The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness, death, child death, substance use, emotional abuse, child abuse, mental illness, and addiction.

At work, Denise is angry about her husband, who she fears may be having an affair. She also cannot determine why Bernard’s personality is so different and his dementia seemingly improved. She rushes off to bathe a resident named Ruby. While Ruby dresses afterward, Denise takes a drink from a bottle of liquor she finds among Ruby’s possessions.

In the past, Hannah eagerly waits for her father to return home so that she can give him a birdhouse she has made for him. However, he brushes her aside when he returns. Hannah persists, but he tears the birdhouse from her hands and breaks it.

Late that night, Hannah hears a crash: Her father has broken Sadie’s favorite cup.

Denise is at the computer when Kevin enters and noticing a splinter in her hand, removes it. Denise tells him she is fine and privately wishes it were true.