Before We Were Yours: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Avery walks into the empty cottage on Edisto Island and is overwhelmed by a sense of nostalgia. She’s on the phone with her uncle, talking to him about how often Judy brought him and Wells to the cottage when they were kids. Avery’s uncle tells her that Judy usually went to Edisto by herself—it was her favorite place to write an anonymous society column, which surprises Avery. Avery’s uncle suddenly asks why Avery is asking so many questions, so she tells him she just regrets not asking Judy more questions before she was diagnosed with dementia. Avery hangs up the phone and thinks about the conversation. She decides Trent Turner might not be holding blackmail, but she is still suspicious that there’s a dark secret.

Avery tosses around theories about what the papers Trent Turner has for Judy might be while she gets ready to take a shower. Just as she’s getting ready to get in the shower, however, she remembers what her uncle said about Judy’s writings and decides to search the cottage for them. Avery remembers that there’s an old typewriter in one of the rooms and that whatever Judy last typed on it will be imprinted on the ribbon. Avery pulls the ribbon out and sees the last lines of a letter to Trent, meaning Trent senior. Judy expresses her frustration with not knowing more about the records from the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, which immediately sets off alarm bells in Avery’s mind. Avery connects this to the picture in May’s room of a pregnant woman and wonders if the woman is a relative who gave up her baby to the TCHS.

Avery realizes that the papers the younger Trent has probably shed more light on Judy’s interest in the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. Even though it’s midnight, Avery grabs her phone and calls Trent. When he answers, he’s groggy and Avery immediately launches into questions about the TCHS and asks why Judy was interested in it. Trent is a little irritated, but Avery begs him for answers. He tells her that he can’t tell her—not just because of the promise to his grandfather, but because he himself hasn’t read the papers. Avery pleads with him to tell her what the papers must be about. Trent goes silent for a moment before telling her to come over before he changes his mind. Avery tells him she’ll be right there (Trent only lives four houses down) and darts out the door.

As Avery is walking to Trent’s, Elliot calls to tell her about a conversation he had with Bitsy—she’s anxious to have grandchildren and Elliot jokingly says Allison should let Bitsy babysit the triplets to “cure her” of her baby fever. Even though Avery knows he’s joking, his words sting because she loves her nephews and she realizes that Elliot might never want kids. Elliot changes the subject to Avery’s weekend at the beach. She jokes that Leslie will hunt her down if she doesn’t go home soon and Elliot reminds Avery that she is home to be seen in public and Leslie’s just trying to help. Avery wants to tell Elliot she returned home to talk care of her dad but knows he won’t understand because he’s such an “achievement-oriented person.” They say goodbye and Avery enjoys the scenery as she continues her walk to Trent’s cottage.

Avery walks up to the back porch of Trent’s cottage and he opens the door before she can knock. Avery apologizes for calling him so late and asks again how their grandparents are connected. Trent tells her that his grandfather might have been doing a job for Judy. Avery asks him what that means, and Trent says his grandfather was a “finder” of people.