Where the Heart Is

Novalee is at work when a storm begins to blow in. When she arrives home, Sister Husband and Americus are preparing to go to the cellar on a neighbor’s property. She sends Novalee and Americus ahead but never arrives at the cellar. When Novalee goes to look for her, a tornado touches down, and she is forced to return to the cellar.

Sister Husband is injured when the tornado flings her trailer into the street. She lives for a few days but passes away. Novalee and Americus move in with Moses and his wife, Certain. The Walmart was destroyed by the tornado, and Novalee learns that it won’t be rebuilt, but a new store will be built in a town 50 miles away. Each employee of the old store is guaranteed a job and moving expenses. Everyone is upset that Novalee will move, but she feels she has no choice.

Novalee and Americus have lunch with a pregnant Lexie and her kids. Afterward, Novalee learns that a friend of Sister Husband’s is insisting on speaking to her that day. Novalee and Americus go to the site of Sister Husband’s trailer, and Novalee is heartbroken to see it completely cleared. The man tells Novalee that he is Sister Husband’s sponsoree, her lawyer, and the executor of her will. Sister Husband has left the land, the insurance for the trailer, and her life insurance to Novalee.

Willy Jack has seen some success with his singing career, and “The Beat of the Heart” has been released as a single by another artist. However, his career is not progressing fast enough for him, so he reaches out to another music representative from Dallas. Ruth Meyers tells Willy Jack that Claire Hudson copyrighted his song and is suing him, but Ruth will not do anything to help because she knows Willy Jack reached out to a new representative.

Novalee drives the fifty miles home from the new Walmart Superstore in a snowstorm, aware of how worried Forney will be. He is sitting with Americus in the new house Novalee built with the help of her friends and neighbors. It is exactly the home she always wanted with pictures of her friends hanging in it.

Novalee’s first paying photography job is to photograph the wedding of Miss Biddle, one of Benny Goodluck’s teachers. On the day of the event, Novalee forgets all her film at home and must ask a local camera shop to open just to allow her to buy film. The owner criticizes her for her lack of professionalism and gives her a brochure for a photography class at the local college.

Novalee begins taking enough photography jobs to keep her busy. One afternoon while she is sorting negatives, she gets a call from Brownie asking for help. Novalee rushes to Lexie’s apartment and finds the three small children in a bedroom, unharmed, but Brownie and Praline are in their mother’s bedroom, clearly traumatized, and Lexie is badly beaten within an inch of her life.

Lexie spends so much time in the hospital that she loses her apartment. Novalee moves Lexie and all her children into her small house. Brownie, who goes by Brummett now, is filled with rage, and most of it is targeted at Lexie. Praline, who goes by Pauline now, is less traumatized but fearful of strange men. Novalee learns from Lexie that her boyfriend, Roger Briscoe, arrived at Lexie’s apartment earlier than expected the day of the attack and sexually assaulted Pauline and Brummett. Lexie walked in on it, and Roger beat her before fleeing.

Novalee feels like a fraud when she arrives to take her first college course because she never finished high school, but she learns a lot from the photography seminar.

Willy Jack attempts to get his music career back on track after Ruth Meyers dropped him, but he cannot find new representation and he doesn’t make enough money playing seedy bars. He tries to fight the copyright infringement case but runs out of money. Now, he travels with a girlfriend and heavily indulges in alcohol and drugs. He goes to Bakersfield, but his cousin quickly tires of bailing him out. One night, he wanders drunk over some train tracks, and his legs are severed in an accident.