A Town Called Solace

Liam and Jim work together on Mrs. Orchard’s house, and Liam unexpectedly finds that he enjoys it. Once the work is complete, he begins helping Jim out on other jobs.

As they work, Jim tells Liam about how much his wife, Susan, misses their son, Cal, who went off to university. However, Cal recently returned home, claiming he didn’t like it in Kingston. Jim asks Liam’s advice on whether they ought to push Cal to return, wondering whether it is normal to feel homesick and have trouble adjusting when one leaves home.

Liam reflects on how he never felt homesick: His parents divorced when he was six, his father moving to Vancouver. After 10 years of no contact, Ralph reached out to Liam, and father and son began meeting whenever Ralph was in Calgary. When Annette found out that Liam would attend the University of Toronto and that Ralph would pay for it, she was bitter and dismissive. Once Liam left home for university, he never went back again.

Liam looks through his childhood drawings later that evening, reflecting on how he never drew or painted again after leaving Guelph. His sense of alienation within the family increased after Ralph left. Things improved once he turned 15 and began to attract girls’ attention, but he was still never able to form any close friendships.

After work, Liam heads to the Hot Potato for dinner before going home. Clara is there, and he tells her she ought to go home now, as he likes being alone. She ignores him and asks him about whether someone could go to jail for withholding information. When Liam discovers it is not a hypothetical question, he encourages Clara to tell her parents. She refuses, claiming they lie to her, and to appease Clara, Liam promises to find out what would happen to the boy.

Liam calls Sergeant Barnes, who invites him over immediately. Liam tells him everything he knows, and Sergeant Barnes is pleased—they’ve had no leads so far. They discuss why Clara might have confided in Liam, arriving at how she trusts him because he is the only one who has told her the truth recently, about Mrs. Orchard’s death. Liam is reluctant to get further involved, but Sergeant Barnes convinces him to talk to Clara and help find out more: The longer Rose stays missing, the higher the chance she won’t turn up alive. Liam reconfirms with Sergeant Barnes that nothing will happen to the boy if he comes forward immediately, and resolves to tell Clara this the next day.

Before Liam leaves, Sergeant Barnes offers him some delicious homemade ice cream, made by Jo the local librarian.

Clara learns from Liam that nothing will happen to Dan if he comes forward. She bursts into tears, revealing that it will take two days before she can meet him, as she has to relay the message through multiple channels. Liam reassures her, saying she is doing all she can.

Once she calms down, Clara asks him about the cardboard boxes in the living room, and learns they are his things from after he split up with Fiona. He doesn’t want to unpack them because, he claims, he will be leaving soon, but he acquiesces to Clara’s request and pushes them against the wall, making the space look neater.

The next day at school Clara tells Molly she wants to meet Dan, but cannot shake off her restlessness. After dinner, she goes over to Liam’s, and he agrees to unpack one of the boxes. They put away some of Liam’s and Mrs. Orchard’s things. Clara asks for a couple of things she would really like to have after Liam dies, and he laughingly agrees.

Clara eventually heads home and nervously watches her mother talk to Liam at the door. However, Diane reassures Clara that Liam said Clara is no trouble and can keep going over to feed Moses.

Martha’s doctor explains the surgery is to remove a growth in her stomach. Responding to Mrs. Orchard’s question, he clarifies it will not be a cure, only a matter of buying time. Martha is so agitated, she is given a sedative once the doctor leaves. Mrs. Orchard has a night of disturbed sleep, dreaming of Guelph and Annette and waking up with a headache.

Another flashback begins. Annette has a complicated labor two weeks early and needs to stay in the hospital for four weeks rather than 10 days. Mrs. Orchard is thrilled to have Liam the entire time, and loves watching Mr. Orchard interact with the little boy as well. Mrs. Orchard takes Liam over to the Kanes’ when Annette finally returns, and she introduces him to his newborn twin sisters without any other sort of greeting. Annette thanks Mrs. Orchard profusely for her help, and the latter reassures her she is welcome to reach out for help with Liam anytime.

A week later, a teary and sleep-deprived Annette arrives with Liam at Mrs. Orchard’s doorstep. Annette’s mother is unable to deal with the boy. Mrs. Orchard joyfully takes Liam in for the next couple of nights so Annette can have some rest. After Annette leaves, Liam uncharacteristically reaches out to Mrs. Orchard to be picked up and declares that he loves Mrs. Orchard more than Annette. Mrs. Orchard feels “a kind of savage joy” (200).

Later that night, Mr. and Mrs. Orchard have an argument. Mr. Orchard points out that Liam ought to be bonding with his family; he only comes over because Mrs. Orchard lavishes him with time and attention. Mrs. Orchard retaliates that this is what the boy needs, which he isn’t receiving from his mother. Mr. Orchard reminds Mrs. Orchard that Liam is not their child. He worries his wife is too invested: Recently, he even overheard Mrs. Orchard speaking to Liam and calling their guest room “his room.”

Afraid of losing yet another child, Mrs. Orchard lashes out, reiterating that Liam needs love and attention from someone. Mr. Orchard lets it go, and now Mrs. Orchard recognizes that he was treading carefully, with the memory of Mrs. Orchard’s previous depression still fresh in his mind.

Cal, Jim’s son, joins the men at work. When Liam and Cal are alone for a moment, Cal reveals Jim instructed him to ask Liam about university. Liam suggests that Cal should return, as it will allow him to keep his options open later in life.

After work, Liam heads to the library to order some ice cream from the librarian. He observes that Jo is “nice-looking.” When she asks him to come pick up the ice cream from her place later that evening, Liam wonders if “it was only ice cream on offer” (209).

Liam gets home to find Fiona there, having driven up from Toronto. She asks to see the house, but he refuses, not wanting Clara to be disturbed. They decide to meet at the Hot Potato later, with Fiona mistakenly assuming Liam has a date, and claiming she is seeing someone new, too.

After learning from Clara that it will take a couple of days for her to meet Dan, Liam leaves a message for Sergeant Barnes, then heads into town to meet Fiona. Fiona claims to be thrilled for Liam about his mystery date, but from her equivocation about her own life he infers that there isn’t a new man after all. Fiona finally admits that she feels guilty for not trying hard enough at their marriage and wants to give it another chance. Liam wonders how sincere this is, or whether Fiona is just finding it difficult to find a new partner at her age.

Liam asserts that he need to think about it and resists Fiona’s request to head back to his place and talk more. He finally explains about Clara, adding he doesn’t want her to deal with a new person in her sanctuary on top of everything else that has happened recently. When Liam refuses to budge on this, Fiona leaves, claiming the decision about their future has already been made.

Back home, Liam gets a call from Sergeant Barnes. Unwilling to wait, Sergeant Barnes plans to ambush Dan when Clara meets him and to arrest the boy if he won’t give up the information. Liam is furious, as he promised Clara this wouldn’t happen. He insists on talking to Dan himself, as Dan is more likely to talk to someone who can’t arrest him, and Clara also trusts Liam.

Remembering the ice cream, Liam heads over to Jo’s. She invites him in for a cup of coffee and a bowl of ice cream to taste before he buys it. They sit together in front of the fireplace and enjoy a bowl each, in silence. As he eats his ice cream, Liam feels a sense of peace steal over him, which is a rare occurrence. Once they are both done, Jo looks at him questioningly, and asks, “So?”