Movie star Vaughan Donovan enters, talks briefly to Nina, and starts drinking. Nina goes back upstairs to Casey and tells her that Mick is at the party, a little jealous that Casey might be able to have a relationship with him. When Casey asks what their father is like, Nina describes Mick as a monster that she doesn’t know very well. She suggests that if Casey is looking for a family, there might be better options, to which Casey says, “That’s not exactly how family works, is it?” (Part 2, Chapter 8, Page 299).

Mick finds Jay and Hud fighting. He recognizes Jay and Hud, but doesn’t recognize Kit. As he pulls the boys apart, Ashley flees to the bathroom. Mick explains that he got an invitation to the party and asks why Jay and Hud are fighting. When Kit tells him he has no right to ask personal questions, he asks her who she is, and she shoots back that she is his daughter. Mick smiles and Kit sees “the magnetism her father wielded. Even when he failed, he won, didn’t he?” (303). She tells him that she sent the invitation. Mick wants to be a part of their lives—he’s missed them.