Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance

This section covers the winter, spring, and summer of Sally’s senior year of high school, five years after her sister’s death. The Holt family remains mired in grief. Sally’s mother has become depressed, drinks frequently, and makes regular visits to a psychic, while her father, who lost his job in the post-9/11 recession, is emotionally distant and plans to start his own business. Sally is dating Peter and preparing to attend Villanova University, where Billy has just finished his degree. 

As the Holt family watches the State of the Union address, the television suddenly turns off, though the other lights in the house remain on. After Richard goes to the basement to check the fuse box, Susan asks Sally if she thinks Kathy caused the power outage. Soon after, a cardinal repeatedly flies into the living room window. Startled, Susan spills her drink and declares the bird is Kathy trying to get inside.

Susan sees a psychic named Jan, a wealthy lawyer in the seaside town of Watch Hill who claims to see the dead and does not charge for her services. While driving to the mall to shop for Sally’s prom dress, Susan relays messages from Jan: She’s seen Kathy golfing, which will improve Richard’s game, and Jan is worried that Sally is not eating enough.