My Oxford Year: A Novel

Chapter 26 begins with a quote from Coventry Patmore’s “The Rosy Bosom’d Hours,” 1876.

Antonia and Ella listen as Jamie enters the cellar and greets William. They start to argue, and Jamie leaves. William smashes a wine bottle and cries, and Jamie returns. They argue about their relationship as Jamie starts sweeping up the glass, but William tries to stop him. Jamie tells him to stop, noting that “stop” was Oliver’s last word, telling Jamie and William to stop arguing. Jamie accuses William of hating him for taking Oliver off life support and wishing that Jamie had died instead of Oliver. William corrects Jamie, saying he wished he died instead of either of his sons. Jamie compares William’s love to wine kept in a cellar and never opened, and William helps Jamie dress a cut on his hand. Antonia kisses Ella and thanks her before joining William and Jamie, who are now bantering pleasantly. Ella lingers in the stairway, enjoying the family moment without joining or leaving.

At dinner, Charlie prods Jamie and Ella about their plans after Ella goes back to America. Ella emphasizes the importance of her job and her passion for politics, but Charlie insists she should prioritize Jamie. Charlie goes to the bathroom, and Jamie announces his illness. Maggie cries, Tom deflates, and William proposes a toast. Charlie returns, confused, and William thanks Ella, hoping to share more birthdays at this table. Maggie turns to Tom and says she is finished with him, but Tom says he wants to be with her. The only reason Tom didn’t pursue Maggie was because he feared he could not withstand her rejection. He kisses her, she leaps on him, and Antonia suggests dessert.

At night, Ella sneaks toward Jamie’s room and runs into Maggie, who is sneaking to Tom’s room. They pass each other, and Ella goes into Jamie’s room, finding him in bed waiting for her. They undress and caress each other. They thank each other and say they love each other before having sex.

In the morning, Ella rolls into Jamie and hears his breathing is raspy. He has a fever, and his eyes are rolling back in his head. Ella screams.

Chapter 27 begins with a quote from “Fragment” by an unknown author.

Ella is frustrated waiting for Jamie’s parents, for the paramedics, and for the trip to the hospital. She tries to remember any relevant information and worries that Jamie might not survive. Ella, Antonia, and William talk to Dr. Corrigan, who says Jamie is in a medically induced coma while they treat him for pneumonia. Ella tells the doctor that Jamie just finished a drug trial, stripped and stained a floor in his home, and drank a lot the night before, which the doctor says is helpful information. Ella, Antonia, and William stay in the hospital, talking infrequently. Antonia asks about Ella’s parents, and Ella tells her that her mother is a receptionist, and her father ran a bar before he died. Antonia notes that William’s father ran a bar, and William adds that Ella’s father was an activist. Antonia thinks Ella is involved in politics to keep her father alive, which makes Ella question her life choices.

Tom, Maggie, and Charlie visit, and Maggie and Tom hold hands. They are surprised that Ella still wants to go back to the US in June, and Charlie tells Ella that love does not make her weak.

Cecelia arrives and cries with Ella. They have tea in the cafeteria before going back to Antonia, who appreciates that Cecelia came. Cecelia and Antonia are grateful for the time they had with Oliver and lament that they are in the same situation again. Ella says she has never had time with someone before they died, remembering how her last memory of her father is of him putting on his jacket and leaving the house. Ella cries, Antonia and Cecelia comfort her, and it feels good to cry together.

William approaches and asks to speak with Ella.

Chapter 28 begins with a quote from Algernon Charles Swinburne’s “The Garden of Proserpine,” 1866.

William takes Ella to another room and asks if they should let Jamie die if the doctors say he will not recover. Ella thinks “no” but says “yes,” thinking that she spent her life as a child and just now became an adult. William thanks Ella for giving Jamie a reason to fight the cancer, and they embrace.

Ella takes her and Jamie’s suitcases into the bathroom to change. She puts one of Jamie’s sweaters on and notices a package and an envelope. In the package is a journal, which Jamie inscribed for Ella. The journal is full of poems Jamie wrote, mostly describing moments and discussions she and Jamie had. Ella cries, noting that the journal is a record of their whole relationship. The envelope contains a rail pass for 30 days. Ella realizes Jamie got her the pass knowing that he would not be able to go with her because he did not want to hold her back from exploring Europe.

Chapter 29 begins with a quote from William Allingham’s “Untitled,” 1890.

Dr. Corrigan wakes Antonia, William, Ella, and Cecelia with news. Jamie is still sedated, but his tests show he might be in remission. The primary focus of treatment is on curing the pneumonia. Ella demands to see him, and Cecelia suggests Dr. Corrigan give Ella a mask, since Jamie is in isolation.

Ella asks Dr. Corrigan how long Jamie will have if they can cure the pneumonia, but Dr. Corrigan does not know, saying Jamie’s oncologist is best equipped to answer that question. Ella sits with Jamie and thinks about the time they spent together. She bargains with Jamie in her mind, asking him to stay and offering to stay with him. Ella realizes that she would rather spend as much time with Jamie as possible before his death, even if it means giving up her role in Janet’s campaign. Ella speaks the bargain out loud, and Corrigan comes to take Ella back out of the room.

Chapter 30 begins with a quote from Matthew Arnold’s “The Scholar-Gypsy,” 1853.

Connor texts Ella to congratulate her, sending a CNN link showing Janet won the primary in five states. Hillerson dropped out of the race. Ella calls Gavin, who excitedly starts planning for Ella to come home earlier than expected. Ella quits, and Gavin is shocked. Janet gets on the phone and tells Ella her door will always be open, assuring Ella that she should make the choices that feel right for her. Ella thinks politics was her father’s passion, not hers, and she wants to stay in England and enjoy as much time with Jamie as possible. Ella knows she would have done an excellent job, but she realizes she did not tell anyone about her promotion. Ella feels like she is waking up from a dream, seeing that her desire to come to Oxford was her real passion all along. She has found love, family, and connections at Oxford. Ella gets coffee for everyone and tells William they need to talk. Ella wants to take Jamie traveling when he wakes up, and she intends to travel until Jamie cannot travel anymore. William agrees, and Dr. Corrigan announces that they are waking Jamie.

Ella enters Jamie’s room first, and he looks ill. She approaches him and whispers “I love you” in his ear. He smiles and leans forward, but he jokingly says it is good that he does not love her, referring to what Ella said when she found out Jamie was sick.

The Epilogue begins with a quote from Charles (Tennyson) Turner’s “Letty’s Globe,” 1860.

After six weeks of recovery, Jamie and Ella travel across Europe. At a waterfall near the Amalfi coast, Jamie swims like a dolphin, and Ella commits the sight to memory. Jamie fought Ella’s decision to stay at first, but Antonia convinced him that Ella knows what is best for herself. Jamie and Ella wake up together, preparing to drive to Switzerland. Ella knows they will not be together forever, but she came to Oxford and chose a life. Ella feels that their love is forever, even if their time is not.