Contents
Chapter 21
Overview
Dean visits Allie’s father for Thanksgiving and is met with open hostility. A tense dinner culminates in Joe’s MS causing a dropped platter, prompting Allie to take charge. In private, Joe confronts Dean, judging him entitled and untrustworthy for Allie, sharpening the relationship’s external stakes.
Summary
Dean arrives at Allie’s Brooklyn home overdressed and instantly senses Joe Hayes’s dislike. Joe’s brusque questions and dismissive comments during the Lions game set an adversarial tone, and Dean’s slip calling Allie “babe” heightens the tension.
At dinner, Joe undercuts Dean with repeated, condescending “of course” responses about law school, Dean’s family money, and his hockey accolades. He shows warmth only when discussing Allie’s activities and discloses his dislike of Sean, arguing that making someone your entire world is unhealthy.
When clearing dishes, Joe insists on helping but drops the turkey platter due to MS tremors. Allie firmly orders Dean to escort Joe out while she cleans up, revealing her protective, take-charge side and Joe’s frustration with dependency.
Alone with Dean, Joe directly challenges his intentions, asserting Dean is in lust, entitled by wealth, and naive about “real-world problems.” He concludes that Dean wouldn’t step up for Allie and declares he doesn’t trust Dean to take care of his daughter, leaving the visit on a stark, antagonistic note.
Who Appears
- Dean Di LaurentisNarrator; meets Allie’s father at Thanksgiving, endures hostility, assists after the platter spill, and is accused of being unfit for Allie.
- Allie HayesHosts Thanksgiving; mediates tension, updates her dad on school and acting, and firmly manages the cleanup after Joe drops the platter.
- Joe HayesAllie’s father with MS; hostile to Dean, drops a platter due to tremors, and warns Dean he can’t take care of Allie.