Contents
Chapter Fifteen: Russ
Overview
Russ gets a call that his father is hospitalized and reluctantly returns to Maple Hills. After clashing with his mother over years of enabling, Russ confronts his father, voicing long-suppressed anger and pain. He leaves resolved but shaken, then stumbles upon Henry having sex at their house, compounding the day’s shocks.
Summary
During a morning run at Honey Acres, Russ’s brother Ethan repeatedly calls, pressuring Russ to come home because their father is in the hospital. Despite resentment and dread, Russ informs Jenna of a confidential family emergency and drives back to Maple Hills.
At the hospital, Russ finds his mother exhausted and defensive. She insists his father was hit by a drunk driver, while Russ suspects familiar deceit. Their argument exposes deep fractures: Russ accuses her of enabling; she pleads that addiction is an illness and urges family loyalty. Russ admits his father asks him for money and has made him feel unworthy of love.
Prompted by his mother to be honest, Russ visits his father’s room. He delivers a blunt reckoning: their family is broken, he no longer recognizes the man who raised him, and his father’s addiction and manipulation have poisoned Russ’s self-belief. His father, battered and subdued, accepts the condemnation without protest.
Feeling lighter but emotionally spent, Russ leaves the hospital. Seeking a pause before returning to camp, he stops at his Maple Avenue house—only to walk in on Henry having sex on the living room couch, abruptly ending any chance of calm.
Who Appears
- RussLeaves camp for a family emergency, confronts his father in the hospital, voices lifelong hurt, then discovers Henry having sex at home.
- MomTired and defensive; frames addiction as illness, urges family unity, pushes Russ to tell his father the truth.
- EthanCalls repeatedly, pressures Russ to come home with misleading urgency about their father’s condition.
- DadHospitalized after a car accident; listens as Russ condemns his addiction’s damage and accepts the blame quietly.
- JennaOvernight leader; grants Russ confidential leave for a family emergency and asks for updates if delayed.
- HenryRuss’s housemate; caught mid-sex on the living room couch when Russ returns unexpectedly.
- DoctorBriefly informs Russ his father is lucky and stable as Russ enters the hospital room.