Summary

In "Astrid," when Astrid gets back from her shift, she has a voicemail from Astrid. She ignores the message and performs her evening ritual to "forget herself for a while" (155). During dinner with Susan later, Amor ignores another call from Astrid.

Though there is "great softness" between them, Amor and Susan’s relationship has reached a plateau (156). The apartment and everything in it belongs to Susan. This has not bothered Amor until now.

Amor and Astrid finally talk. Astrid tells her about the inauguration. She and her second husband, Jake, attended. Mbeki looked at her in a way that felt like "a kind of electric jolt" (158). Amor does not understand the story. Astrid seems annoyed that it does not make Amor envious.

Afterwards, Astrid goes to confession. She "has been having an affair with Jake's partner, the politician" (160). She confesses, but withholds the lover...