What Alice Forgot

Alice discovers that she is part of a residents’ committee lobbying the council to allow the building of five-story apartment buildings. She is shocked to read her own words in favor of the construction; she agrees instead with Mrs. Bergen (her neighbor who features in the same article) who argues that it will ruin the character of the street. Alice makes brownies and goes to Mrs. Bergen’s house to apologize and tell her that she has changed her position.

Alice comes to watch one of Elisabeth’s seminars, and Elisabeth is surprised and grateful. Elisabeth reflects on the changes in Alice since her injury; Alice wears less makeup and seems more carefree. Elisabeth explains her decision not to let Alice in on the ‘truth.’ She would prefer to “pretend it's not happening and wait for the inevitable” (356).

Frannie believes she saw a spark between Alice and Nick while they were dancing but still thinks that their reconciliation is unlikely. She is grateful that Xavier spends a long time talking to Madison. Xavier asks Frannie out to dinner at the local Chinese restaurant.

Alice constantly has confusing flashes of recollection. She still hasn’t discussed Elisabeth’s next round of IVF with her. Alice considers how tiring life is as a separated mother of three.

Elisabeth reflects on the most recent embryo transfer, which took place one week ago. She considers how she and Ben used to be hopeful and excited, whereas now they are jaded and believe success is unlikely.

Alice is at the school to assist in the library when she is approached by Dominick, who says that Nick has been called as well, and that there has been a problem.

Ben calls Elisabeth, asking why she didn’t tell him; she hangs up on him.

Dominick explains that Madison bullied a girl named Chloe and that this isn’t the first time this has happened. Nick arrives. Dominick explains that Madison cut a classmate’s hair off, threatened to stab her, and pushed her face into a cake. Following the incident, Madison is suspended. Alice suggests that Nick, Alice, and Madison go for a drive somewhere to talk and work out what the problem is. Both Nick and Madison are shocked by the suggestion.

Ben continues to ask Elisabeth to turn off the television, but she refuses. He turns it off, and she begins screaming, so he turns it on again.

Alice, Nick, and Madison go to the beach. On the way, Alice observes Nick taking calls, negotiating and organizing with his colleagues. He says that he loves work. Nick goes to buy ice cream as Alice and Madison sit on a blanket on the beach. Madison reveals Chloe’s comments that caused Madison’s angry retaliation; Chloe told Madison that Alice and Mr. Gordon (Dominick) probably “did sex in his office. Like, a hundred times” (275). Chloe also told Madison that she is the ugliest girl in school. Madison insists that Chloe made up the part about Madison threatening to stab her, and Alice believes her. Alice discusses Madison’s need to manage her anger. Madison reminds Alice and Nick (who returns with ice cream) about their tendency to yell aggressively at each other.

Alice, Nick, and Madison are thrilled when they spot a whale and its calf out at sea. The mother whale jumps spectacularly.

Elisabeth journals that Ben is threatening to call Dr. Hodges to tell him about Elisabeth’s erratic behavior.

Frannie writes to Phil that something extraordinary happened to her.

Alice and Nick discuss the problems that led to their divorce. Nick explains that Alice made him feel like an idiot at home; Alice treated him with irritation and contempt. Nick says Alice she felt abandoned because of his demanding work schedule. Mike and Gina’s divorce became a contentious issue; Alice and Gina felt like Nick should no longer be friends with Mike after his infidelity. Nick suspected Alice envied Gina’s lifestyle as a single woman. Nick explains the circumstances of Gina’s death: a tree crushed Gina in her car as Alice and Madison drove behind her.

Alice finds George and Mildred, the stone lions which used to sit at the front of their home. She scrubs them clean and replaces them.

Ben calls Alice, explaining that Elisabeth has been sitting in bed watching television for 48 hours. Alice assumed that the IVF cycle failed. Ben explains that it in fact did not fail; she’s pregnant.

Elisabeth hears Ben calling Alice. She feels hateful toward everyone and everything, particularly toward herself for hoping that the pregnancy will last when she feels that a miscarriage is inevitable.

Alice arrives at Elisabeth and Ben’s place and gets into bed with Elisabeth. She gives Elisabeth the fertility doll that Dino gave her. Elisabeth explains that she feels so angry that she and Ben have given so much of their life to trying to get pregnant and that she’s so scared that she’ll lose the baby. Stress is bad for the baby, so she knows she shouldn’t worry, but she finds it impossible not to. Elisabeth eventually turns off the television and begins to cry.

Frannie tells Phil that Xavier kissed her in the back of a cab, and she kissed him back.

Alice reflects on her and Nick’s life as parents. She umpired Olivia’s netball game that day; she knew how to do it though she didn’t remember learning how to umpire. She watches as Nick referees Tom’s soccer game and thinks about everything that has happened in the 10 years she doesn’t remember. Later, Dominick comes to visit Alice, bringing flowers, chocolates, and a bottle of liqueur. Tomorrow (Sunday) is Mega Meringue Mother’s Day, the day for which Alice has been preparing.

On Sunday, Dominick arrives with flowers, biscuits, and a bottle of liqueur. Nick arrives with a bottle of wine and a spread of cheese and biscuits. Dominick gives Alice encouragement before he leaves, and Nick and Alice sit down to discuss their relationship. Alice sits on Nick’s lap, and they kiss. Olivia appears and asks, happily, “do you love Mummy again?” (398).

Frannie describes Xavier’s insistence on meeting and congratulating the chefs at the Chinese restaurant where they ate dinner. She admits that the kiss they shared in the cab was “heavenly” (299) but wonders if Phil would mind. 

Alice is overwhelmed at Mega Meringue Mother’s Day as people pull her in different directions. They fire questions at her about new crews, ingredients, and procedures. Industrial equipment, including a forklift, a concrete mixer, a cane, and a specially created pie dish and oven have been brought in. A large table is set up with 100 mixing bowls and ingredients.

Barb and Roger arrive. Frannie and Xavier, as well as Elisabeth and Ben, are also visible in the stands. Barb tells Alice how happy she is that Frannie has finally found love after “holding a candle for her silly dead fiancé” for “all these years” (405). Alice is surprised to learn about Phil and Frannie’s habit of writing to him.

Nora begins MC-ing the event on Alice’s behalf. She says that Alice’s head injury is preventing her from speaking herself and describes Alice’s determination to pull off the event. Nora says that the day is dedicated to Gina.