Reminders of Him

Finished sharing the letter, Kenna feels as if a “weight has been lifted from her” (258). Ledger is unsure now how to feel. He appears furious but as he explains to a puzzled Kenna, he is upset over learning how deeply Scotty’s loss hurt her, upset over her mistreatment by Scotty’s family, by the town, by him. He understands now that Kenna also lost Scotty that night and that her grief has never been acknowledged. They hug, both in tears. Forgetting for a moment they are there to work on the flooring, the two make love in the truck.

For three hours, Ledger and Kenna work on the flooring, neither one willing to confront the implications of Kenna’s letter. They are interrupted by a visit from Ledger’s parents, stopping by unannounced as they always do. Ledger awkwardly introduces Kenna as Nicole, his friend, a new employee at the bar. Ledger wishes his mother a Happy Mother’s Day. His mother is interested in Kenna, but Ledger steers the two of them to a quick exit. On the drive back to town, Kenna admits she wishes she could have seen Ledger and Scotty as friends: “I bet you two were fun together” (269).