How I Live Now

Major Laurence McEvoy comes home later that night, and Daisy demands to know where Edmond and Isaac are. Laurence tells her that they are working on a farm outside of Kingly; he promises that everyone will be reunited eventually. 

Secretly, Daisy prepares to travel to Kingly. She steals a map and learns that Kingly is near the same river that runs behind Aunt Penn’s house. That night, Piper declares that Daisy is the sister she always wanted. Daisy replies that she essentially is Piper’s sister already. Internally, Daisy reflects that she never wanted a sister until she met Piper. She tells Piper that together, they are invincible. Piper believes that Aunt Penn must be worried about them, and Daisy comforts Piper until she falls asleep.

Daisy lies awake thinking about her love for Edmond and contrasting that love with her maternal love for Piper. The experiences of romance and of having siblings are both unfamiliar to Daisy. She thinks about being connected to Edmond, and when she feels her psychic bond with him, this phenomenon calms her. Feeling lonely, she climbs into bed beside Piper.

Laurence gives Daisy and Piper new information about the war, and Jane explains that her older son was away at school when war broke out; she hasn’t heard from him since the bombing started. The next day, Jane tells them that Laurence is working at a field hospital for locals because the regular hospitals are filled with war casualties. Jane used to go to the field hospital and read to the patients, but now, only army personnel have access.

Laurence talks to Daisy and Piper about the patients, and he also explains the effects of the war on medicine and on the animals in the area. Laurence also helps to distribute food as part of his job; he explains that the enemy’s occupation is akin to a hostage situation. When the British Army was overseas, the enemy infiltrated the nation, cut off transportation, broke down communications, cut off electricity, poisoned the water, and took control of the gas. The British Army is now struggling to reenter their country. Daisy recalls the joy that she experienced when cut off from the world on the farm, contrasting this interlude with the struggles of many other people. This stark comparison makes her feel guilty. However, she also realizes that helping Laurence might give her and Piper a chance to escape.

In her narration, Daisy explains the telepathic connection that she has with Edmond, stating that when she is in a particularly quiet and sleepy mood, she can smell him and hear him although she cannot see him. She also experiences him seeing and touching her, and he telepathically gives her insight into where he and Isaac are staying. In return, she psychically tells him about her and Piper’s life. Daisy likens this telepathic experience to that of old friends who have not seen each other for many years and suddenly call each other at the same time. However, Daisy doesn’t want to tell Piper about this psychic connection because she has always been judged for having mental health conditions, and she does not want Piper judge her or to doubt the reality of her extrasensory abilities.

When Daisy asks Laurence about the smallpox outbreak, he grows evasive. He eventually states that the epidemic will not affect them because it was merely a rumor that was used to contain the general population. Daisy takes his statement to mean that something other than disease is more likely to kill them during the war. When Piper and Daisy get sick of Alby hitting them with his toys, they ask Laurence if they can help him somehow. Daisy offers Jet as a useful herding animal, and Piper as his trainer. After seeing a demonstration of Jet herding Alby, Laurence is impressed.

Laurence takes Piper (and Daisy, as Piper’s guardian) to Meadow Brook Farm. There, Jet herds the cows in and out of the barn to be milked. The soldiers there love Piper and Jet. Daisy learns to shoot a gun, and she also asks if they can bring the other dog, Gin, to help as well. Laurence declines this offer, saying that Gin is needed at Gateshead Farm. This exchange gives Daisy a valuable piece of information: the name of the place where Edmond is located. They instead recruit a local dog, Ben, who helps Jet. Ben is mostly afraid of the cows but eventually learns some basic herding skills.

Daisy reflects on her unhealthy relationship with food and finds it ironic that she is now helping other people to obtain food. In addition to milking the cows and distributing the milk, the soldiers also butcher cows, distribute eggs, kill chickens, and harvest crops. Daisy contributes to the harvesting efforts by joining a team of eight people to pick apples. She befriends a woman named Elena, and although Daisy is tempted to tell her new friend about Edmond, she refrains.

Daisy learns that apples must be put in boxes gently so that they don’t bruise and ruin the whole box. She finds the work exhausting, and she has to take frequent breaks to lie down. She also grows annoyed by another person in her group, Joe, who is sexually interested in her. Elena and Daisy think that Joe is lonely “for all the right reasons” (102) and ignore him. When Piper and Daisy finally get a day off, they stay in bed and rest.

When the plums ripen, Daisy’s group harvests them. She prefers picking apples because fallen plums attract wasps. Elena is confused by Daisy’s habit of barely eating and openly envies Daisy’s moderation. Before the war, Elena was trying to get pregnant with a treatment similar to IVF, but she now feels as though she will never have the opportunity to get pregnant, since she’s in her 40s and is no longer able to access the necessary treatments. Ten days later, Daisy, Elena, and the others are sent to pick broad beans. Daisy longs for a piece of bread, which is not being made or distributed at that time.

One night, Daisy, Elena, Piper and their group—transported by a designated driver—go through an enemy checkpoint on their way back to Laurence’s house. Joe starts yelling condescending things about the enemy, and a guard at the checkpoint shoots him in the head. Traumatized by this violent event, Daisy vomits. When Laurence tries to intervene, the soldiers shoot Laurence as well. The driver takes off, removing Daisy and her companions from the scene. 

Later, at Laurence’s house, the driver prepares to tell Jane about her husband’s death. As he gathers the courage to do that, he warns Daisy, Piper, and the others, “This is a War” (105) and urges them to be careful what they say.

While mourning her husband, Jane McEvoy struggles to parent Alby. A friend of Laurence comes by to help and eventually they get Alby into bed. Piper has nightmares that night, and Daisy is upset at Joe for getting Laurence killed. Daisy psychically connects with Edmond throughout the night. 

Early the following morning, soldiers arrive at the McEvoy house and tell them that they can no longer stay here because it isn’t safe. Daisy packs a few things, including a compass, Laurence’s warm sweaters, and a small supply of food. When they get into the truck, they cannot find Jet and have to leave without him.

They drive south and pick up a couple more soldiers. Several hours later, they arrive at a barn that houses weapons and soldiers. Daisy prevents Alby from playing with the guns. The soldiers come and go throughout the day, and some of them recognize Piper and Daisy from the farm. Piper finds some food, and Daisy reflects that it’s just the two of them against the world now.

Daisy and Piper sleep in a loft in the barn. In the morning, a soldier named Baz gets them breakfast. He updates them about the war, which is escalating after the deaths of Joe and Laurence. He finds some books for them to read, and Daisy tells him that they are planning to find Piper’s family. He advises them to stay off the roads and warns them not to talk to anyone, because it is not clear who is or is not an enemy. Baz acts fatherly toward Piper and watches over both girls as they sleep in the loft that night.