Chapter Fifty-Six
Contains spoilersOverview
Ted, Louisa, Joar, and Christian's mother gather on Joar's roof, where Louisa meets Christian's mother and they speak openly about grief. Christian's mother offers to handle selling the painting discreetly and continues the story of the friends' museum break-in. She recounts receiving Kimkim's late-night call, rushing to the museum, recognizing the painting's brilliance, and defending Kimkim's art. The group leaves with Christian's mother carrying the painting as if it were alive.
Summary
Ted arrives by car at Joar's house and anxiously looks up at the roof where Louisa and Joar are sitting. After a teasing exchange, the elderly driver—revealed to be Christian's mother—decides to join them on the roof despite Ted's unspoken doubts about her age. She sits with Louisa and gently acknowledges that Louisa has been given the painting Kimkim left her.
Christian's mother and Louisa talk about loss. Louisa asks whether one ever gets over a child's death; Christian's mother replies that one does not, but as a parent one must keep living for other children, explaining how she reframed glimpses of her dead son as comforting "peekaboo" moments. Ted clumsily joins them on the roof, nearly falling, and Joar catches him. As night falls, Louisa softly echoes "Peekaboo" into the darkness.
Christian's mother offers to arrange the sale of the painting and asks Louisa to choose between a private sale and auction; Louisa firmly refuses public attention. When Ted suggests going to the kitchen, Joar insists on finishing the story of the museum break-in but yields to Christian's mother for the part that involves her.
Christian's mother describes being awakened by a late-night call from a frightened Kimkim, who says he got her number from Christian. Realizing he is the boy Christian once told her about, she rushes by taxi to the museum and collides with a security guard who questions her stability, souring the initial tone. The guard asks her to identify whether the painting was by one of the children.
Upon seeing Kimkim's painting, Christian's mother is overwhelmed and confirms it belongs to the kids. When Kimkim apologetically suggests the work does not belong in the museum, she passionately argues the opposite: that the painting surpasses the surrounding art and that formal training is not required for true art—only friends. She breaks down upon seeing the skulls drawn by Kimkim next to his name.
The guard asks her to drive the kids home, noting that the shortest boy appears to have been driving. A comic exchange follows: Joar bristles, claims to be fifteen, and spars verbally with the guard, while Ali smooths things over. As they prepare to leave, Christian's mother asks to carry the painting, and the boys allow her to do so reverently.
Who Appears
- Ted
friend from the original group; arrives with Christian's mother, climbs to the roof, nearly falls; supports Louisa and defers to Christian's mother on the story and sale.
- Louisa
recipient of Kimkim's painting; meets Christian's mother on the roof, discusses grief, requests a discreet sale with no media attention.
- Joar
friend from the original group; on the roof with Louisa, teases Ted, recounts the museum break-in but yields to Christian's mother; asserts he is fifteen in the flashback.
- Christian's mother
new; Christian’s and Christian’s sister’s mother, an art history teacher; climbs to the roof, consoles Louisa, offers to arrange a private sale; narrates responding to Kimkim’s call, recognizing the painting’s brilliance, and carrying it.
- Kimkim (the artist)
deceased friend; appears in recollection as the caller who summoned Christian’s mother to the museum; his painting is central to the events.
- Ali
friend from the original group; in the flashback at the museum, defuses tension with the guard.
- Museum security guard
new; confronted the kids during the break-in, asked for adult verification, then allowed them to leave.