings when Fern called her. Fern gives in, but she asks Rose why she would be wearing leggings if she came to Fern from a meeting. Rose snaps at Fern and refuses to answer her question.

Fern sleeps badly, irritated by Rose’s scratchy polyester sheets. She wakes up early to leave, but Rose stops her for a cup of coffee. Fern notices framework for a tiny building at one end of Rose’s garden. Rose tells her she intended the building as a surprise for Fern so she could live there. To Fern, the structure looks like “an oversized dollhouse. Not a place for an adult to live” (193). Fern is horrified at the thought of ever moving there but tries to hide her emotions. She tells Rose she prefers to live in her own flat, as she likes her independence. Rose assumes Fern’s reluctance is connected with Wally and tells her there is no happy ending to their relationship. Wally is on his way to a new project and wouldn’t deal well with a complicated relationship, as last night showed. Fern knows Rose is right. She agrees to move in and break up with Wally.