An American Marriage: Part 3, Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Roy reminisces about collecting keys as a kid, which he thought about every day in prison. He drives into Atlanta and notes that there are no skyscrapers, only sky-reachers. He knows Celestial’s store is in the neighborhood he recommended she base it in. He drives there and looks at her store window from across the street for a while, reflecting that Celestial has worked hard and done well for herself. He sees Tamar and mistakes her for Celestial before realizing his error. He notes that Celestial has cut all of her hair off, and watches her help customers until he gets too cold and goes to take a nap in his car.

Roy returns to watch Celestial through the window as she helps the male customer. He thinks he feels her eyes on him eventually and tries to communicate to her to come outside, but Celestial looks away. Roy feels the keys in his pocket, one of which he hopes will let him into their home. When Mr. Davenport deeded the house to Celestial, he stipulated only that Old Hickey couldn’t be cut down. Though the house was only in Celestial’s name, she insisted it was a wedding gift to both of them.