This was a day that could change their lives—for the shop, for Linette, but most of all for him and Gee and Jade.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: On the day the reporter is meant to visit Superfine, Ray is filled with a sense of hope and possibility. He wants the shop to do well for his and Linette's sakes, but is most excited that the shop's success will better his family life. This moment is significant, in that it evidences Ray's deep love for, devotion to, and investment in Jade and Gee's lives. His character quickly becomes a saintly symbol of unconditional love. Superfine is also a symbol of stability and a happy future. These symbols are stolen from Jade and Gee when Ray is murdered at the end of the chapter, thus forcing the characters back into the unknown and amplifying the narrative stakes.

Lacey wanted to explain that you should never...
-- Narrator (chapter 2)