Summary

Chapter 14 is a flashback to Thea’s family visiting Gainesville after the holidays. Thea had only seen Georgie three times since Christmas, and felt that was much less often than usual. Earlier that morning, Thea looked in her mother’s purse to find perfume, and ended up finding a check written to Uncle George for “the largest sum of money” she “had ever seen.”

The family arrived at Uncle George’s house and Thea was surprised by the home’s poor condition. Thea’s mother unloaded a crate of food from the car and Thea didn’t believe that her aunt and uncle were in such need. Aunt Carrie told Thea and Sam that Georgie was at a neighbor’s house, but would be back soon. Thea felt incredibly impatient. Sam and Thea slipped away when the adults got into serious conversation. Sam asked...