Tender is the Night Book 3, Chapter 9

Dick arrived back earlier than expected without the car, because he didn't feel like driving it anymore. He told Nicole that he dropped Rosemary off in Avignon, but he didn't tell her in the note because he didn't want her imagining things. He told her that he wanted to find out if Rosemary had anything to offer. Dick told her that Rosemary did not grow up and he asked her what she has been doing. Nicole told him that she went out with Tommy--but Dick stopped her and told her that he didn't want to know about it.

The phone rang and it was Tommy asking Nicole to meet him in Cannes. He wanted her to tell him that she loved him. She told him that she does.

Topic Tracking: Love 28

Nicole then told him that she couldn't go right now, but that she would call him. Nicole tried to think back to what it was like when she and Dick were in love, but those pleasant thoughts were quickly replaced with ones of Dick's betrayal.

Nicole went over to speak with Dick and she found him sitting and thinking with a look of despair on his face. She felt sorry for him. Nicole wondered if he knew that he no longer controlled her. She touched his back and tried to comfort him and he told her not to touch him. When Nicole told him that she did not come to fight with him he said "Then why did you come, Nicole? I can't do anything for you anymore. I'm trying to save myself." Book 3, Chapter 9, pg. 301 Nicole became upset and told Dick that he was blaming her for his failures. He did not respond. Nicole thought about their marriage in her head--about her new love, coming out of her growing resentment for Dick, about Dick's bitterness, and his deterioration. She gathered up her courage and walked away, knowing that things between them were at last over for good. Dick thought to himself that finally, this case was finished, and he was free.