Conversations with Friends

As Bobbi and Frances fly back to Dublin, Bobbi asks only minimal questions about Frances’s relationship with Nick and reacts casually to the answers. When they arrive, Frances goes straight to Ballina to see her parents. At her mother’s house, she suddenly begins feeling seriously ill. At first, she thinks she just has bad period cramps, but then realizes she is bleeding a frightening amount.

Her mother takes her to a hospital, where the doctor’s first theory is that she has had a miscarriage. In a daze from the pain and confusion, she calls Nick, but he is still at the villa, and when he answers, he scolds her for calling him as anyone could have seen her name pop up on his screen. Rather than explaining, she just hangs up.

The pregnancy tests show she was never pregnant and has no infections. After a pelvic exam that also yields no concrete results, the gynecologist says she will need to return for an ultrasound, though the next available appointment is months away.

Nick sends an apology email for his terseness on the phone, but Frances does not answer. Over the phone, she apologizes to Bobbi for keeping the affair with Nick a secret and tells her about the hospital.