Delilah Green Doesn't Care

Delilah finds herself equally baffled that she has agreed to work with Claire and Iris to help Astrid, bringing her close to three people she planned to avoid. She blames her involvement on her sympathy for Claire. As they prepare for their massage, Claire comes close to Delilah to ask if their plan has any hope of success. Delilah fights her attraction, swarmed with memories of her ex-girlfriend, Jax.

Throughout the afternoon of spa treatments, Delilah is discomfited by the developing connection she feels to Iris and Claire, who constantly look at her for signs that it is time to bring up Spencer with Astrid. At dinner, she finds herself further drawn to Claire but feels emotionally overwrought. Claire loops her ankle around Delilah’s under the table to calm her down, nudging her thigh when Delilah bursts into ill-timed laughter from emotional strain. Delilah resolves to try and reach Astrid, admitting to herself that she “would give Claire Sutherland just about anything” (141).

When Astrid suggests that there is no need to discuss Spencer, Delilah brings out a memory from their shared adolescence. Alluding to Astrid’s love of Anne of Green Gables, she asks if Spencer is the romantic hero of Astrid’s dreams like the fictional Gilbert Blythe. When Claire mentions the proposal scene in the third book, Delilah asks her to tell her own proposal story. Astrid looks sad when Iris points out that Astrid has not told her or Claire about the proposal either. Astrid avoids details, saying that the event was unremarkable. She pleads fatigue and leaves for her room.

In the silence, Iris and Claire struggle with the realization that their plan requires Astrid to experience emotional difficulties. Delilah is once more struck by Claire’s essential goodness and empathy. Finally, Iris proposes a toast to “shitty men and the women who put them in their place” (147). This lightens the atmosphere, and the three co-conspirators resume chatting about their lives. Delilah is struck by the genuine camaraderie she feels.

Claire is briefly consumed by thoughts of sharing a bed with Delilah and the attraction she feels. She reminds herself that she should call Ruby and dials Josh. Their exchange of pleasantries soon turns hostile, as Josh repeats that Ruby is unavailable for a call, making Claire increasingly frantic. He finally admits that he was joking—Ruby fell asleep after he made dinner. She finds herself quietly exasperated that he seeks praise for the routine parenting work she has done for over a decade and hangs up.

Delilah asks if Josh, like Spencer, needs to be out of her life. Claire says that Josh is a good person but immature. Delilah asks her gently if she needs to talk more. Before she can thank Delilah for her unexpected kindness, though, she bursts into laughter at Delilah’s curly hair, which has become incredibly messy and large. Delilah rummages in Claire’s suitcase for a hair tie but instead she finds her vibrator. Claire is embarrassed, but Delilah is nonplussed, telling Claire that she owns the same model.

Delilah is delighted at Claire’s discomfiture over the vibrator, but she grows nervous at sharing a bed with Claire, so she takes her camera with her as a distraction. As they lie next to one another, Claire asks to see a photo. Delilah shows her one from the brunch, a close-up of Claire and Ruby smiling together. Claire is emotional and compliments Delilah’s skills. Delilah, to diffuse the moment, evokes her childhood nickname from Iris, saying, “The Ghoul of Wisteria House has talent, as it turns out” (159). Claire says her name softly, asking a moment later why Delilah wanted to become a photographer. Delilah is reluctant to divulge at first, suggesting that Claire is only asking out of a sense of obligation, but Claire insists that her interest is genuine. She describes getting her first camera from an art teacher and developing her skills more after moving to New York, especially after booking events.

Delilah goes on to explain that more recently, she has also concentrated on artistic photography. She confides in Claire about the Whitney show, and Claire is complimentary. When asked what prompted the transition, Delilah explains that five years before, her girlfriend and first real love, Jax, was unfaithful to her with a former girlfriend. Her resulting turmoil drove her back to Bright Falls. Isabel and Astrid had no time for her, but she took photographs. Claire asks if she found anything significant, and Delilah admits her long-hidden secret: She saw Claire one day wading into the Bright River in a formal dress, screaming in pain and outrage. Delilah was so struck by her that she “had been, for all intents and purposes, Delilah’s muse” (166).

Claire is visibly moved and explains that Josh had just left town again after sleeping with her, leaving Ruby heartbroken. Delilah starts to apologize, but Claire puts a hand to her lips. They kiss. They’re interrupted when someone knocks on the door, and Astrid announces herself. Claire is anxious, telling Delilah that Astrid cannot find out about what just transpired. Delilah feels rejected but tries to remind herself that she is pursuing Claire as part of the bet. Claire senses Delilah’s turmoil, saying that she is only concerned about adding to Astrid’s stress. They rearrange the bed and their clothing and hair before letting Astrid in.

After the two hide the truth of their actions, Astrid reports that a room is available for Delilah next to her own. Delilah hurries out, and Astrid follows her. Astrid tries to apologize for her earlier oversight with the bookings, but Delilah only takes this as proof that Astrid has never truly considered her family; she shuts the door in her stepsister’s face.

Claire is consumed by anxiety and passionate thoughts of her interrupted time with Delilah. She reminds herself that no matter how much chemistry she feels, a lasting relationship is impossible since Delilah’s life is in New York. She considers Delilah’s reputation for selfish indifference, but she also remembers Delilah’s expressions during their conversations and her hidden emotional depths.