Maine Characters

Vivian is angry that Hank didn’t just fix the water heater when he was alive. After taking a shower, she listens to a voicemail from Celeste. While Celeste is saddened by Vivian’s accusations that she is emotionally distant, she says that she and Hank were always proud of Vivian, and she promises to be more attentive. Vivian then leaves Oscar a message, telling him how bad it feels to be ignored by him when her “life is falling apart” (149). She met him two years ago at her job interview and was drawn to him from the beginning. He barely mentioned his marriage to his wife, Carla, and he one day admitted that he and Carla were basically roommates. One night, Vivian kissed him and felt immediately guilty because she had already experienced partners who had cheated on her. However, she and Oscar agreed to keep things professional at work while still having a sexual relationship in secret. Vivian felt that whenever she was near Oscar, she became her best, boldest self. Their romantic feelings grew, and they talked about the possibility of Oscar leaving his wife for Vivian.

In the present, Lucy starts reading one of the books that Celeste has written and picks up on details that must have come from Celeste’s relationship with Hank.