Macy uses this passage to look at some of the specific details of Tess and Patricia’s relationship, showing that they are both far more than statistics, even if their story does follow the same broad patterns as other addiction stories. Patricia’s misgivings about having Tess home for Thanksgiving are particularly heartbreaking because they show how addiction can turn a family celebration into a potential disaster. While sometimes the “geographic” cure can help addicts, for Tess, it doesn’t seem to be enough, since shortly after coming home, she checks into a psych ward again.