Study Guide

The Interestings Chapter 16

By Meg Wolitzer

Chapter 16

The following year, Robert is giving a talk to a benefit for people with AIDS; he's been able to stay healthy much longer than expected.
Tonight he is getting an award for political activism in the legal profession.
We realize after an exchange between Jonah and Robert that their relationship hasn't really gotten any closer over the many years they've spent together.
Robert gets his courage up and tells Jonah he's leaving him.
Jonah is broken up but Robert wants someone who will love him completely and not at a distance like Jonah does.
They part ways and Jonah ends up at Ash and Ethan's home.
They aren't there, but their nanny lets Jonah in anyway and he calls Ash to tell her about Robert.
Ash tells him to spend the night at their house and have breakfast with their kids in the morning.
When Larkin and Mo greet Jonah in the morning, though, he's not sure how to relate to them.
Larkin breezily tells him they're all having waffles.
Jonah finds Mo on the floor playing with Legos and is reminded of why he went to MIT in the first place; he recognizes how super talented Mo is.
They all have breakfast and Jonah is cared for like one of the kids.
Larkin asks Jonah if he's okay and he tells them he feels sad; he winds up telling the kids that Robert left him.
Larkin instructs Mo to respond the right way when someone says they're sad.
Mo remembers what to say and awkwardly tells Jonah he's sorry.