Much to my regret, only
part of my post was transmitted. I don't know what the problem was and could not immediately correct it because the family was here. Here's what wa there origially.
d
JoanP,re your reply # 387. Yes, I believe that Betty loved her husband. Early on she realized that it would be a marriage without passion, that the children she wanted would be compensation enough. Yes, there wa love.
PatH, yes, Betty's childhood was every bit as arduous and disturbing as Edward's. An only child, she was raised in an internment camp where both of her parents died. Her mother's wish for her was to make a proper marriage. And so she did.
There can be no doubt that being married to O.F. was not easy. The man was a workaholic, and often left her alone because of his cases, expecting her to wait for him patiently and make sure the household was running smoothly. She did, without complaint, and never failed him. He acknowledged it himself.
Yes,
JoanP, I agree. Albert Ross/Loss plays am important role in Betty's and Edward's lives. The book's title points to him.
Yet at the end of the second book there are lingering questions about this man. In the second book the the reader learns
no more about the provenance and the nebulous parentage of this man, or what drives Lott. From the very first pages of the second book we see Loss's extreme possessiveness (and attempted manipulation
) of Edward, who has waited until the last possible moment I(Ha) to inform Loss of his plans.
Small wonder tht Loss is not bowled over but skeptical and unable to do anything about it.
Given this dependency, how did a separation come about ?
How exactly did they part ? At the end of his life, Edward does not know whre Lott is and thinks he wasw a victim of the Twin Towers attack.
UIn truth and as we see at the very nd, Loss is very much a presence at Edward's funeral, having outlived Edward. He oon takes his leave, but differently this time : he leaves his legendary hat behind and does not attend the wake.
The hat is passed around. The son of Edward's new neighbors wo live in Veneering's house holds it, spots the zipper, is urged to open it.
Inside he finds a pouch with THE cards and an old watch. Edward's, one assumes.
Was that Koss's final goodbye ? Why surrendering the legendary cards and Edward's watch
now ? What had Edward's watch meant to Loss and why did Loss keep it for all thowe years ? Only JG knows.
So what did Loss have on Betty ? Answer : the tree house. Loss owned it. He rented it it out by the hour or the night, profiting handsomely from the weaknesses of his fellow humans. Apparently his habit was to go there and inspect the place for order or God knows what.
After the two-day silnce, Feathers called Betty and told her she would be picked up by his associate Loss and taken to a festivity. A Mercedes was waiting for Betty at the appointed time, a chauffeur and Loss inside. The door did not open immdiately; Loss needed to take a look at her first.
They set off, out came the cards. Th drove through increasingly impoverished, dilapidated neighborhoods. ,
Were are we going?, asked Betty. Through the forests and to the tree house with the ladder outside. Loss climbed down from his seat, out of the car and, with difficulty, up the ladder, disappearing inside the abode. Back down, he was helped into the car. Then he hrew Bettys green evening bag at her and said
"You forgot your passport." I recall the chapter ending with these words. There really is no need for any other comment.
This was the weapon he held over betty's head for years. Loss also knew ablout edward's two nights with Isobel an threatened her, too.
A thoroughly contemptible man, in my estimatin.
Also at the end of the second book, and unfortunately so is more information on Edward, Betty and Veneering. What is revealed can, in my opinion, instantly dispel the speculations advanced here before. Before I proceed to do that, JoanP, I'd like your OK to do o, Thank y ou.
