Delilah Green Doesn't Care

This chapter opens in Bright Falls from Claire Sutherland’s point of view, as the perspectives will alternate between her and Delilah. Claire and her best friend, Iris Kelly, are waiting for Astrid to join them for drinks at a bar called Stella’s.

Claire is a single parent to her 11-year-old daughter, Ruby, and her ex-boyfriend, Josh Foster, has recently returned to Bright Falls. Josh’s history of inconsistent parenting makes leaving Ruby with him concerning. Josh and Claire separated when Ruby was a toddler, and Claire’s last attempt at dating ended in disaster when the woman balked at meeting Ruby.

Iris is dismayed when Claire tells her that it has been months since her last date and even longer since her last relationship. When Claire admits that she would welcome meeting someone new, Iris makes a dramatic announcement about Claire’s single status to the entire bar. Iris pushes Claire to at least get a phone number before Astrid’s upcoming wedding takes up their remaining free time. Iris and Claire are increasingly concerned that Spencer, Astrid’s fiancé, is controlling and arrogant.

Claire approaches the main bar and catches sight of a person with dark, curly hair and sleeve tattoos placing a drink order. Iris tells her, “You have a type, and that person is it, all broody and mysterious” (24).

Delilah enters the same bar in Bright Falls. She struggles with memories of her lonely upbringing. A male bartender begins flirting with her just before a woman comes up next to her. Delilah is immediately struck by her “deep brown eyes, long lashes, high cheekbones, and a fire-engine-red mouth” (27). She recognizes Claire immediately—she has been attracted to her since adolescence and still finds her compelling. She soon realizes that Claire has no idea who she is.

Because of Delilah’s estrangement from Astrid, she avoided Iris and Claire as well. Claire says hello, obviously interested, and Delilah is delighted at the sign that she has the upper hand despite her childhood as “the ghoul of Wisteria House” (31). She gives in to the temptation to continue flirting, in part because she knows Astrid would resent it.

Delilah and Claire banter, and Claire worries that she is wasting her time pursuing a heterosexual woman. However, Delilah tells her, “I’m very, very queer” (33). Before Delilah can resolve when to disclose her identity, she hears Astrid’s voice. Claire, still oblivious, tells Delilah that Astrid is getting married soon to “a total douche” (34). Astrid speaks up again, breaking off a complaint about Delilah when she catches sight of her. Delilah sarcastically greets Astrid.

Claire finds herself stunned into silence as Delilah antagonizes Astrid, pretending not to know the start time for tomorrow’s pre-wedding brunch. Delilah leaves, catching Claire’s eye as she goes.

Iris tries to ask Claire if she has Delilah’s number, but Claire quickly changes the subject. Astrid is angry at Delilah and herself for asking her to come. Claire considers internally if she and Astrid couldn’t understand Delilah’s grief or introversion as children. As a parent herself now, Claire wonders if more caregiving would have made a difference for both Delilah and Astrid.

Astrid leaves to meet Spencer. Claire decides that she should check on Ruby. Iris admits that she and her boyfriend, Grant, are in conflict because he refuses to accept her lack of interest in marriage or becoming a parent.

When Claire arrives at his apartment, Josh is clearly unhappy at the intrusion, while she is on edge to realize that her daughter is up past her usual bedtime and the oven is still on. Ruby is instantly angry when Claire suggests going to bed, resentful of any intrusion on her rare time with her father. Claire fights her resentment about being the only parent who enforces boundaries. Claire tries to hurry out of the apartment, worried that she will let her stress and anxiety tempt her into having sex with Josh, as has happened before. Josh tells Claire that he is committing to responsible parenting. That night, her thoughts are of Delilah.

Delilah wakes up at the local inn, full of existential dread at seeing her judgmental and frosty stepmother. Delilah opens her email, hoping a focus on her work will improve her mood. Delilah knows that her focus on subjects that are “queer, feminist, angry, and beautiful” are more popular with her Instagram followers than with agents she has queried (54). She receives an e-mail invitation to submit a late entry into a queer photography exhibition at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art. The woman Delilah slept with before leaving, Lorelei, showed the piece she purchased to a curator there, leading to the offer to replace another artist. Delilah accepts with alacrity, though she will have only days to prepare due to Astrid’s wedding.

Delilah’s thoughts are interrupted as her room door opens—Astrid has procured a key and let herself in. They briefly bond over the room’s absurd decor, but Astrid soon pushes Delilah to get dressed, afraid that they will be late. Delilah complies but chooses a revealing tank top that shows her tattoos and bust.

Delilah pointedly declares, “Claire’s looking well” (62). Astrid is angry at the innuendo, telling Delilah that Claire would never reciprocate her interest. Delilah resents the implication that she is noncommittal or a perpetual outsider, reflecting on how Astrid does not know about her last serious relationship, which ended due to her partner’s infidelity. Spurred on by her anger, Delilah says, “I bet I can get Claire to realize I’m exactly her type by the wedding” (65). Astrid asserts that Claire would never betray her. The two leave for the brunch.

At the elegant tearoom, Delilah takes in the opulence and endless crystal and linens. Isabel initially ignores Delilah, critiquing Astrid for almost arriving late. Delilah is deeply anxious as Isabel takes her in, subtly criticizing her outfit and her tattoos. The vines on her arms are wisteria, her father’s favorite flower and the name he gave the family home. Delilah intentionally shows her revealing outfit in Isabel’s view and takes a flute of champagne from a table. As she begins to take pictures, she catches sight of Astrid, Iris, and Claire. Claire is beautifully dressed but obviously upset. Delilah catches Claire looking at her, newly confident that she will win her bet.

Claire is furious with Josh for being late and dreading negotiations with Ruby over the dress Astrid chose for her. Josh arrives, unapologetic for his tardiness. Ruby whines about the dress, distressing Claire further. Delilah interrupts and introduces herself as the “wicked stepsister” (76). Ruby shows Delilah the dress, and Delilah validates her dislike and takes her to the bathroom to alter the dress.

Despite Claire’s concern, she admits to herself that Delilah has provided a priceless reprieve from her current stress. Ruby emerges overjoyed, with the dress shorter and its sleeves removed. Astrid is shocked, while Claire praises her daughter’s style. She privately thanks Delilah, who snaps a picture of them in response.

Delilah is surveying the photo she has just taken. She feels vindicated, as the photo indicates that “Astrid was dead wrong—Claire [i]s intrigued, at the very least” (82). She identified with Ruby’s plight, suddenly drawn into her own memories of arguing with Isabel over clothing. Astrid takes Delilah’s alterations of the dress as a personal slight.

Delilah tries to focus on her work but is soon flooded with memories of Isabel’s society events, where she was an object of pity at best. She takes another champagne flute and surreptitiously knocks over the entire tower, bringing the brunch to an abrupt end. Delilah flees the scene. She goes for a walk that evening, assuming that she will wind up at the bar, but she stops when she sees Claire inside the bookstore she owns, River Wild. Delilah has fond memories of the space, a frequent escape for her during childhood when it was owned by Claire’s grandmother. Delilah enters.

She compliments Claire’s changes to the store and asks about her mother. Claire says that she will attend the wedding, which brings up Spencer again. Claire reiterates her dislike of him and then pointedly scolds Delilah for acting as if they were strangers at the bar. Delilah responds that she only wanted the conversation to continue. They are both clearly interested in one another.

Claire thanks Delilah again for her kindness to Ruby. Delilah points out that Ruby seemed more in need of someone taking her distress seriously than the alterations. Claire admits that she often wants to remove stress from Ruby’s life at any cost.

Ruby enters, greets Delilah enthusiastically, and surveys her tattoos. Delilah asks which is her favorite, and Ruby points out a literal depiction of the metaphor “storm in a teacup” with a cloud over a china cup and saucer (96). Claire compliments it as well. They part ways on the sidewalk, but Claire seems hesitant to go, asking if she will see Delilah at Wisteria House tomorrow. Delilah acquiesces, pleased at Claire’s continuing attention.

The next day, Delilah takes in her imposing childhood home, thinking of her childhood. Her hope that Isabel would care for her never materialized, and she feels a “low simmering panic just under each breath” (100). Claire arrives with Iris and Grant. Delilah’s anxiety is soon replaced by attraction at the sight of Claire in a flattering vintage dress. Delilah compliments Claire and lets Iris and Grant go in ahead of her. Claire notices her ambivalence and offers to go in with her. Delilah accepts, distracted from her dread, as she realizes that this will upset Astrid.

Delilah taunts Astrid by asking about another champagne display but soon focuses on her work. A handsome blond man arrives; Astrid introduces him as Spencer. He rudely points out that he never anticipated that he and Delilah would meet. He demands that Astrid bring him champagne. Delilah notices Spencer surreptitiously eye Claire’s cleavage. Once Delilah and Claire are alone, they discuss how unpleasant he is. Claire hopes that the wedding will not happen, but she struggles to raise the topic with Astrid.

Delilah notices Claire’s deep distress on Astrid’s behalf. Astrid returns with their drinks, asking after Spencer. Delilah says, “Hopefully taking a flying leap off the dock into the river,” but she is startled when Astrid looks genuinely “crestfallen” at her distaste (108). Astrid urges them further into the house, but Delilah hesitates. Claire surprises her by staying with her again in silent support.

After holding Delilah’s arm for some time, Claire steps away, admiring to herself, “It was fascinating to see this bold, brash woman look like a deer wandering the woods” (111). Iris scolds Claire for leaving her alone with the wealthy society elites who surround them, and Claire remembers how Astrid grew up in luxury surrounded by Isabel’s demands. Iris points out that soon they will escape on a girls’ trip to a nearby vineyard. She then criticizes Delilah’s attitude, but Claire notices that Delilah still seems uncomfortable. Iris reluctantly admits that she is being overly critical but reminds Claire that Delilah has never cared about Astrid. Claire agrees but still keeps track of Delilah.

The ensuing dinner party soon turns awkward when Spencer tells everyone that he and Astrid will have three children soon after they move to Seattle. Iris and Claire know that Astrid has never wanted to leave Bright Falls and particularly hates the city. Claire finally declares to Iris, “We can’t let her marry him” (116). Iris agrees but is doubtful that an intervention would succeed.

Astrid summons them all to the property’s dock adjacent to the Bright River. Spencer demands that Astrid personally bring him insect repellent, slapping her on the backside as she leaves. Iris and Claire each try to take Astrid aside to talk, but Astrid claims that she is fine with eventually moving to Seattle. Claire begins to suspect that Astrid has deliberately avoided having anyone she truly cares for get to know Spencer.

Delilah interrupts the conversation by handing Claire her phone and camera. She goes out on the dock with Spencer to chat. Mid-conversation, she suddenly loses her balance, pulling Spencer into the water with her. Claire suspects that Delilah’s slip was deliberate but says nothing. Astrid stomps off, and Claire and Iris find themselves admiring Delilah’s daring.

Delilah arrives for her overnight stay with Astrid, Iris, and Claire at the Blue Lily Vineyard and Spa. Astrid is upset once again at a customer service agent at the hotel telling her that there is no room reserved for Delilah. Delilah finds herself frustrated because Astrid has once more overlooked her. Claire offers to share her room with Delilah, breaking the tension. Astrid resists this, but Delilah feels triumphant, thinking of her bet. Delilah admits to herself, though, that her motives are more than that, as “Claire [i]s fun, sweet, and sexy as hell” (126). Delilah is still touched by Claire’s kindness at Wisteria House, which contrasts with her life there as a child.