How I Live Now

The narrative shifts back in time to relate Daisy’s initial arrival in England. In April, Daisy gets off the plane from New York City and looks for her Aunt Penn. Her cousin, Edmond, picks her up, explaining that her aunt is busy working. Daisy is impressed that Edmond can drive and smoke at the age of 14. She reflects on her perception of England’s strangeness, and Edmond, as if he can hear her thoughts, says she’ll become accustomed to it.

At her aunt’s house, Daisy meets her other cousins: Issac, Osbert, and Piper. She also meets their dogs, Gin and Jet. Piper is happy to meet Daisy, and they talk together while Osbert carries Daisy’s suitcase inside. Daisy is impressed with the house and the farm around it. The group drinks tea and chats, and when Daisy merely thinks that she feels weak and needs water, Edmond brings her a glass of water. Piper invites Daisy to meet the farm animals, but she is jet-lagged, so Piper shows her to her bedroom. Daisy feels safe, so she lies down and falls asleep.

Daisy sleeps through the rest of the day and night. When she wakes up, she checks her phone to discover that there is no signal. She is initially concerned about this, but the sight of the barn, fields, and garden in the sunrise captivates her. While she lies in bed, she thinks about her stepmother, Davina, who is pregnant with the child of Daisy’s father. Daisy then considers her best friend in New York City, Leah, and recalls their habit of calling Davina “the Diabolical” (11) and the unborn child “Damian.”

Piper comes to Daisy’s room and asks if she wants tea. Daisy says yes and eventually makes her way to the kitchen, where she is surprised that nine-year-old Piper knows how to make tea. Edmond explains that their mother, Daisy’s Aunt Penn, was up late working and will meet Daisy after lunch. Piper takes Daisy to the barn and introduces her to a goat named Ding, who wears a bell. Daisy hugs Piper, who shows her the sheep and chickens. As Daisy thinks about what she will tell Leah about the barn, she suddenly feels woozy.

When Daisy tells Piper she needs to lie down, Piper suggests that she eat something. Because Daisy has disordered eating, she grows defensive claims that her real issue is jet lag. She goes to bed for a while, then returns to the kitchen. Aunt Penn is there with her children and offers lunch but does not force Daisy to eat. Daisy tells everyone about Davina’s misdeeds, and they side with Daisy.

Aunt Penn is kind and inquisitive. She brushes Daisy’s hair back from her face in a maternal way, then announces that she must travel to Oslo in a week to give a lecture about the imminent threat of widespread war. Daisy thinks about the current political debates over whether or not such a war will break out, as this has been a common concern for at least five years now. Edmond looks at Daisy as though he can hear her thoughts. When she gazes back at him, he smiles. Daisy reflects that she prefers living at her aunt’s house over living in New York City.

The next day, Edmond wakes Daisy up and urges her to come fishing with him, Piper, and Isaac. He then drives everyone to the river. While Daisy lies on a blanket, Edmond talks to the fish, and Piper sings a song. When Daisy internally wonders what kind of bird is flying overhead, Edmond identifies it as a skylark. Piper catches a fish and throws it back. 

When Daisy relaxes, she thinks about her mother, who died in childbirth, and reflects on the fact that her father would never talk about Daisy’s mother. Then, Daisy contrasts this reality with Leah’s family members, who constantly talking about her late father. Daisy vows to ask her aunt about her mother. When Edmond and Piper join Daisy on the blanket, Piper holds Daisy’s hand, and Edmond blows smoke rings.

Osbert spends most of his time in school, while Edmond, Piper, and Isaac are homeschooled. Aunt Penn says that Daisy doesn’t have to go to school until the fall. Daisy reflects that Isaac’s habitual silence would have resulted in psychiatrist appointments if he lived with her family in New York, but here, he is accepted by his family. One night, Daisy goes to Aunt Penn’s office and sits by the fire, and Aunt Penn tells Daisy all about Daisy’s mother without Daisy even needing to ask. She also shows Daisy a picture of her mother from before she met Daisy’s father. As Daisy is leaving, Aunt Penn mentions that getting pregnant made Daisy’s mother very happy.

The next day, Aunt Penn leaves for Oslo. The following day, a London train station is bombed. Many people, including Daisy’s father, call Aunt Penn’s landline to make sure that everyone is alive and well. Daisy’s cousins reassure everyone that they are very far from London. People on television begin to talk “about food shortages and shutting down transportation” (25). After the call with her father, Daisy goes on a walk with Edmond to the village. They buy supplies and take them back to the house. When they get back, Edmond suggests camping in the lambing barn, which is located about one mile behind the house.

Edmond, Piper, Isaac, and Daisy take blankets, food, and other supplies to the barn, but Osbert doesn’t join them; he continues watching the news. After reading Osbert’s copy of the Boy Scout Survival Guide, Piper decides that they should forage for food on the farm. Isaac grabs food from the house and hides it from Piper in a feedbox, not wanting to hurt her feelings. She cooks potatoes and eggs on the fire, but when Daisy chooses not to eat, Edmond stares at her. They all make a bed in the hay and lie down together, with Piper holding Daisy’s hand. When Daisy hears the dogs, Edmond tells her that they stay by the lambing barn but are not used to people being in it. When he lays his cheek on Daisy’s arm, Daisy starts having romantic feelings toward Edmond. She thinks about a painting called “The Calm Before the Storm” and connects it with this peaceful moment.

Daisy and the others decide not to sleep in the barn the following night. They hear from Aunt Penn, who is trying to get home and put money in the bank for them. When he hears about Aunt Penn’s news, Edmond inexplicably turns pale. Daisy receives letters from her father and from Leah. Leah’s letter catches her up on the gossip about their classmates in New York. Daisy writes a letter to Leah in return. Osbert, after watching the news, tells Daisy and the others that there have been attacks in the US as well. Daisy is mostly glad that the attackers didn’t hit New York, but she also daydreams about her dad feeling regret over sending her to England after an attack. Edmond convinces Daisy to try eating some bacon, and she does, but it makes her gag.

Daisy describes Isaac as someone who watches but does not comment on other people’s actions and words. Edmond, on the other hand, seems to hear her thoughts, and she finds him to be more open and surprising. She notes that Isaac can always find his way back to his companion after going off alone in a crowd. He seems to see the future and can predict where a person will be. However, Isaac engages more easily with animals than with people. He is able to see when an animal is hurting and always tries to help it. Daisy contrasts Isaac’s habit of listening to animals with psychiatrists who are paid to listen to people.