Theo of Golden

At the Golden County Government Center, Theo attends a court hearing with Kendrick. The building buzzes with activity as Judge McLender works through criminal cases. After two hours, the case of “State v. Mateo Mendez” (274) is called, and the Guatemalan man who caused the accident that injured Lamisha and killed her mother is brought into the courtroom in shackles and a prison jumpsuit.

Mr. Mendez is represented by an expensive lawyer whom Theo has secretly arranged for him. Prosecutor Derrick Prentiss announces that a plea agreement has been reached; Mr. Mendez will plead guilty to vehicular homicide, with his sentence being the time already served. Though released from jail that day, Mr. Mendez faces uncertain immigration proceedings. His lawyer will attempt to obtain a hardship visa so that Mendez can remain in Georgia to care for his daughter, Maria. Theo has also arranged for Mr. Mendez’s wife and daughter to stay at a nearby hotel, and Lamisha has written a letter to Maria. As Mr. Mendez leaves the defense table, he locks eyes with Kendrick, bows his head, and holds up his hands in prayer.

On November 11 (Armistice Day), Tony celebrates his birthday. Theo invites him to his apartment in Ponder House, where Tony is surprised to meet Mia, a beautiful young woman serving as their waitress. Chef Bouchard from the upscale restaurant, The Canto, has prepared a special Portuguese meal.

After their sumptuous feast, Theo presents Tony with a special gift—a bottle of vintage port wine from 1947, the year of Tony’s birth. Theo explains the history and process of port wine production in Portugal’s Douro Valley, revealing that this specific bottle might contain grapes that he personally harvested from the hillsides of his childhood. The wine inspires Tony to share a story about his Vietnam War friend, Bobbo, who performed a communion ritual with wine in their foxhole shortly before being fatally wounded. Theo and Tony toast “Bobbo and his book” (288), creating a moment of profound connection as they sip the port.

On the morning after Tony’s birthday dinner, he enthusiastically thanks Theo. Their conversation turns personal when Tony asks about Theo’s romantic past. Theo briefly mentions having “one great love” (289) who was not his wife, calling their marriage “a big mistake” (289). When Tony presses for details, Theo deflects by asking about Tony’s love life. Tony admits to many brief relationships but no great love.

Days later, Mr. Ponder receives a letter addressed to Theo. The letter is from Mia, the server from Tony’s birthday dinner. She explains that her real name is Clarise (the same woman whose portrait Theo attempted to bestow months earlier). Her jealous boyfriend, Cleave, had intercepted Theo’s invitation and confronted him at the fountain. After that incident, she left Cleave and now uses her first name, Mia, fearing that Cleave might find her. She apologizes for the trouble and asks Theo to destroy her portrait, saying, “That Clarise is no longer in Golden” (292). Theo grants her request and writes an apology letter, which he leaves with Chef Bouchard.

Asher invites Theo to join his family for Thanksgiving dinner. Theo happily accepts, looking forward to seeing the interior of the Glissen house. He is pleased to spend the holiday with friends in a homey setting. On Thanksgiving Day, Theo walks through the neighborhood and playfully drags his feet through piles of leaves. Approaching the Glissen home, he carries a bottle of wine as a gift for the celebration.

Theo arrives at Glissen House. Inside, he meets Basil and his girlfriend Trina. Simone arrives with a cake, clearly grateful to have somewhere to spend the holiday. Minnette and her husband Derrick are also present. The dining room is elegantly set with family heirlooms and name cards in Asher’s distinctive script.

As everyone gathers for dinner, Pearce (Asher’s brother) arrives late and immediately complains about his Mexican workers. During the meal, Asher announces that his daughter Samantha is expected to get engaged that evening. Pearce rudely questions her boyfriend’s career in agricultural research in Afghanistan. When Theo asks Pearce about his mother, “Gammy,” who grew up in the house, Pearce gives a dismissive answer and then answers a call on his cell phone. He then abruptly leaves for a work emergency, to everyone’s relief. The dinner continues more pleasantly without him, with conversation turning to fond memories of Gammy.

In early December, Theo leaves Golden for New York to attend to business matters. Before departing, he purchases Christmas gifts for his friends in Golden, which Mrs. Gidley delivers on his behalf. Each gift includes a handwritten letter expressing gratitude and encouragement.

Tony receives vintage port from 1968 (the year of his Vietnam service) and a signed first-edition Hemingway book. Simone gets a professional Emil Werner cello bow made of Pernambuco wood from Brazil. Lamisha receives art supplies, books, and blue patent leather shoes. Ellen is given woodworking tools for her featherwood craft, along with a Portuguese cashmere scarf and a sketch of a logo for “Oxbow Featherwood”: a suggestion that she might sell her creations.

On Christmas morning in New York, Theo imagines his friends opening their carefully selected gifts. In Golden, Tony sits alone in the Verbivore bookshop with his single Christmas present, listening to carols on the radio. The thoughtful gifts touch each recipient deeply, particularly Ellen, who is moved by Theo’s belief in her artistic abilities and business potential.

On Christmas Day, Theo writes a letter to Asher from snowy New York City. He thanks Asher for creating Mrs. Gidley’s portrait and for making the bestowals possible. Theo reflects on a homily he heard about how newborns instinctively search for faces when they’re born. In his letter, Theo suggests that humans spend their entire lives looking for faces that welcome and recognize them; he connects this idea to Christmas and to the image of the Christ child looking for his mother’s face. He asks if Asher had a similar experience when first seeing his daughter Samantha, and mentions a friend who believes that the most important thing parents can do is gaze into their baby’s eyes. The letter has no return address.

Theo returns to Golden near the end of January. His first walk down Broadway is filled with warm greetings that feel like a homecoming. The mild weather in Golden contrasts with New York’s snow and cold.

He quickly reconnects with his circle of friends. Shep and Addie are busy at the Chalice, and Asher has added six new portraits to the gallery. Tony continues predicting the Verbivore’s imminent failure, while Simone prepares for his recital with his new bow, and Lamisha has written her first illustrated story. Kendrick still works nights at the college, and Ellen spends more time at the Mission developing her featherwood craft. Theo visits Mr. Ponder to deliver documents for safekeeping and settles back into his routine of walking, reading, and sitting by the river. He purchases a dozen new portraits and begins planning his next round of bestowals.

Theo celebrates the one-year anniversary of his arrival in Golden with a celebratory walk. He stops to thank everyone who has made his year special. At the Chalice, he meets Minnette and reminds her that he still sees strength, bravery, and kindness in her.

Continuing into the Boughery neighborhood, Theo admires the azalea blossoms. He contemplates the fact that these beautiful flowers produce toxic nectar, then considers other things that might be both beautiful and poisonous. He finds Asher in his garden planting native flowers. Asher mentions that spring planting always reminds him of his mother, Gammy, who loved using native plants. Theo thanks Asher for his kindness over the past year. Asher confirms that the portrait bestowals will resume the following week. Theo then walks to the riverside to reflect. He returns home feeling fulfilled.

On April 12, Willa Francesca’s birthday, Theo finds a pale gold feather by the river. He places it in a card for Ellen, with a note mentioning that the feather reminded him of Willa. He adds that “[b]eautiful things sometimes get separated from their rightful place” (329). He wishes Ellen a pleasant day and Willa a happy 31st birthday.

After considering whether the card is appropriate, Theo ultimately decides against sending it. He removes the feather and tears up the card, thinking, “maybe next year” (329). His intentions are kind, but he recognizes that the note might upset Ellen.

Spring returns to Broadway, bringing birdsong, outdoor gatherings, and music to the streets. University students practice in outdoor courtyards, creating a mixture of sounds that Theo imaginatively compares to contemporary compositions. It is recital season at the college, with students performing nightly in the elegant Bettye Hall. Nicknamed “the Bet” by music students, the hall is a small, opulent venue with 250 seats across two levels. 

Simone prepares for his master’s level cello recital, feeling only mild nervousness despite knowing that his friends from Broadway will be attending and that the performance will be filmed for his family in Seattle. Having worked diligently to prepare, he hopes to deliver an excellent performance.