The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
by V. E. Schwab
Contents
Part Four: The Man Who Stayed Dry in the Rain — Chapter XII
Overview
Henry’s new relationship with Vanessa accelerates under the eerie ease of his bargain, making him feel effortlessly “enough” while also revealing how little she truly sees him. Friends warn him he is moving too fast, but Vanessa pushes harder, declaring love within a week and embedding herself in his life. The turning point comes when she burns Tabitha’s boxed keepsakes as “closure,” forcing Henry to confront the deal’s warped intimacy and to push Vanessa away with a hollow promise to call.
Summary
In New York City on September 19, 2013, Henry arrives early to meet Vanessa at a bright, noisy taqueria. Vanessa is already there, dressed casually and smiling, and their easy physical closeness makes Henry feel unexpectedly calm. Under the glow of his bargain, Henry stops second-guessing himself, believing there are “no wrong words” because Vanessa seems to want him as he is.
Over lunch, Henry apologizes for choosing a cheap place, embarrassed by money, but Vanessa brushes it off and flirts with him. When Henry asks what she sees in him, Vanessa describes him with broad, flattering traits like “outgoing” and “ambitious.” Henry notices the familiar “frost” in her eyes and realizes she cannot truly see him; her attraction is part of the deal’s distortion.
A week later at the Merchant with Bea and Robbie, Henry says things with Vanessa are fine, though Bea warns him not to move too fast. Robbie bitterly remarks that Vanessa is a “carbon copy” of Tabitha, which needles Henry, especially given their old tension about Henry’s attraction being person-first rather than gender-first. Henry insists Vanessa chose him and claims he likes her, while privately questioning whether they are both projecting fantasies onto each other.
Henry’s life rapidly fills with Vanessa’s presence: she sleeps over repeatedly, leaves belongings in his apartment, and even makes him breakfast with a loving note. Soon after, Vanessa wakes Henry and tells him she loves him; Henry is alarmed by how quickly she says it and by how sincere she sounds, and he retreats to the shower to avoid responding.
When Henry returns, he smells something burning and finds Vanessa setting fire to a box of Tabitha’s belongings in the sink, calling it “closure.” Henry panics, knocks away the matches, and douses the flames, then tells Vanessa to leave. Vanessa collapses into tears, clinging to him and repeating that she loves him, and Henry, torn between anger and guilt, reassures her he cares and promises to call. He escorts her out, then slumps against the door as the smoke alarm finally begins to ring.
Who Appears
- Henry StraussBookseller bound by a bargain; dates Vanessa, panics at her obsession, forces her to leave.
- VanessaCoffee shop worker dating Henry; declares love quickly and burns Tabitha’s box as “closure.”
- BeaHenry’s friend; checks in about Vanessa and warns Henry not to move too fast.
- RobbieHenry’s friend; criticizes Vanessa as a Tabitha lookalike and needles Henry’s insecurities.
- TabithaHenry’s past love interest; her boxed belongings become the trigger for conflict with Vanessa.