The Usual Rules Chapter 26 Summary

  • When Wendy goes back to the bookstore, Alan tells her he's been doing research on child abuse and has the name of someone that she can talk to.
  • Wendy assures him that it's not for her—her parents don't abuse her at all. She's doing this for a friend. Then she lets go of the facade and tells him her real name and real story.
  • When she finishes, Alan asks her if she'd like to go see his son. The boy's name is Tim and he likes to go to the laundromat.
  • Tim doesn't talk a lot to Wendy when they pick him up, but he does like to sort and do the laundry when they get to the laundromat.
  • After they drop Tim off at the group home, Wendy tells Alan that Tim reminds her a bit of Louie; she misses her brother so much.
  • On the drive home, Alan explains how they didn't figure out something was wrong with Tim until his fourth birthday, and that's when they realized he wasn't like other kids.
  • Later on, Wendy gets home and finds that Garrett's been at Carolyn's house. Carolyn needed him for moral support because she got a call from her son—the one that she gave up for adoption.
  • Apparently he's all grown up now and has a girlfriend. His girlfriend's the person who tracked Carolyn down in the first place. Carolyn's son is named Nate and he's twenty-five years old.
  • Carolyn plans to write him a letter and ask if he'll come and visit her. She's both excited and super nervous to meet him.