The Family Upstairs

In Chelsea, in 1992, Henry worries about the birth of Martina and David’s baby, believing David would use the baby “to cement his role as the god of our warped little universe” (242). Henry continues to read Justin’s books on gardening and makes his mother juices and teas with herbs from the garden, intentionally adding herbs that can terminate pregnancies. One day, at about five months pregnant, Martina shares that she can no longer feel the baby kick. Five days later, the baby comes out stillborn. The baby is buried in the garden.

Henry finds his father, the senior Henry Lamb, and asks if he knows about the death of the baby. Henry, the son, continues on to say that maybe it was for the better because his mom or the baby could have gotten sick anyway. Henry explains, “I was seeking redemption for my sins. I decided to read approval into his silence” (244), but Henry still finds himself heartbroken at the sight of his dead baby brother. Henry had hoped that the death of the baby would help his family get back to normal, but

there was no normal. My father’s life was not normal. Our existence was not normal. The baby had gone, but I still didn’t have any shoes […] The baby had gone but there was still no school, no holidays, no friends, no outside world. The baby was gone, but David Thomsen was still here (245). 

Lucy, the dog, and the children go to sleep in one of the bedrooms in the Chelsea house. When they wake up, they realize it is late morning. Lucy hears footsteps moving around the house. Lucy shushes the dog and holds her body against the bedroom door. Eventually, Lucy hears the footsteps coming closer and hears someone breathing on the other side of the door. Lucy opens the door a crack. A man stands outside the bedroom door.

Libby and Miller Roe drive five hours to Cornwall. During the drive, Libby learns about Miller Roe. Miller Roe was once married but it didn’t work out. He explains, “My fault entirely. I prioritized everything over her. My friends, my hobbies. But mainly my job” (251-52). That night, Miller Roe and Libby stay in a hotel. On their way to go meet Sally the next day, Libby asks what if it isn’t her. Miller Roe responds, shrugging, “Then it’s not her” and Libby “realizes that he doesn’t see life the way she sees it. He’s prepared to be wrong; he doesn’t always need to know what’s going to happen next” (253). At Sally’s therapy practice, Miller Roe and Libby insist on waiting for Sally even though they don’t have an appointment. Finally, they are admitted into Sally’s office. Libby mentions the Chelsea house and Sally responds, “You’re the baby!” (254). Libby asks if she is Sally Thomsen, and Sally says yes, but she goes by her maiden name now. Sally explains that she doesn’t want to talk about the Chelsea house because it gave her daughter years of PTSD. Libby asks if they can talk to Sally’s daughter. Sally says no and asks Libby and Miller Roe to leave.

Back in Chelsea, in 1992, Martina Lamb struggles to recover from the death of her baby. Martina begins sitting with her husband, Henry Lamb, who never fully recovered from his stroke and spends most of his time sitting silently in a chair. Henry, the son, expresses to David that he thinks his parents are unwell and need professional help. David becomes angry and hits Henry. Henry continues to yell at David “in a nothing-to-lose rush of emotion” (257). David banishes Henry to his room for a whole week. First, Henry tries to open the front door to the house, but it is locked. Finally, David forces Henry to go to his bedroom, and David locks Henry’s bedroom door from the outside. Henry remembers, “I went a little mad, I think, over the course of the week that followed. I scratched marks into my walls with my fingernails until my nail beds bled. I banged my head against the floor. I made animal noises. I saw things that weren’t there” (258-59). When Henry is finally let out of his room, he decides he is “going to finish David off for good” (259).

Henry notices that Phin looks sick and suggests Phin spend time outside in the garden, but Phin insists the only way he will get better is if he leaves the house. David forces Phin to work out in the house’s exercise room. One day, Henry sees David and Birdie kiss with their arms around each other. Henry realizes David and Birdie are “draining the house, like vampires, of all of its decent energy, of all of its love and life and goodness, draining it all for themselves, feasting on our misery and our broken spirits” (260). Henry remembers David’s secret stash of money that Phin told him about years ago and starts to wonder if David still has it.