In A Dark Dark Wood

Nora understands that the clues were there for the past 10 years, but she failed to grasp their meaning. Nora thinks about how different everything would have been if she had this realization sooner. Clare asks her, “Lee, are you okay? You look…you don’t look well” (312). Nora replies, “Nora. My name is Nora” (312). Nora then repeats the words of the text that James sent her: “Lee, I’m sorry but this is your problem, not mine. Deal with it. And don’t call me again. J” (313). Nora announces that Clare sent her the text from James’s phone, an act that resulted in their breakup and all the heartache that followed for Nora, including the abortion.

Clare asks what she is talking about, and Nora reminds Clare that James never called her “Lee.” As Clare pretends to not understand the implication, Nora thinks about what a great actress Clare has always been. After more prodding, Clare eventually confesses, claiming that she did what was for the best, as James and Nora were not ready to be parents. Clare says that she precipitated what neither James nor Nora had the courage to do on their own. Nora tells Clare that she is lying: “You don’t care—you never cared.