Summary

Chapter 21 begins the next winter and opens on Tony contemplating his children’s’ maturities, how “their father’s failures weighed on them less and less as they fixed on their own futures” (283). Tony is particularly upset by “whatever it was that Ryan had become,” especially when Ryan comes home in a new car to give Tony a “roll of notes” to help pay for Christmas (284). Two days before Christmas, Tony learns that the old brothel has burned down.

Tony and Tara meet up to plan setting Tara’s house on fire. Tony still does not trust Tara and regrets his involvement with her. He remembers the “banshee by the lake” while contemplating his misfortune (286).

The next scene depicts Tony getting up in the middle of the night and going next door to Tara Duane’s, presumably according to their plan...