Summer of '69

This section deals with heartbreak and its aftermath, especially for Kate and Jessie. Kirby, too, tries to mitigate future heartbreak through different methods. While Mr. Ames and his wife, a cousin of Judge Frazier’s, seem able to navigate interracial relations, Kirby realizes that Darren avoids inviting her to family events. When she spontaneously visits his home, she realizes that he has been keeping their relationship a secret, which reminds her of her tempestuous affair with Scottie, likewise clandestine because of their age difference, his authority, and though Kirby didn’t know it, his marriage. She can’t do it again.

She confesses her past to Darren after their date on the deserted Lobsterville Beach. She admits that she didn’t act responsibly with Scottie because of her attraction to him. Even though she didn’t know he was married, she understood that he was breaking the boundaries of his authority. Moreover, while she doesn’t blame Dr. Frazier for wanting to protect Darren, she notes that her behavior is, in fact, because of how Kirby got into trouble. Darren doesn’t condemn Kirby’s choices but still isn’t ready to fully commit to a publicly open relationship. Kirby makes a stand. Although she loves Darren, she can’t have anything less than a completely open and honest relationship. This shows growth on Kirby’s part as she actively chooses to not do something that makes her feel diminished or unworthy, highlighting the theme of Maturity and Responsibility.

One of the painful aspects of Kirby’s relationship with Scottie is that she had to guess he was married. Furthermore, after he found out she was pregnant, he gave her money for the abortion but ceased all contact. This made her feel used and understandably shook her self-esteem. Jessie’s experiences mirror Kirby’s when Pick takes advantage of Jessie’s proximity in Little Fair. When she’s feeling vulnerable, Pick walks into her private bedroom and kisses her, saying, “I’ve been wanting to do that for a while now” (279).

Pick is obviously under duress and feels abandoned by his mother, which he confirms in his encounter with Kate. His longing for maternal love may lead him to seek affection from girls. He tries to go further with Jessie, but she shuts him down. Since it’s her first relationship, she revels in the romantic aspects much as Kirby reveled in the sexual ones with Scottie. Like Kirby—and Blair with Joey—she thinks that the relationship is truly love. Jessie’s self-esteem is hurt further when Pick casually throws her over for Sabrina, who is older and, in Jessie’s opinion, prettier. Within 24 hours, Jessie’s emotions reel from joy to heartbreak. This emphasizes the theme Sexual Attraction Versus Sustainable Love.

Navigating love isn’t easy for Kate either because David’s anger at her drinking grows. In addition, he’s annoyed when she suggests that Exalta has been asking about him, which they both know is a lie. This conversation, along with encounters with Bill, spurs Kate to admit that she really can’t continue this way and must save her relationship with David. In a gesture to prove that she’s ready to move on, Kate tours the house that David likes and makes a bid on it.

This change comes about as Kate realizes that her worry and drinking are hurting the people she cares about and is responsible for. She begins to understand that she’s not the only person who cares about Tiger or has a child in danger. Even though Pick reminds her daily of Wilder’s infidelity, she doesn’t want to be beyond sympathy. When she sees how distraught Pick is about Lorraine’s abandonment, she poignantly realizes that Lorraine destroyed her love of All’s Fair too—and it’s time to move on. This crystalizes Kate’s journey to the thematic Maturity and Responsibility.