That’s what Hyacinth thought. It only took one small push for her life to fall completely apart. With the accidental falling of that first little tile, her world, in a neat little pattern, fell to the ground completely surrounding her, suffocating her, ripping apart her very soul. Belva Plain outdid herself this time. Her riveting novel AFTER THE FIRE keeps you glued to your seat with page-by-page action and suspense.
It all begins when Hyacinth overhears her parents (Jim and Francine) talking about boyfriend, Gerald. While Jim is willing to give the young man a chance, Francine is quick to verbalize her distrust. However, being a head-strong, stubborn girl, Hy has her way and convinces Gerald they should marry before he begins his residency in Texas, where he will study to become a plastic surgeon. For the most part, their marriage is a tumultuous one. Hy never seems to be satisfied, but it is not so much with Gerald as herself. He has a unique way of making her feel insecure which always leads to a barrage of questions fired at Gerald: ’’What’s wrong?’’ ’’I know something’s wrong, why won’t you tell me?’’ ’’Is it something I had said or done?’’ ’’Are you dissatisfied with me?’’ - and so on - and so on. Is this enough to drive Gerald into the arms of another woman? Or has he already been there? Is he really the kind of man who has so little regard for his wife that he must find pleasure elsewhere? Or is this all in Hyacinth’s mind? It didn’t help that she becomes pregnant before Gerald finishes his residency. However, she was not about to let her own thought ruin what was supposed to be her dream marriage. She tries desperately to smother her own suspicions. Thinking that when Gerald is offered a position with a prominent surgeon near the small town where she grew up, things would get better and Hyacinth would finally settle down to the life of which she always dreamed. For a short while, she thinks they had. For a while, although her insecurities still persist, her life seems to be taking a turn for the better. Gerald finally establishes himself as a successful doctor, they find a beautiful house to call their own and she has just had their second child, a daughter. Yes, things are looking up. Or so she thinks.
One afternoon, while Gerald is at the hospital, Hy needs to speak with him. Calling only to find that he hadn’t been there all day causes her mind to race. Then she knew. Things hadn’t changed at all. Had they? He hadn’t changed at all. Had he? Maybe there was another explanation. She was numb with her own thoughts. She must . . . She must find out. Must find the truth before she really goes insane! Or is she that far already? Gerald suggests she’s halfway there and now she’s beginning to wonder that herself. Is she really unstable? Has she always been? She must find the truth. As she paces the floor, smoking cigarette after cigarette, she ponders what to do and where to turn (she certainly can’t confide in Francine - her mother who so distrusts and dislikes Gerald). She calls her friend who confirms Gerald’s indiscretion, mentioning the woman with whom he’s been seen. But this woman works in his office. He wouldn’t dare! Not with his secretary! Not with everyone else seeing! Not with everyone knowing! Her friend MUST be mistaken! She must find out. Must find the truth!
As soon as Gerald arrives home, she confronts him with her suspicions. He denies everything but being in the company of his secretary, stating he was ’’only giving her a ride home’’. With her suspicions in high gear and her insecurity flowing like a flash flood, the barrage of questions begin once more. This gives Gerald the opportunity to walk out - something Hyacinth feels he has wanted to do for a long time. Lying alone in bed, her mind goes wild. She must know the truth. Has she accused him without fully knowing the facts? Was all this really a mistake? Tonight, she will find out. Her search takes her to Gerald’s office where she rifles through the desk of his secretary. Finding a stack of love notes to the woman from Gerald, Hy goes berserk. She paces the office hallway, smoking and thinking - thinking and smoking. In a fit of rage, she stomps into Gerald’s office and with one violent sweep of her arm, sends the contents which sit on his desk, flying to the floor. She does the same to the desk in the hallway - the desk which belongs to his secretary. With a tear-streaked face, she runs toward the door, finally stumbling, out of breath, on the grass outside. OKAY, I’LL BREAK HERE FOR A MOMENT ............ I’M NOT GOING TO GIVE THIS PART AWAY.
You’ll have to read the book the find out what happens here. What I will say is this: Her actions give Gerald the ammunition he needs to divorce Hy and take her children away from her. Knowing the consequences of a court battle, she concedes. She is beaten. Defeated. Francine is completely lost. What would make her daughter give up her own children? What kind of hold does this man have over the daughter. What can she do to help? But then, unless Hy opens up and discusses the divorce, Francine is helpless. Can Hyacinth ever get on with her life? Can she ever be happy? Can she ever regain the custody of her children? The years are slipping away fast. If she is going to do anything, she must do it and do it now. But is it already too late. Have the dominoes completely flattened? Or is there one more chip that has yet to fall?
This book has got to be one of the greatest I’ve read in a long, long time. In fact, the (expletive censored) book was so great, I read all 439 pages in two days! I just couldn’t put it down. I don’t think you could either.