The chapter opens with Elizabeth returning home after hooking up with Will. It’s the perfect opportunity to discuss the logistics of travelling in New York!
Elizabeth was back at her apartment in less than ten minutes. That can happen in the city in those rare times between breaths when there is no traffic. Nothing is really that far away. It just seems that way when you’re trying to go crosstown during rush hour. And in New York, it’s always rush hour for someone.
The end of that statement feels very philosophical. What started as a justification about Elizabeth’s brief journey home turns into a musing about life.
Elizabeth’s doorman is surprised to see her, saying, “That was fast. Really fast.” Obviously Jessica is upstairs, but Elizabeth is more focused on avoiding small-talk that she misses the clue.
George the doorman makes some more cryptic comments, and it seems like he’s two seconds away from losing his mind about this. I wonder if from this point on he’s just convinced Elizabeth has superpowers.
“And I was right here. All the time,” he said.
“Relax. I’m in for the night,” Elizabeth said, holding her mail and slipping quickly into the elevator. “See you, George.”
“It’s not possible …”
GEORGE, JESUS, CHILL THE FUCK OUT SHE HAS A TWIN. You are a poor communicator and detective, sir.
Elizabeth finds Jessica sleeping outside her door and feels bad for George. Well, you shouldn’t, Elizabeth. He was being very cryptic and silly.
She lets Jessica into her apartment after Jessica asks if Elizabeth can ever forgive her and, in the same breath, reveals that she left Todd.
“What are you doing here?” Elizabeth asked evenly, calmly picking up her clothes from the couch.
“Didn’t you hear what I said? I left Todd.”
“That has nothing to do with me.” Her response was so cold, Elizabeth couldn’t even look at her sister when she said it.
Oh, spicy.
But of course this spiciness does not last. Jessica starts sobbing, and Elizabeth’s heart breaks. She does resist the temptation to go comfort Jessica, though, so maybe all hope is not lost.
The conversation takes a very strange direction when Jessica tries to explain what happend.
“I swear I didn’t see it coming. I mean, with Todd all that time ago.” Jessica forced the words through her tears. “But once it did, I was shocked. It was the ugliest thing I had ever done in my life. And I couldn’t stop myself.”
“That’s your excuse? ‘I couldn’t stop myself’? Well, you should have.”
“But I never have. I know it sounds crazy, but you were the one who always stopped me. You were my fail-safe. You shouldn’t have been, but you were.”
“So actually, it was my fault?” Jessica had stopped crying. She had an expression on her face that Elizabeth had never seen before. It was too serious, too knowing for Jessica. At least for her Jessica.
“No, of course, it wasn’t your fault.” Again, the tears. “I love you so much, and I’ve ruined your life.”
What infuriates me is that in like 30 seconds Elizabeth forgives Jessica, and this is just not an explanation at all that should lead to forgiveness. “I always did whatever I wanted! But because I couldn’t tell you I was sleeping with your boyfriend, you couldn’t stop me. I love you!!”
At first, Elizabeth tells Jessica to leave, and Jessica is like, “Hold me one more time!” And Elizabeth fucking does.
For Elizabeth, holding Jessica was more than holding a sister. It was what she would feel had it been her child, and she understood now that short of the ultimate separation, she could never let go of Jessica. And she never wanted to. They would have to find a way.
What the fucking fuck? What is this book trying to tell/teach me? Why do they have to find a way when Jessica has clearly LEARNED NOTHING FROM THESE EVENTS. She is the same piece of shit, and I don’t buy that this hug is so magical that Elizabeth has an epiphany like this.
“I love you, too, Jess, and my life is not ruined.”
And just like that, with those few words, they were on their way to healing.
Whaaaaat?
They start giggling and Elizabeth offers Jessica tea. I can’t. This is dreadful.
THEN. Then. Jessica starts talking to Elizabeth like nothing has happened and talking about her relationship with Todd and how they are plagued with guilt. You would think it’s still too soon in their “healing” to discuss this, but no. Elizabeth is focussed on Jessica and removes herself from the situation to see how she can best help her sister.
Elizabeth’s only payback is that she doesn’t take any of the blame for what happened with Liam, which she shouldn’t. How is that payback, Elizabeth? ANSWER ME THAT.
She is also impressed with Jessica’s capacity to love. The bar has never been lower for a person.
Jessica asks if Elizabeth loves Todd, and not only did this magical hug lead Elizabeth down the path of forgiveness, it also causes her to realize she wasn’t in love with Todd and that they would have broken up anyway. Wow! This worked out so nicely for everyone, and actually Jessica kind of did everyone involved a favor. What a saint. Never change, girl.
“In fact, okay, so I’m not in love with him, but you are, and I want to help you put it together again.”
“The old Jessica would have sat back and let you do it all,
Oh! So she has grown as a character, because now she won’t sit back and have Elizabeth fix Jessica’s relationship with Elizabeth’s ex-fiance for her. This is some beautiful character work.
but I’m so the new Jessica and I’m doing it myself. In fact, I’m getting back on that plane first thing tomorrow morning and straightening it all out. Just the way my sister would.”
Seriously, what else does Jessica think could have resolved the situation? How is this a revelation?
“Hey,” Elizabeth said, happier than she had been in months.
Somebody get this woman some help!
“Okay,” Jessica said, “now tell me how I should do it.” Elizabeth hugged her sister and together they crept into bed just the way they had done thousands of times before. And it felt right and good.
NO NO NO NO NO. WHAT!? NO.
These two make the Dollangangers look functional. Speaking of which, you should totally do a VC Andrews novel at some point.
Well, that was easy. Couldn’t they have done this at the birthday party? Poor Grandma had her birthday party ruined by them. I bet neither of them will think about apologizing to her. She should cut them out of her will.
Right?!?!? Where was this magical hug when it was grandma’s special day?