The Expatriates

It is June, and many expats are traveling home for good or for vacation. Hilary has attended many farewell parties and reflects on the strangeness of these relationships. She decides to adopt Julian and shows him a map of California, telling him that they will travel there together.

She takes Julian to the American Club. When he is in the bathroom, some boys laugh at him. He seems downcast, and at dinner, he goes to the buffet and deliberately jostles one of the boys, causing him to drop his cake. The boy’s mother comes over to complain, but Hilary defends Julian, lying and saying that she must be mistaken. After the woman leaves, she and Julian sit in happy, companionable silence.

Mercy’s mom has begun to work for a friend’s catering business. She tries to get Mercy to help with a job, seeing that Mercy is upset. Mercy finally told Charlie about her pregnancy after he positively commented on her weight gain. He broke up with her immediately, and a devastated Mercy told her mother about the pregnancy. Instead of chiding her, her mom told her she was happy to be having a grandchild.

Mercy emails David about her prenatal care, and he sends her money, telling her to ask for more if she needs it.