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Joe insists that he is “not mad” (124) that his relationship with Beck is progressing so slowly. Beck spends all her time with Peach. Reading her emails, Joe is annoyed that Beck seems to be making plans with a mysterious man named the Captain. He pays for her to rent a car to meet him in Bridgeport. Joe follows her to a motel near the water. He sees the Captain—a middle-aged man with a cigarette—and follows them. Much to Joe’s surprise and relief, the Captain is Beck’s father. He is alive, contrary to what Beck told him. Joe decides that Beck is a “liar” (128).

Beck and the Captain are dressed up in costumes to visit the Charles Dickens Festival near Bridgeport. Joe gets a costume of his own and attends the festival. He lurks behind them as they ride a ferry across the harbor; Beck’s father is Captain of the ferry, and his new wife and family are waiting for him at the festival. Beck’s half-sister and half-brother are eight and six, respectively. Joe loathes the Dickens festival. On the return ferry, he becomes seasick and vomits in the restroom. His beard falls off, and he loses his only disguise.