One Summer in Savannah: A Novel

Jacob spends more time with the Lancasters, integrating with the family. One Saturday morning, he surprises the family with a trip to a private beach. Jacob, Alana, and Sara ride to the marina in Jacob’s truck, and he tells them about the private island. He tells them that it’s Wyler Island and belongs to him. When they arrive, Jacob sees that Martha is still there. He initially advises everyone to get back on the boat and wait for him, but Sara says that it’s okay and that if he trusts Marsha, she’ll trust him.

Marsha joins them on the beach, and Alana’s similarity to Naomi strikes her. In a private moment, Sara asks Marsha not to tell Birdie or Daniel about Alana, and Marsha agrees. Marsha apologizes to Sara for the harm that the Wyler family caused her. After Marsha leaves, Sylvia teases Sara about how close she’s getting to Jacob and about what an attractive man Jacob is.

Later in the day, Jacob and Sara talk about the island, Jacob’s father, and whether Sara will stay in Savannah or return to Maine. Jacob tries again to convince Sara to accept money to fund Alana’s private education, but she refuses. They share a sense of growing intimacy and hold hands until Alana interrupts them. Sara hasn’t been in the ocean since the rape, but when Jacob and Alana both encourage her to swim with them, she relents and again trusts Jacob.

Jacob’s visit to Daniel is strained and stressful. Daniel asks Jacob to talk to Sara for him, and Jacob pushes Daniel to tell him what happened on the night Daniel raped Sara. Daniel says that he regrets it and that he intends to tell the truth in a television interview. When Jacob asks why he’s willing to do all this now, Daniel tells him that it’s because Jacob is falling in love with Sara. Daniel says that it’s okay, which triggers Jacob, and Jacob attacks Daniel. After the guards separate them, Daniel apologizes and asks Jacob to forgive him for the rape because he’s dying of cancer.

Back at Birdie’s house in Savannah, Jacob tells Marsha what happened, and she tells him that he has to tell Daniel and Birdie about Alana. Jacob says that it’s Sara’s choice and that with Daniel’s death imminent, it’s necessary for Alana and the rest of the family to know the truth.

Sara receives a letter from the parole board giving her the opportunity to submit a victim statement either supporting or rejecting Daniel’s early release from prison. She struggles thinking about her slow healing journey and decides that she has to know more about Daniel. She calls Jacob, and he comes to the bookstore shortly before closing. She asks him to tell her more about Daniel and who he’s been since the rape. After hearing about his attempts at atonement, she asks more personal questions. Jacob tells her that Daniel regrets his crime and that he occasionally asks about her.

She asks if Jacob has kept Alana a secret, and he says that he has and warns her that Daniel is going to give a television interview. She worries that she won’t be able to conceal the interview from Alana, and Jacob suggests that she tell Alana the truth and that he’ll help her. She says no because she can’t take another trial. He tells her that Daniel is dying. She sees Jacob’s pain and expresses her sympathy. They embrace and hold each other in the darkness of the closed bookstore.

Jacob is washing his hands in the Lancasters’ kitchen when Hosea and Sylvia come in. Sylvia chats to him about the garden project while he watches Sara and Alana out the window, feeling a growing sense of connection to both of them. Sylvia leaves, and Jacob recites an E. E. Cummings poem that Hosea continues and Jacob finishes. Jacob tells Hosea that he’s falling in love with Sara and asks for his blessing to pursue her. Hosea makes it clear that he approves, and Jacob thanks him.

Jacob goes to see Birdie at the cemetery. She says that she wants to see Sara and confront her for ruining their family, but Jacob argues with her, saying that they destroyed the family themselves. Birdie accuses him of refusing to believe his brother, but Jacob insists that Daniel is going to give a television interview in which he will admit and acknowledge that he raped Sara. She accuses Jacob of forcing Daniel to admit to a crime he didn’t commit. Jacob tells her that their family was hurt, that they didn’t have the tools to process it, and that Sara was the victim of their emotional failures. Birdie slaps him and storms off, shouting that she wishes it were Jacob and not Daniel dying. Jacob chooses to forgive her rather than allow her pain to become his. That night, he struggles with his emotions regarding his family and the growing relationship with Sara. He calls her and tells her that he needs some time on his own to work out some things. She agrees.