Nothing to See Here

Bessie and Roland spend most of the next three days slathered in sunscreen and playing in the pool while Lillian lounges in the shade. They even eat their “meals”—soggy bologna sandwiches—in the water. Neither Jasper, Madison, Carl, nor any of the other staff visit. Lillian feels as though they are in their own world but knows that the children will eventually need to integrate into society. She drafts a list of strategies that she hopes will move them in that direction. It includes fire-resistant clothing, damp towels, hoses and sprays, medication, meditation, therapy, and living in the pool full-time. She is interrupted by Bessie, who catches sight of Timothy looking out one of the mansion windows using tiny opera glasses and makes obscene gestures towards him. Lillian reminds Bessie to be kind to her brother, but Bessie corrects her with “half-brother” (75). The children try to entice Lillian into a game of hide-and-seek or a trip for ice cream, but she refuses, knowing the risks of taking them out in public. She is as disappointed as they are and feels like she is failing them.

Carl appears without warning and insists on seeing Lillian’s notes. He too has been brainstorming, and they talk together about their options. Carl nixes any plans for therapy because the senator is “uneasy with the concept” (86), but he is on board with acquiring Nomex suits like those firefighters or racing drivers use. Lillian likes Carl’s suggestion of buying flame retardant gel used by stunt performers. They also quietly discuss medication, but neither likes that idea. Bessie and Roland sneak up unnoticed, hear the talk of pills, and ardently object. Before leaving, Carl invites them to dinner with the family in four days, provided there are no “incidents.”

Lillian sends the children back into the pool and, despite their pleas to join them, lays on the lounge, eventually falling asleep. She wakes a while later to an empty pool and no sign of the children. Panicking, she searches the guesthouse and goes to the mansion to ask Mary, who doesn’t know where they are either. Lillian sets off for the woods, looking for smoke. As she searches, the enormity of the responsibility with which she has been entrusted finally dawns on her. She fears being sent home and the end of her relationship with Madison.

Lillian finds the twins 20 minutes later standing by a road at the end of the woods. Bessie tells Lillian she felt it “[…] would be easier” for everyone if they were gone (83), but Lillian counters that she would be devastated if they left. This surprises and comforts Roland. They never got further than the road because they have nowhere to go. Lillian assures them they have her, only then realizing she has not considered Bessie and Roland’s fates should she fail them. Remembering her own experience leaving Iron Mountain, Lillian vows to treat them better than she was. Bessie asks Lillian to take them back to the house and read to them.

Lillian wakes the following morning with Roland’s fingers in her mouth and Bessie’s feet on her stomach. She wakes them and begins their first yoga-esque session. Lillian knows little about the practice but wants them to work on their breathing. Despite some initial awkwardness, all three manage to relax with their eyes closed, and both children say they feel calm. Math lessons from a fourth-grade workbook follow breakfast. Neither child learned enough from their mother to make sense of the equations, and when pressed Bessie has a meltdown. Her body heats up as she talks about her fears that people will think they are stupid, and when the deep breathing fails, flames appear on her arms and legs. Lillian sends Roland for a wet towel, and she wraps it around Bessie and soothes her with promises to teach her. The towel eventually ignites, and Lillian extinguishes it, but Bessie herself never catches fire. A few seconds later Roland, who ran off, returns in wet clothes from standing in the shower.

Bessie tells Lillian that her mother died of an overdose and planned for her and Roland to do the same; however, they never took the pills. They lay in bed feeling her heartbeat while she died, and then they ran outside and caught on fire. The enormous blaze—their largest—attracted attention and assistance. Bessie wishes they had taken the pills, but Lillian confides that her life would be empty without the children.

Madison sends Carl over to invite Lillian to the house. Lillian sneaks out when Bessie and Roland are asleep, leaving an unenthusiastic Carl to babysit. Dressed well, Lillian joins Madison for beers and snacks on the patio. They talk about Madison’s fear of the children, and Lillian lies that there have been no more fires. Madison also hopes Lillian is speaking highly of her, which Lillian confirms with another lie. Madison hands Lillian another beer and tells her that she plans to bribe the children into liking her.