Tennis

For the narrator Karen, tennis represents a close familial tie between herself, Allison and her family, and Jacob. Because the first instance of tennis occurs when Dustin has been teaching Jacob to play, and because Jacob is so excited to show his mother how good he is, Karen holds this as a special memory that may symbolize how Jacob will integrate into his new family after she is gone. She enrolls him in tennis lessons later in the novel in order to keep hold of that sense of security and familial comfort- a connection she and Jacob will always share.

Seattle

Seattle, and more specifically, Mercer Island are symbolic in the sense that they represent not only family, but also encompass Karen’s hopes for the future and for Jacob. Because she and Jacob have good memories in Seattle with their family, and because they both...