Remarkably Bright Creatures Every Last Thing—Expensive Road Kill Summary & Analysis

Summary

Every Last Thing

Tova sits alone on the pier, deciding not to move to Charter Village after all. She vaguely wonders what she will do, as her house has already been sold, but more so dwells on the thought that Erik would have been a good father had he lived to raise Cameron himself. She is interrupted from her thoughts as a woman runs up to her. The woman introduces herself to Tova as Avery, and says she saw lights on in the aquarium and thought Cameron was working. Tova tells her that he has gone back to California, and that he thought Avery had been ghosting him. Avery is angry until Tova tells her that Cameron stopped by her shop to let her know about his meeting with Brinks, and Avery realizes that Marco withheld Cameron’s message from her. Avery sits on the bench. She tells Tova that she once stopped a woman from committing suicide on this pier, and Tova privately guesses that that woman was Daphne Cassmore. She tells Avery that she is glad Avery saved the woman.

Expensive Road Kill

Cameron is bursting with pride after successfully fixing the van, but realizes with a jolt that he left his phone on the bumper many miles back. He hasn’t slept in over a day, and decides to pull off the highway to take a nap. When he is back on the road he begins thinking of how to apologize, and it is revealed that he has turned around and is driving North, back to Sowell Bay.

The Dala Horse

During her last day in her house, Tova makes coffee and reflects on her decision not to go to Charter Village. As she is wondering what to do, Cameron appears in her doorway. He apologizes for being rude at the aquarium, and asks her when Terry usually starts work, planning to apologize to him as well. Tova tells him there is no need, as she took the note Cameron had left so that Terry wouldn’t know Cameron had tried to quit. Tova invites Cameron in and shows him the class ring, telling him that the initials on it are Erik’s. The news sinks in, and Cameron realizes that he really is Tova’s grandson. The two hug, and afterward Tova shows him Erik’s childhood bedroom. Cameron looks around in awe before discovering a faulty floorboard, beneath which they find a once-broken Dala Horse that Tova had been missing from her collection. Tova realizes that Erik must have taken it and fixed it for her, before telling Cameron that Marcellus had been the one to find and give her the class ring.

Day 1 of My Freedom

Marcellus sinks into the sea, grateful to be home at last. He recounts how he visited the new octopus before leaving, and says that he trusts Tova to take care of it. He says that he would trust Tova with his life, and that humans can be remarkably bright creatures.

After All

Tova and Cameron are playing Scrabble in her new condo, a month after she has moved out of her house. Cameron has landed a new job at a construction company, quitting the aquarium after training his replacement hire. While they play, Cameron tells Tova that Elizabeth and Brad are planning on coming to visit with their new baby in the spring.

Tova hosts Thanksgiving dinner for Ethan and Cameron. Ethan has been spending a lot of time in her condo, and she is happy to have him around. After dinner the three of them go for a walk by the water. They pass the aquarium, which is now home to a statue of a giant Pacific octopus, courtesy of Tova’s large donation. Though she no longer works at the aquarium, she volunteers there in her free time. She returns to her old house once since moving to pick up Cat, who, according to the new owner, will not leave the yard. As Tova, Ethan, and Cameron finish their walk, Tova whispers to the sea that she misses her son and Marcellus. Then they turn back towards the condo, to get back in time to greet Avery for pie.

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