Big Lies in a Small Town: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains a depiction of sexual assault.

Oliver takes Morgan to the emergency room for her sprained ankle. Fortunately, no alcohol spilled on her ankle monitor. While waiting to be seen, they trade ER stories; Oliver talks about his son, Nathan, and Morgan recounts her experience after the car accident. As closely as she had bonded with Trey’s family, they cast her aside when she told the truth about Trey’s responsibility for the accident. While she is being treated for her ankle, a woman in pain in the next cubicle triggers Morgan’s memories of the accident, and she begins shaking violently. She realizes that she will never be at peace until she makes amends with Emily, and Oliver offers to help track her down.

Anna wakes on what would have been her mother’s 44th birthday, the grief still fresh. She drives to the warehouse and finds Jesse painting a portrait of his mother as a birthday gift. Anna tells him the story of her mother’s manic-depression and suicide and confesses that the guilt over not committing her mother to a mental hospital still plagues her. Jesse offers consolation, telling Anna that it wasn’t her fault.