Summary

The novel moves ahead to the same time period as Chapter Two, approximately 20 years after the events of Chapter Six. Leo Posen has been dead for 15 years; Caroline and Franny are now married with families of their own, and they trade off flying to Los Angeles to spend time with their father. Due to the advanced state of his cancer, they are both in town for his birthday. Franny, Fix, and Caroline decide to see Commonwealth, the movie, which turns out to be a glamorized misrepresentation of their lives. Most memorably, Beverly is no longer a housewife, but a doctor in perfectly tailored scrubs having an affair. Fix decides shortly that he has had enough of the film, and after an emotional outburst, storms out with the assistance of his daughters.

Afterwards, Franny receives a message from Albie (whom she has become close...