Chapter 21 Summary

A result of the lunch with Susan Lowenstein is an understanding Tom begins to formulate about Savannah's condition. He reads case studies of other people's psychotic histories, and that also helps. Then he decides to call Lila in Charleston. He informs Lila that he is going to tell the doctor all about what happened on the island that day that Savannah had written about allegorically.

To counter Tom's intention of telling all, Lila changes the subject. She informs him that his wife is having an indiscreet affair and that everyone knows about it. Tom deflates her by informing her that Sallie has already told him about it, and it is Sallie's business and not Lila's.

Back on the subject of that day, Lila does not want Savannah to remember what happened because she knows that once Savannah remembers, she'll write about it. Tom...