The Elements: A Novel

It is a 13-hour flight to Dubai, which Emmet is used to, having visited his mother, Rebecca, there many times. He is becoming resentful of these trips though, angry that Rebecca relocated. Aaron watches as Emmet settles in, scrolling through his phone, which Aaron searched recently. There is something else he saw on that phone that he wants to discuss with Emmet.

Aaron catches Emmet staring at an attractive woman, and he realizes that his son is straight, to his relief. He at times thought Emmet might be gay, and though he would accept him, he is happy Emmet will not deal with the world’s cruelty for his sexuality. Aaron is a child psychologist and struggles with his desire to protect his son while knowing that he needs space to grow.

Aaron thinks ahead to the seven-hour flight after this one, followed by a train and boat ride to reach their destination. When they arrive, they will either be welcomed or rejected. Aaron does not tell Emmet that they are not invited.

Aaron met Rebecca in a coffee shop when they sat at the same table. When she caught him staring, he said it was because she was so beautiful. He dared her, saying that if he could guess her name, she had to let him buy her a drink. He guessed correctly, and when they were at the pub across the street, he revealed that he connected to her personal hotspot.

They quickly fell in love and soon revealed to each other their past traumas. Despite this, they did not discuss how this impacted their relationship, and they barely had sex, both of them too withdrawn and anxious. In the second year of their relationship, they moved to London, and Aaron began having doubts. At a conference in Birmingham, he was alone in a bar, and a girl began flirting with him. They went to a club, kissed, and she invited him home.

At her apartment, she gave him a can of Coke that exploded on him. He was immediately transported back to Freya’s apartment, and began to freak out, running out of the apartment. The next year, he proposed to Rebecca in Barcelona, secretly hoping she would say no. She said yes. He did not feel real desire until he met Furia Flyte.

Emmet is watching a movie, and when he notices Aaron watching him, he puts up the partition. Aaron goes to the bar with his laptop to do some work, and the police officer from earlier joins him, saying she can tell Emmet is a good kid, unlike her own son. Aaron agrees, though he worries again about the half-naked photos he found on Emmet’s phone.

He and the police officer begin drinking and argue about whether it is harder to be a young woman or young man, with Aaron insisting each is difficult. She tells him about her ex-husband and asks about Aaron’s ex-wife. Aaron reveals that he has little contact with her and that she has even less contact with Emmet. When the woman says that Emmet is cute, Aaron ends the conversation and storms off, leaving the woman confused.

Aaron falls asleep for a few hours, and when he wakes up, Emmet asks if they can go to the bar. Emmet asks for a beer, and Aaron caves, letting him order one. When the waitress returns with their drinks, she also brings a chocolate muffin with a birthday candle. Aaron feels grateful that Emmet remembered his birthday.

Emmet talks about his poor relationship with his mother, but Aaron does not to comment. Emmet then asks Aaron why he does not have a girlfriend and Aaron responds that he might one day. In response, Aaron asks Emmet if he has any girlfriends, and Emmet is mortified. When Emmet asks Aaron what he will do when Emmet leaves in a few years for school, Aaron realizes he never thought about it. Emmet asks why he is crying.

After leaving the island years ago, Vanessa moved to Boston, where she fell in love with a man named Ron. Though Rebecca did not attend their wedding, Vanessa and Ron came to England for Rebecca’s wedding to Aaron. The night before, they ate dinner together. Aaron found both Vanessa and Ron to be kind and considerate.

When the topic of children arose, Rebecca insisted that she and Aaron did not want kids, though they had never talked about it. She told Vanessa and Ron that she could not bring a child into the world, knowing what happened to Emma and Aaron. Vanessa asked what happened to Aaron, and he explained to her what Freya did. Ron then made a joke about how he would have loved for that to happen to him as a teen. Everyone flinched, but Ron’s immediate apology was genuine.

They asked Aaron if he ever reported Freya, and he admitted that he did, though later than he should have, and that she will spend the rest of her life in prison. Ron asked Aaron to the bar to allow Vanessa and Rebecca the time to catch up. An hour later, Vanessa approached and told Aaron that Rebecca was waiting for him in the lobby. Before he left, she told him not to marry Rebecca.

Aaron and Emmet sleep through the rest of their flight and wait in Dubai for their connection. When Emmet returns from the bathroom, he tells Aaron that he will not get on the next flight and begs him not to be angry. His relationship with Rebecca is too damaged, and he does not want to be there for her.

When Aaron and Rebecca split because of her infidelity with Furia, Emmet was only four. Aaron and Rebecca agreed to live separately in Sydney to not displace their son. When Rebecca’s job as a pilot required her to move to Dubai, Aaron was scared she would take Emmet. She agreed, however, that it was best for Emmet to stay with him and even seemed relieved.

Aaron argues that Emmet is too young to be left alone. Aaron tells his son that Rebecca loves him, but Emmet disagrees, saying she does not even notice when he visits. Aaron argues that it is important Emmet come because Rebecca just lost a parent. Emmet apologizes but stands firm that he will not board the plane.

After their honeymoon, Aaron heard a knock at the door. He opened it to find a man who introduced himself as an HR representative from Rebecca’s work who was stopping by on his way home for her to sign something. Aaron invited him in, saying he would have to wait a bit, as Rebecca was having a bath.

They sat down, and the man began talking about being a parent and how he once had two daughters, though one died. He accused the women in his life of betraying him. Aaron began to suspect that man was lying about who he was.

As the man said increasingly horrible things about his wife and daughters, it clicked for Aaron that this was Brendan, released from prison. He yelled at Brendan to leave, and when Rebecca walked in, she screamed.

Emmet relents and boards the plane, ignoring Aaron for the whole flight. After they arrive at the hotel, Aaron decides to go out for a walk, inviting Emmet, who refuses. As he wanders around, Aaron stumbles into a bookstore and asks an employee what Furia’s book is about. She tells him that it is about selfishness: The main character breaks up an unhappy marriage. He buys it, returns to the hotel, and reads it at the bar.

The next morning, Emmet is in a better mood and apologizes for how he acted at the airport. Then, they board the train to Galway. Aaron recently told Emmet about his aunt Emma, though not why she drowned herself, making Rebecca angry. She does not want to bring that darkness into Emmet’s life and challenges Aaron to tell their son what happened to him as well. Aaron believes that if they share everything with Emmet, their son might understand them better.

When Rebecca was offered the chance to finish her training in Australia, she and Aaron moved to Sydney. They enjoyed their lives there, having sex and conceiving Emmet. Aaron was shocked by how well Rebecca handled it. They made friends, and at someone’s 30th birthday party, Aaron saw Furia for the first time. He introduced himself to her and learned that she was an aspiring writer. When Rebecca joined them, the conversation fizzled.

A few weeks later, Rebecca revealed that she had coffee with Furia and invited her to a concert that she and Aaron were attending. After the concert, they had drinks, and Furia revealed that she was swearing off men. A week later, Aaron schemed to meet Furia outside her work and asked her to join him for a drink. They sat and talked, and Furia asked him what had happened to him when he was younger, as he seemed hurt and immature. Aaron hinted at Freya’s abuse but did not go into details.

They talked about marriage, and Aaron admitted that his with Rebecca was not working, because she did not love him and made him feel worthless. When she asked if he and Rebecca had a future together, he hesitated and she took this as his answer, and left. Aaron followed her outside, where he admitted that they had no future. Furia told him she needed to think before she wrecked their marriage.

Aaron and Furia began exchanging messages, and Aaron pushed for more, but Furia insisted she did not want to hurt him. One night, he showed up at her apartment, and she met him in the lobby. He realized with jealousy that she had someone upstairs. He asked for more from her, and Furia insisted that it would not happen. She never wanted to be involved with him. Behind her, the elevator opened and Rebecca stepped out.

Aaron and Emmet take the boat to the same island Vanessa once fled to, and Aaron rents the same cottage she once stayed in. When they arrive, Aaron sits Emmet down and explains to him that they were not invited. Rebecca only called to tell Aaron that Vanessa died, but extended no invitation.

On their walk into the village, Emmet asks Aaron why he never met his grandmother. Aaron explains that Vanessa and Rebecca had a strained relationship. When Emmet pries, Aaron reveals who Rebecca’s father was. He explains that Emma’s death was not an accident, and that Rebecca and Vanessa believe that Brendan abused her. Emmet is shocked and throws up. When he is ready to continue on toward the village, Aaron can see that Emmet has a brand new understanding of his mother and wants to be with Rebecca in her time of need.

They stop at the first pub and learn that Rebecca is at the other. Before going in, Emmet tells Aaron that he loves him. Aaron feels overcome with emotion, having waited his whole life for someone to say those words to him. When they go in, they see Ron, Furia, and Rebecca. When Rebecca sees Emmet, they run toward each other and embrace.

On the day of the funeral, everyone gathers at the church, where Ifechi is still the priest. He gives a short eulogy for Vanessa. At the pub afterward, Aaron speaks with Furia while they watch Rebecca and Emmet across the room. Aaron tells Furia that he told Emmet everything about Rebecca’s family.

At the cottage that night, Aaron tells Emmet about his own trauma. Emmet listens and understands the severity of what Aaron tells him. Aaron uses their discussion to ask Emmet about the photos on his phone. Emmet is horrified but admits that they are merely meant to be fitness progress picture. He tells his father that after today, he wants to be closer to Rebecca.

The next day, Rebecca joins Aaron at the beach, and Rebecca thanks him for sharing her family history with Emmet. When Aaron admits that he shared his as well, she tells him she is happy that he is Emmet’s father. She admits that she wants to be closer to Emmet but was trying to protect him from all of her pain. Aaron also apologizes to Rebecca, taking responsibility for their marriage ending. He blamed her for them never having sex, when in reality, it was he who would not touch her. Rebecca tells Aaron that he deserves to be loved and should start over.

That night, Aaron goes swimming. As he floats, he considers how he can heal from his trauma and stop allowing thoughts of Freya to dominate his life. He hears Vanessa’s voice telling him to stay on the island and find himself. Once he heals, he can return to Australia and begin anew. He will ask Rebecca to move back to Sydney with Emmet for a year while he processes his past on the island. He dives beneath the waves and feels connected to the elements.