57 pages • 1 hour read
Carola LoveringBye, Baby
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Part 2, Chapters 40-43Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 2, Chapter 40 Summary: “Billie, October 20, 2023: 7 days after”
Alex tells Billie that he has spoken to Detective Barringer. Barringer mentioned that McKay was suspicious of Billie and claimed she was not invited to Cassie’s party. Alex also observes that he did not realize Jane lived in the same building as Cassie. He tells Billie that he must still check the security footage, but after that, there is little more he can do to progress on the case. The next day, Alex gives Billie a key to his apartment. As Billie catches up on her neglected work, she realizes that she misses Cassie’s Instagram posts.
Part 2, Chapter 41 Summary: “Billie, 2010-2011”
After graduation, Billie and Cassie move to Manhattan, renting a small studio in Alphabet City. Cassie works as an editorial assistant at Elle, while Billie has a sales job at Expedia. They spend their evenings on the building’s roof, drinking wine and talking while the sun sets.
Billie maintains a long-distance relationship with Remy, who plans to move to New York once his Boston lease is up. One day, Billie takes Remy to Poughkeepsie to see her mother. During their visit, Lorraine remains preoccupied with her pet frog and barely registers their presence. Afterward, Remy observes that it is a shame that Lorraine will never know her future grandchildren. When Billie challenges his assumption that they will have children together, Remy points out that he is leaving his life in Boston for a future with Billie. Billie says she loves Remy but does not want to talk about children yet. She then realizes that she has missed her period.
Part 2, Chapter 42 Summary: “Cassie, October 21, 2023: 8 days after”
Cassie has a nightmare where she is chasing a woman who has stolen Ella. When she eventually grabs the woman by the hair, she sees Mara’s face, which transforms into Wade's. Laughing, Wade reminds her that she killed him before his face morphs into Billie’s. Ella disappears, and a voice calls, “Bye, baby.” Cassie wakes up screaming.
Grant messages Lourdes and discovers that Cassie has fired her. He confronts his wife, accusing her of selfishness and mental instability. They argue about the money Cassie has wasted by paying Lourdes compensation. Cassie points out that Grant is only wealthy due to his trust fund and has done nothing to earn it. He storms out, refusing to perform his usual ritual of making coffee before he leaves.
Part 2, Chapter 43 Summary: “Billie, October 21, 2023: 8 days after”
Cassie turns up with Ella at Billie’s apartment, revealing she discovered the address on her Christmas card list. She tells Billie to pack as she has booked a suite at the Mayflower Inn for the weekend. Billie protests that she and Alex have plans for dinner and tickets for the Comedy Cellar that evening. However, when Cassie pleads with her, Billie agrees, excited at the prospect. She texts Alex to apologize.
The Mayflower Inn is a lavish New England country hotel and spa. Alex does not reply to Billie’s text or pick up when she calls. While Ella sleeps, Billie and Cassie drink wine in bed and watch Dirty Dancing. Noting that Cassie has lost weight and aged, Billie wishes she could tell her the truth about Ella’s abduction. However, she knows the admission would end their renewed intimacy.
Cassie tells Billie about the message from birchballer6 and explains her theory that it refers to Wade’s death. Billie recognizes the account name as belonging to Owen Birch, their high school basketball captain. She knows this as she had a crush on Owen and has checked his social media accounts without officially following him.
Cassie admits she has tried to erase life in Red Hook from her memory as she wanted a fresh start. She apologizes to Billie, explaining that she distanced herself from her as she was the only person who knew she killed Wade. Cassie asks if she is still traumatized by what Wade did to her. Billie realizes that she now mainly associates Wade with Cassie’s protection of her. Before they fall asleep, Cassie declares, “You’re my best friend, Baby” (276).
The following day, Billie feels uneasy when Cassie leaves her with Ella while she has a facial. When she returns, Billie admits that Alex has not returned her calls. Cassie insists on making it up to them. She invites Billie and Alex to join them at Grant’s family villa in St. Barts the following weekend.
On Monday morning, when they return to New York, Billie goes straight to Alex’s apartment. She lets herself in, but he is angry with her for canceling their plans without calling him. He says he is in love with her, and Billie admits that she loves him too.
Part 2, Chapters 40-43 Analysis
The theme of The Consequences of Concealing the Truth continues to drive narrative tension in this section of the novel. As Alex learns more about the kidnapping case, including Billie’s omission to mention that Jane lives below Cassie, the threat of the truth emerging becomes ever more likely. Consequently, Billie faces the possibility of criminal prosecution and the end of her relationship with Alex. Meanwhile, in the backstory, Billie’s failure to be open with Remy about her feelings on motherhood is further complicated by her unplanned pregnancy. Through Billie’s actions, the author suggests that the obfuscation of the truth can prove just as damaging to relationships as outright lies.
The impact of Billie’s abduction of Ella is highlighted in the physical and psychological effects of trauma displayed by Cassie. Neglecting her health, Cassie also loses her grip on everything she has worked so hard to acquire. Her argument with Grant about his inherited privileges signals the deterioration of her domestic life as their wealth and social status suddenly seem worthless. Cassie’s nightmare demonstrates how trauma causes repressed guilt and fears to resurface. Mara’s presence in the dream represents Cassie’s neglect of her family since marrying Grant. Wade’s appearance indicates guilt at her role in his death and the fear that she will be punished for it. Finally, the emergence of Billie as Ella’s kidnapper suggests that, on a subconscious level, Cassie knows the truth.
The narrative’s backstory provides further insight into the development of Billie and Cassie’s friendship. The description of the young women happily sharing a cramped Manhattan studio highlights their former intimacy. Lovering also emphasizes the role of trauma in their bond. Lorraine’s mental deterioration from Alzheimer’s and eventual death represents a double loss for Billie. In the absence of her mother, Cassie is the one person who connects Billie’s past and present. It also becomes apparent that Billie’s devotion to Cassie is linked to Wade’s death. Convinced that Cassie killed Wade to protect her from further sexual abuse, Billie perceives Cassie as her savior.
In the present timeline, surface appearances suggest that the former closeness between Billie and Cassie is restored even as both are reeling from the effects of the abduction, mirroring the veneer of perfection often displayed on social media. During their weekend at the hotel, Cassie is finally honest with Billie, admitting that she deliberately distanced herself from their friendship. The symbolism of Red Hook is established as Cassie acknowledges that she wants to leave the past, represented by their hometown, behind her. Cassie’s reference to Billy as “Baby” after they rewatch Dirty Dancing serves as a shortcut to their former intimacy. Her decision to invite Billie and Alex to St. Barts is particularly significant as the holiday destination is a symbol of social acceptance in the novel. In college, Cassie is disappointed when McKay fails to invite her to St. Barts, as this indicates she has not yet entered McKay’s inner circle. Within this context, Cassie’s invitation to Billie appears to seal their renewed intimacy. Nevertheless, Lovering emphasizes the fragility of the protagonists’ current dynamic. Billie’s discomfort when left alone with Ella is caused by the reminder of the terrible act that brought about the current scenario. Their friendship has been reestablished but only due to Billie’s lies and deception. A power imbalance also remains in Billie and Cassie’s relationship. While Cassie is needy, she maintains control, easily persuading Billie to drop her plans with Alex to be with her.
