Chapter 14
Contains spoilersOverview
Olivia finishes reading Poppy Taylor’s diary, which hints at a filmed secret, a fight with Danny, and a terrifying final warning that Danny would kill her if she told. She searches unsuccessfully for Poppy’s missing film reels and questions Vincent, who suggests Poppy destroyed them after filming something dangerous. Left to manage Vincent’s dinner and medications when Alma is called away, Olivia and Vincent revisit a childhood "treasure hunt" memory that exposes his neglect and denial.
Summary
Alone with Poppy Taylor’s diary, Olivia studies entries from May and June 1975. Poppy alludes to a secret on film that Vincent did not want her to see, escalating tensions with cryptic shorthand tying diary entries to specific clips. By late May, Poppy noted a fight between Vincent and Danny, suspected someone as the father of Lydia’s baby, and concluded on June 4 that one of the brothers would kill the other. On June 10 she wrote that she felt sick, had lost proof, and feared Danny would kill her if she told.
Driven by these clues, Olivia searches the guesthouse boxes for Poppy’s film reels but finds none. She asks Vincent about the home movies; he claims he never saw them, that police were interested but came up empty, and theorizes Poppy threw the films away after filming something she should not have. Olivia asks about Poppy’s window hiding place, which Vincent says was too small for reels.
Alma arrives with news of a family emergency and instructs Olivia to handle Vincent’s dinner and medications with precise steps. Olivia follows the plan, then sits with Vincent as he brings up an old treasure hunt he believes was a happy memory: clues hidden in Olivia’s favorite book leading to a 3 p.m. pickup.
Olivia recalls the event in detail. As a child she decoded the message and approached a parked Mercedes expecting Vincent. Instead, she found Melinda behind the wheel; Vincent had sent his assistant to take Olivia shopping while he tended to work and his own life. When Olivia confronts Vincent with this truth, he struggles, first denying, then minimizing it as practical.
Alma returns, reporting her nephew’s fractured wrist and confirming Vincent ate and took his meds. As Olivia leaves, Vincent says he is glad she remembers, underscoring his selective recollection and the gulf between his self-mythology and Olivia’s lived experience.
Who Appears
- Olivia Taylor Dumont
narrator and ghostwriter; reads Poppy’s diary, searches for film reels, manages Vincent’s dinner and meds, confronts him about a painful childhood memory.
- Vincent Taylor
Olivia’s father; suggests Poppy may have destroyed her films, recalls a "treasure hunt" but minimizes past neglect, displays confusion and defensiveness.
- Alma
Vincent’s caregiver; temporarily leaves for a family emergency, instructs Olivia on Vincent’s care, returns later.
- Poppy Taylor
Vincent’s sister (deceased); appears through diary entries indicating filmed evidence, conflicts with Danny, and fear for her life.
- Danny Taylor
Vincent’s brother (deceased); discussed as volatile; Poppy’s final entry claims Danny would kill her if she told a secret.
- Lydia
Olivia’s mother; discussed in Poppy’s diary regarding a rumored pregnancy and as the subject of 1975 tensions.
- Margot
Poppy’s friend; mentioned as having theories about Lydia’s baby and as a person who denied having Poppy’s films.
- Melinda
Vincent’s former assistant; recalled as the one who picked up Olivia for a shopping spree instead of Vincent.