Summary

Chapter 3 “Destroyed by Love”

This chapter is told from Jenny’s point of view, starting at age seventeen. She is described as skinny, wearing out-of-fashion clothes and socially isolated. Cody is away at college, and Ezra has his first job at Scarlatti’s Restaurant, but has just been drafted by the army. Ezra asks Jenny to look in on Mrs. Scarlatti, his boss, and Josiah Payson, his childhood friend, because he is concerned for their well-being without him.

Pearl had planned to rent out the boys’ empty room, but she changes her mind because she misses Ezra. Jenny and her mother achieve a sort of truce, but only if Jenny does exactly as expected. She studies very hard, and the house seems to be haunted by the absence of the missing family members, including Beck. Their relationship is also haunted by Pearl’s past abuse...