The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife: A Novel

Hannah visits Sadie’s grave and tells her of her visit with their father. She recalls the day Sadie died and the day that their father broke Sadie’s favorite cup. Sadie helped affix a band-aid to their father’s hand and told him that she forgave him.

Twelve days have passed since Albert’s death, and Fred continues to grieve, not wanting to eat. Linh tries to coax him to do so and suggests that he might like another visit from his daughter, prompting Fred to tell her of the estrangement. Linh explains that she was similarly estranged from her father after leaving Vietnam. She encourages Fred to eat and get some exercise.

He decides to take a walk, but a group of women in a knitting group call out to him. Fred recalls the yellow booties his wife knit for their son before her pregnancy loss. As Ruby teaches Fred to cast on, he has an idea.

Denise studies the phone bill, noticing that a single phone number appears again and again. She calls the number and hangs up when an unfamiliar woman answers.

Fred continues to knit and, as he does, thinks of all the people he has lost. He wonders whether his and Dawn’s children would have looked like Sadie and Hannah as girls. He finishes the yellow booties, wraps them, and mails them to Hannah alongside a card.

Hannah receives the booties but is determined to return them, convinced Bernard must have coaxed one of the female residents to make them. She thinks about her accidental pregnancy and her boyfriend, Mike, who was adamant about not wanting children and ended their relationship when she told him the news.

At the nursing home, Hannah forces the receptionist to take the booties, though the receptionist insists that she watched Bernard make them. Back home, Hannah opens the letter from Bernard that she threw in the trash earlier.

Hannah reads the letter from Bernard, dated two years previous. In it, he explains that he struggled with depression and anger over Sadie’s leukemia diagnosis and admits he handled his emotions poorly. He goes on to explain how he became addicted to gambling and then, unable to bear the hurt he had caused Hannah and her mother, left after Sadie’s death. He was able to receive help for his gambling addiction and repeatedly apologizes to Hannah.

The letter causes Hannah to cry, and she wonders if it was fear and sadness she always saw in her father’s eyes rather than anger. She also wonders if she can finally forgive him.

After Fred finishes an exercise class, Linh gives him the booties, which Hannah has returned. Fred feels he has failed his wife all over again until Hannah suddenly arrives for a visit. She explains that she has read the letter and wants to give “Bernard” a second chance, though she has not fully forgiven him yet. They talk, and as Hannah shares memories of her childhood, Fred wishes he was actually present for those moments. He works up the courage to invite Hannah to a Father’s Day event coming up at the nursing home, and she accepts.

Hannah considers her financial position: She barely supports herself as a hairdresser and wonders how she will make ends meet once the baby arrives. She recalls her mother supporting the two of them after her father left and realizes how strong she was. Hannah is still not certain whether the changes in Bernard are genuine.

Hannah arrives at the Father’s Day picnic. There is awkward tension between her and Fred until the subject of chess comes up. Hannah reveals that she always wanted Bernard to teach her to play; Fred offers to do so, and soon they are laughing and enjoying one another’s company. They go on to compete in a balloon volleyball competition, winning against Patricia and her daughter.

After the party, Hannah and Bernard have coffee at the nursing home’s café and talk about Hannah’s hairdressing business. Bernard asks if she would consider cutting his hair, and she agrees to bring her equipment the next day.

After the haircut, they run into Valerie, who has come to the facility to retrieve Albert’s things. The three chat, and when Fred leaves to use the restroom, Hannah tells Valerie of her estrangement from Bernard and of Sadie’s cancer. Hannah is surprised to hear Valerie speak of how kind “Bernard” is—Hannah wonders if the dementia is responsible for the complete personality change.

Denise is feeding a resident his dinner when the news on TV mentions that a body was found in the river last April. The name “Frederick Fife” sounds familiar somehow. Denise researches the accident online and grows certain that it was Bernard Greer who drowned, and that Frederick Fife has taken Bernard’s place. She prints information about the accident to show to the director of nursing the next day.

Fred is watching television when a crash sounds from Ruby’s room next door. A drunken Denise has collapsed to the floor while trying to dress Ruby for bed. Fred places Denise in his own bed as she slurs about her husband. He notices that Denise calls him “Fred.” Not wanting Denise to be found out, Fred helps Ruby dress for bed and then feeds Tony, a nonverbal resident. When Fred puts on a record, he is surprised that Tony sings along.

Denise awakens at 5:00 am in Fred’s room. She is horrified, but Fred assures her that he took care of Ruby and Tony and that no one knows that Denise was drinking. She confides in him about her marital problems. Because she calls him “Fred,” Fred confronts her about her knowledge of his real identity, and Denise explains the clues that made her suspicious. Fred calls a cab to take Denise home, and she is grateful for his offers to help.

The same morning, Hannah takes Fred to brunch at a nearby café. He is thrilled to experience a real outing and hopes that Denise will keep quiet about his identity. During their meal, Hannah receives a phone call from her obstetrician asking her to have some scans done the next day. Hannah is relieved when Fred offers to go with her. When her credit card is declined, Fred wonders if Hannah is having money troubles.