The Guest

Margaret and Alex go to Margaret’s parent’s house. Margaret speaks dismissively of their housekeeper, Karen. Margaret and Alex drink wine and Alex does Margaret’s makeup. Alex can tell that Margaret is self-conscious and unhappy. Alex borrows Margaret’s phone to text Jack, the boy from the beach, because her phone is still broken. Jack invites Alex out. Margaret falls asleep after drinking too much wine. Alex goes swimming naked in Margaret’s pool. When Karen returns home, she catches Alex swimming and gives her a look that expresses “knowledge of exactly what kind of person Alex was” (175).

Margaret wakes up, and Alex checks Margaret’s phone. Alex texts with Jack, who says he can skip dinner with his father and pick her up. Margaret is disappointed that Alex is leaving. Alex contemplates staying with Margaret but decides against it, thinking, “People’s unhappiness could so quickly infect you” (178). Margaret says Jack can come over and stay for dinner, but Alex feels a deep need to get away from Margaret and Karen.

Alex notes that Jack looks younger than she remembers. He tells her about his father, who is a well-known film producer.