First-Time Caller

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness.

Lucie’s relationship with Maya drives much of the plot, especially Lucie’s quest for both love and confidence in herself and her choices. Moreover, while Aiden is not a parent himself, he admires Lucie’s family, and their relationship pushes him to a deeper understanding of his own history. For both protagonists, understanding the pitfalls and ultimate value of parenthood is thus key to deepening their romantic bond—a detail that further underscores how parenthood can enrich one’s life.

Parenthood’s importance to the novel is evident in the fact that Lucie’s initial characterization emerges through her interactions with Maya; her first point-of-view chapter centers around Maya’s call with Aiden. This establishes Lucie as ferociously protective, as she panics that Aiden has harmful intentions and orders Maya, “[Y]ou have no seconds, give me your phone” (16). Her strictness in this scene hints at the anxiety that comes with parenting, which can also lead to second guessing—a point emphasized by Lucie’s reaction to discovering Maya’s true motives. Lucie struggles with the revelation that her daughter feels concern for her, fearful that this means she is inadequate as a mother. The novel suggests that these challenges are only heightened for single parents, who often face unfair societal scrutiny. As they get to know one another better, Lucie opens up to Aiden about the social stigma she faces as a single mother. She tells him that her disastrous first date expected her to be grateful to receive any romantic attention at all, and she even explains that her parents cut her off due to her unplanned teenage pregnancy. Such reactions contribute to Lucie’s sense that she is being selfish in her search for love.

Nevertheless, it is clear from the novel’s opening that Lucie also finds great joy and solace in her relationship with her daughter. Aiden notices their easy laughter with each other when Lucie takes the call, providing an outsider’s perspective on the strength of their bond. Moreover, the fact that Lucie decides that Maya’s concerns are worth taking seriously suggests both her respect for her daughter and the opportunities that parenthood opens up for personal growth; she tells herself that going on the radio show will be a way to show Maya she is taking charge of her life. Lucie also tells Aiden that despite her parents’ objections, she has never regretted becoming a parent: “[Maya] wasn’t intended, but she never felt like a mistake to me” (180). Aiden’s fury at her parents establishes that Aiden sees parenthood as part of who Lucie is, affirming its centrality to her identity.

Indeed, Aiden’s reactions to Lucie and Maya throughout the novel highlight parenthood’s value. He is immediately touched by their bond and ultimately signals his desire to become a parent himself by incorporating Maya into his apology to Lucie. Moreover, witnessing the relationship between Lucie and Maya brings Aiden to a better understanding of his relationship to his own parents. This is most apparent when he calls his father for advice about Lucie, admitting that his childhood impacted his ability to trust in relationships. Aiden’s father in turn acknowledges his own fear that his wife’s cancer treatments placed an unfair emotional burden on Aiden. The conversation underscores the burden of responsibility—sometimes unfounded, as Aiden’s mother’s illness was no one’s fault—that comes with parenthood but also affirms its value. Aiden’s father helps him reconcile with Lucie, while the two men themselves end the call with a deeper understanding of one another and commit to seeing each other more often; in fact, the Epilogue depicts Aiden and Lucie having breakfast with Maya and planning to spend the evening with Aiden’s parents. The novel thus suggests that the bonds between parents and children can remain alive and meaningful long after the latter grow up.