The Women: Chapter 31 Summary & Analysis

Frankie and Rye carry on their affair throughout the summer. Frankie spends her unoccupied hours feeling guilty for sleeping with Rye, even though he and Melissa are talking to a divorce lawyer. Rye promises they can stop hiding soon. Frankie avoids Barb and Ethel until Barb calls to say she’s getting married. At the wedding in Chicago, Frankie and Ethel are bridesmaids. Frankie and Rye’s relationship feels “sinful” in comparison to Barb and Jere’s open love for each other. Seeing Frankie crying, Ethel comforts her but tells her to forget Rye, who is a liar and married. Ethel knows Frankie would never participate in an affair. Privately, Frankie knows she is no longer the moral woman she used to be.

During the reception, Frankie decides to end things with Rye. She wants what Barb has: “A wedding, a family, a baby.” Frankie gets drunk and takes a taxi to the airport. Back at home, she smokes and drinks until Rye shows up, carrying flowers. Frankie tells him she can’t be the other woman anymore. With difficulty because of his limp, Rye kneels and asks Frankie to marry him. Frankie agrees, her relief overwhelming—she feels this will make everything right. Two months later, in November, Frankie meets with the director of nursing. Sustained by her and Rye’s wedding plans, Frankie eases her boss’s concerns about her mental state. She is allowed to return to work.

A week after returning to the hospital, Frankie browses wedding rings before her shift. At work, she assists in numerous surgeries before clocking out. There is a crowd of reporters near the hospital’s front desk. One of them mentions “Lieutenant Commander Walsh.” The woman at the desk tells Frankie the press is looking for the wife of a prisoner of war who’s been admitted to the hospital and gives her a room number. On the fourth floor, Frankie finds Melissa’s room, where she is resting with her newborn baby boy. Rye appears and tries to explain, but Frankie shoves him out of the way and runs out of the hospital.

In her car, Frankie takes two Valium. Rye bangs on her window, apologizing. She ignores him and drives off, feeling humiliated for falling for Rye’s lies a second time. Realizing Melissa has been pregnant their entire relationship, Frankie hates Rye and herself. She drives to a bar and downs a few drinks, feeling she deserves this crushing disappointment. A man tries to talk to Frankie, and she leaves, driving too fast and drunkenly crying. Driving across the bridge, Frankie turns her wheel slightly toward the water. A bicyclist appears suddenly. She swerves to miss him but it’s too late.