Summary

In Chapter 12, a week later, Tara, Eddie, and Geraldine, met with Judy Horowitz, “a mental health counselor” (102). The office made Tara think about “the utilitarian therapy offices they’d been to after Eddie’s accident” (102). Shortly thereafter, Bobby had abandoned the family, leaving 19-year-old Geraldine in charge.

The siblings shared their concerns about Geraldine with Judy. Geraldine insisted she was not a hoarder, and blamed Tara for causing trouble. The siblings started arguing about their home life. Then they lapsed into laughter, which temporarily “connected the three of them” (107).

In the weeks since leaving Taconic and securing her job, Tara had been trying to settle in. She was thankful for her paychecks and the chance to draw. After work one day, she realized she had to thank Brian. He had “helped her when she very much needed it” (109). She drove to the precinct...