Contents
Chapter 51
Overview
Over breakfast, Laurel confronts Floyd about Poppy’s silver candlesticks, recognizing them as her stolen pair. Floyd claims he took them from Noelle’s house, offering evasions about Noelle’s life and home. Laurel clocks the lie while Floyd paints Noelle as depraved, deepening Laurel’s doubts about his role and knowledge.
Summary
At breakfast, Laurel asks Floyd about the art deco silver candlesticks on Poppy’s shelves. When Floyd says he took them from Noelle’s house while collecting Poppy’s things, Laurel reveals she once owned an identical valuable pair given as a wedding gift, letting the implication hang.
Floyd maintains the story, suggesting the candlesticks might be the only decent thing Noelle left. Laurel probes further about Noelle’s house and family. Floyd claims Noelle rented and had no known family, offering evasive, dismissive answers. Laurel registers the deceit and continues testing him.
Pressed about the house, Floyd describes it as grim, cold, and bare, with Poppy’s room resembling an orphanage and everything painted lurid pink. He recounts finding stacks of cages in the cellar filled with dead small animals, calling Noelle depraved and pitiable.
Laurel feigns shock and sympathy, while internally noting Floyd’s lie about the candlesticks and his selective narrative about Noelle. She remarks that Noelle’s only good act was giving birth to Poppy. Floyd, haunted, agrees, ending the conversation with tension unresolved and Laurel’s suspicions sharpened.
Who Appears
- Laurel MackPresses Floyd about Poppy’s candlesticks, recognizes them as her stolen pair, notes his lies, and conceals her suspicion.
- Floyd DunnClaims he took the candlesticks from Noelle’s house, evades questions about Noelle, describes a depraved home, appears haunted.
- Noelle DonnellyDiscussed by others; portrayed by Floyd as isolated and depraved, with a grim house and dead caged animals.
- Poppy DunnPresent off-page; the candlesticks are in her room, linking her to Laurel’s missing property.