57 pages • 1-hour read
The Irish Goodbye
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Prologue-Chapter 7Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child death, death by suicide, antigay bias, and substance use.
Prologue Summary: “August 1990”
At the Port Haven Beach Club on Long Island in August 1990, young Maggie Ryan hears a crash in the sea and sees her brother, Topher Ryan, dive from his boat near the lighthouse. Her sister Alice Ryan shouts from a lifeguard stand for Maggie to fetch their mother, Nora Ryan. Despite wanting to finish her sandcastle competition, Maggie runs home when someone yells to call 911.
Maggie cuts her ankle while scrambling over the jetty but continues to their Victorian home. Nora appears from the garden where she was painting. After inspecting Maggie’s injury, Nora races to the dock with her daughter.
Topher is helping their sister Cait Ryan and his best friend, Luke Larkin, carry someone from the boat. Alice pulls Maggie back as they watch Topher perform CPR on the prone figure. Their father, Robert Ryan, rushes past them. Alice reveals that the victim is Daniel Larkin, Luke’s younger brother. Paramedics load Daniel onto a stretcher while Luke climbs into the ambulance.
Maggie watches as the police interview Topher and photograph his dented boat.
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