Contents
Chapter 50
Overview
Noelle narrates how she staged Ellie’s disappearance as a runaway by stealing items from Laurel’s home and scattering Ellie’s remains near Dover. She describes Poppy’s difficult behavior with her and angelic bond with Floyd, sparking a custody clash. After Poppy’s injury while Noelle briefly left her alone, Noelle decides to flee to Ireland to keep Floyd tied to her through Poppy.
Summary
Noelle recalls deciding to sell her house when Poppy was a toddler, then remembering Ellie’s body hidden in her home. Believing police saw Ellie as a runaway, Noelle resolves to reinforce that narrative.
She breaks into Laurel’s house using keys from Ellie’s bag and steals items Ellie might have taken if fleeing—an old laptop, cash, prized candlesticks, and Hanna’s passport when Ellie’s cannot be found. She also takes a cake, recalling Ellie’s delight in her sister’s baking.
Because of odor complaints, Noelle had earlier moved Ellie’s remains from the basement to the attic. While Poppy stays with Floyd, Noelle loads the remains into her car, drives to rural Dover, crushes some bones with her car to mimic a hit-and-run, leaves them with a rucksack and the passport, and dumps the rest at a municipal tip. She expects swift discovery and even subconsciously to be caught, but months pass without consequence.
Life resumes: Poppy is unruly and sugar-fixated with Noelle but becomes affectionate and well-behaved with Floyd, which fuels Noelle’s resentment as father and daughter bond. Floyd proposes home-schooling and full custody, believing Poppy is exceptionally bright; Noelle, whose identity and hopes hinge on Floyd, panics.
After Noelle leaves Poppy briefly to buy ketchup, Poppy falls, suffers a head injury, and arrives to Floyd with a black eye. Floyd declares it the last straw. Anticipating losing Poppy and thus Floyd, Noelle decides to take Poppy to Ireland, fantasizing that Floyd will follow, reunite with them among her family, and they will become a permanent family.
Who Appears
- Noelle DonnellyNarrator; stages Ellie’s runaway, disposes of remains, resents Floyd–Poppy bond, and plans to flee to Ireland with Poppy.
- Floyd DunnPoppy’s father; bonds closely with her, proposes home-schooling and full custody after Poppy’s injury.
- Poppy DunnToddler; difficult with Noelle but affectionate with Floyd; injured while briefly left alone, triggering custody conflict.
- Ellie Mack“The girl”; her remains are staged by Noelle near Dover with planted belongings and a passport.
- Laurel MackEllie’s mother; house is burgled by Noelle for items to fake Ellie’s runaway.
- Hanna MackEllie’s sister; her passport and famed cake are taken/remembered by Noelle to stage the runaway.