The Truth According to Us

Willa runs after her father’s car and then collapses to the ground. Emmett carries her back into the house, and Jottie puts her to bed.

After Willa has cried herself to sleep, Jottie comes down and talks to Emmett, who has been in contact with Minerva, and Sol. Sol is keen to challenge Tare Russell for providing Felix with an alibi, but Jottie forbids it.

That night, Jottie is enjoying her memories of Vause, no longer tainted by the idea of betrayal, when she hears Layla crying. She tells Emmett that she feels unable to help Layla yet, but starting from the next day, she is determined to “take care of her” (419).

Layla writes to her father, saying that she will be unable to attend her brother’s party because of her deadline. Her father writes back that he is proud of her and encloses a check.

Jottie helps Layla continue working on the history of Macedonia and tries to comfort her. When Emmett calls, Layla asks if he is like Felix. Jottie says that he isn’t.

Willa has not spoken since her father left. She blames herself for his departure and wishes that there had been a way for her to tell Jottie the truth about Vause without making Felix look bad.