Summary

Chapter 19 begins with Maureen’s arguments to Jimmy as to why he should not kill Georgie: “she’d never sleep again” with another ghost in the house, Georgie “had no influence in Jimmy’s world” and no one “would believe her,” and no one “steps out of line once you’re holding [the safety of their children] over them” (256-257).

Maureen then tells Jimmy that she told Georgie that Robbie was dead. She and Jimmy argue in overtly religious diction about this, while Maureen wonders that the infant that was taken from her grew into such a large man.

Maureen goes to comfort Georgie and contemplates the nature of mother-child relationships when the parent and child are separated. She then takes Georgie to a church to hide outside the priest’s house as members of the congregation come to visit. Maureen tells Georgie...