Summary

Chapter 12. On Christmas Eve, Queenie goes to church with her family, and is surprised when her mother Sylvie shows up. Queenie describes her mother as being many things that she herself is not: slender, short, with pretty hair and hazel eyes. Queenie avoids speaking with Sylvie, at times during the service texting Diana and at one point praying, which she does not usually do. She asks for clarity and insight about Tom, and for a bit of happiness in her life.

The next day, Christmas, Queenie hides in her room at her grandmother’s, eating chocolate. When Sylvie arrives, Queenie pretends to be asleep, but Sylvie sees through the attempt, and tries to get her to talk about what she knows is happening with Tom. Queenie rebuffs her. At dinner, there are arguments over Maggie’s decisions about having cosmetic surgery and...