The Gilda Stories

The chapter begins with Gilda’s frustration. Since leaving New York, she has begun a new and very successful career as a romance novelist using the pseudonym Abby Bird. She writes in secret from Effie’s small-town New Hampshire cottage, but she is angry to learn that the press has found her out when clandestinely taken videos of her appear on a national magazine show, identifying her as Abby Bird. This is especially uncomfortable because Gilda is mostly alone now: All of the members of her vampire family, including Effie, spend most of their time traveling and communicate with her via antiquated handwritten letters. She also has a treasured ongoing correspondence with a deaf girl named Nadine who is Aurelia’s great-granddaughter. Mostly, however, she has enjoyed her solitude and her time in the outdoors.

A video call from Julius comes through. He finds the public revelation of Gilda’s identity hilarious and a potential opportunity for her to leave her New Hampshire hideout. While Gilda does not find the publicity funny, she is struck by the possibility of moving on. Effie calls next. Gilda shares Julius’s idea, and Effie wholeheartedly agrees, saying “If you’ve been happy in Hampton Falls you can be happy somewhere else” (226).