One Plus One: A Novel

The novel flashes back to the morning after Ed’s departure. When Tanzie finds her mother depressed in bed, she initially assumes that it is because she no longer wants to do math. However, Jess denies this, saying that she is sad for a completely different reason. Tanzie walks to a shop to buy a card for Jess to try and cheer her up, but a car containing Jason Fisher and his cousins pulls up. Jason accuses Nicky of hacking his Facebook page and threatens revenge.

The boys order Tanzie to get into their car, but she refuses and fights back. During the struggle, she is hit on the head and falls. Dazed, she sees Norman charge toward her attackers. At that moment, another car swerves and strikes Norman, sending him flying as Tanzie screams.

Jess runs into the street to find Norman bloody and motionless. Nicky cradles the dog’s head while Tanzie is in shock. Jess cannot find a heartbeat. The driver who hit Norman explains he never saw the dog. Nicky tells his mother the Fishers were trying to abduct Tanzie, and Norman broke through the fence to save her.

Nathalie arrives and tries to comfort a howling Tanzie.