Contents
Book Three: Double Feature — 16.
Overview
In a childhood flashback after Cady’s abduction, Donna’s terror erupts in a violent playground attack, while Van responds with compassion and guilt. A misidentification at Leticia’s family Easter leads the McBrides to wrongly implicate her relatives, devastating Leticia’s life. Van attempts quiet restitution, and the siblings’ bond deepens amid Donna’s anxiety and Van’s early drift toward weed and first romance.
Summary
Two weeks after Cady Lewis vanished, third-grader Gerry Lean grabs Donna during recess, taunting her as a kidnapper. Donna, humiliated after wetting herself, attacks and bites Gerry’s cheek, scarring him. Donovan (Van) restrains Donna, and later quietly completes Gerry’s schoolwork until Gerry disappears after Christmas, his family moving during a lawsuit.
Leticia remains with the McBrides but grows quiet and vigilant, nurturing Donna and Van carefully. At an Easter brunch with Leticia’s family, Donna believes she recognizes the van and a tattoo from Cady’s kidnapping on cousin Simon. June and Lenny, primed by fear, report Leticia; immigration and drug charges follow. Emmanuel and Simon are deported, Martin is imprisoned on a marijuana charge, and Leticia is ostracized—later cleared, but ruined.
Donna is unapologetic, framing the outcome as proof of Leticia’s unfitness. Months later, Van hugs Leticia at an ice cream shop, prompting June to drive them apart. Donna again “spots” the van in 1985, calling police about pot; the landscapers are legal, but a man named José Garcia is wrongly jailed on a name match. Seeking to atone, Van secretly places two cases of his father’s beer in the landscapers’ van. His parents punish him, canceling a Puerto Rico school trip; Donna withdraws as well.
At night, Donna’s nightmares push her to Van’s room. Van gives Donna the bed, holding her hand as she confesses overwhelming fear and dependence on him. Their bond strengthens even as Donna voices prejudices and anxiety. Van, awake and curious, turns to weed and political reading, and begins a tentative romance with Em Davis, signaling divergent coping paths for the siblings.
Who Appears
- Donna McBrideTraumatized child; panics at recess and bites Gerry’s cheek; later fuels wrongful suspicion of Leticia’s family; relies on Van during nightmares.
- Donovan "Van" McBrideWitnesses Donna’s breakdown; helps Gerry in class; questions family’s actions; secret beer restitution; comforts Donna; experiments with weed; kisses Em Davis.
- LeticiaNanny who becomes quiet and protective after Cady’s abduction; wrongly suspected; family devastated; later ostracized despite being cleared.
- June McBrideMother, migraine-stricken and fearful; helps accuse Leticia; orders Leticia to stay away; punishes Van over missing beer.
- Lenny McBrideFather who calls police on Leticia’s family; cancels Van’s Puerto Rico trip; misattributes missing beer to Van and friends.
- Gerry LeanClassmate who taunts Donna; severely bitten and scarred; later leaves school amid legal action.
- EmmanuelLeticia’s cousin at Easter brunch; deported after investigation clears him of kidnapping involvement.
- SimonLeticia’s cousin misidentified by Donna; tattoo triggers accusations; deported though recently arrived and uninvolved.
- MartinLeticia’s husband; arrested for marijuana possession; serves five years, worsening fallout from the false suspicion.
- Mrs. HamiltonHistory teacher who notices Van doing Gerry’s work but says nothing.
- Em DavisOlder schoolmate and weed supplier; kisses Van; represents his shift toward drugs and romance.
- José GarciaLandscaper wrongly jailed on name match after Donna’s misleading tip; later cleared.