Forever, Interrupted: A Novel

Elsie arranges a leave of absence from work with Lyle, then goes out for breakfast with Ana and reveals her plan to spend a few weeks in Newport Beach with Susan. Ana offers to watch her house and mail while she’s gone.

After Elsie arrives at Susan’s, Susan gives her a tour of the house and helps her get settled in the guest room. She doesn’t want her staying in Ben’s room because she thinks it’ll make it harder for Elsie. She then tells Elsie her plans for the evenings: they’ll get massages, order food, and watch movies together. She also reminds Elsie that while she’s staying with her, she can cry whenever she wants.

Ben asks Elsie to marry him on their way home from the doctor. Elsie doesn’t take him seriously because he’s on painkillers.

Elsie spends the next days enjoying herself with Susan. She hangs out by the pool, reads, plays cards, and takes walks. She’s able to eat again and starts regaining some weight. Susan is giving Elsie “her own little version of Widow Rehab” (262). Elsie cries when she needs to and listens to Susan’s advice.

One night, Susan invites her to accompany her to dinner with her friend, Rebecca. She admits that she wants to make Rebecca jealous of her relationship with Elsie. Elsie loves this plan and agrees to join.

Ana visits Elsie and Susan in Newport Beach. Elsie and Ana’s dynamic is formal at first, which makes Elsie miss their old connection.

Ben’s back continues to bother him, and he’s forced to take time off work. Elsie takes some time off to help him recover, too. Meanwhile, she keeps thinking about Ben’s impromptu marriage proposal, wondering if he was serious. She wants to start a life and family with him and waits for him to ask the question again. He finally broaches the topic when he’s feeling better one day. Elsie accepts, and they decide to get married that day. Thrilled, Elsie realizes she’ll finally have a family again.

Elsie and Ana rekindle their friendship during Ana’s visit. Ana and Susan get along, too. One day, the friends all talk about Ana and Kevin’s relationship. Elsie notices how Susan reacts when Ana says Kevin wants her to meet his family.

Before Ana leaves, she gives Elsie her mail. She finds a letter from George in the stack. In it, he writes about Lorraine’s illness and hospitalization. He regrets telling Elsie to get over Ben because he now realizes he might not survive without Lorraine. Elsie writes back an encouraging letter, assuring George that they both can live again.

Elsie and Ben discuss their marriage plans. Ben wants a real wedding, but Elsie wants something small and private. Finally, they decide to drive to Las Vegas and elope.

Susan tells Elsie that she closed Ben’s bank account and wants Elsie to take the money. She then asks Elsie about the marriage certificate and gets frustrated when Elsie admits that she hasn’t called the county. Susan wants proof that the marriage is real because she’s still upset that Ben didn’t love her enough to tell her about it. Elsie tries to comfort her, but Susan is still upset.

On the way to Vegas, Ben and Elsie stop for fast food. In the parking lot, Ben starts to question what they’re doing. He tells Elsie he’s afraid of getting married without telling his mom. Elsie gets upset and accuses Ben of backing out of their plan. They continue to fight until Ben gives in. They say they love each other and continue their drive to Vegas.

Elsie tells Susan it was her fault that Ben didn’t tell her about the wedding. She relays the story from Vegas, admitting that she was afraid Susan wouldn’t like her and that she’d convince Ben not to go through with the marriage. Upset, Susan dismisses herself from Elsie’s room.

Susan apologizes to Elsie in the morning and thanks her for telling her the truth. She admits that she is still grieving Ben’s death. Elsie suggests that they try talking to Ben to make Susan feel better.

Elsie and Ben arrive in Nevada. Elsie feels like their life is just beginning.

Elsie and Susan try talking to Ben that evening at Susan’s house. Neither of them feels better, so they decide to go to the cemetery instead. Before leaving, Elsie packs up her things, realizing it’s time for her to go home. They take two cars and drive to Ben’s grave. At the cemetery, both women say what they want to say to Ben. Afterward, they say goodbye, make plans to have dinner the following weekend, and agree to contact each other if they need anything.

Elsie drives back to Los Angeles, and her home feels like her own when she returns. In the mail, she finds the check from Ben’s account. Six months ago, she didn’t know that she'd be married, widowed, and “fourteen thousand dollars richer” (304).

Elsie and Ben report to a chapel in Vegas. They’re surprised that they have to go to the Marriage License Bureau beforehand. Ben struggles to remember his social security number when they fill out the paperwork.

An agent from the county recorder’s office in Nevada calls Elsie about her marriage certificate. The paperwork has been delayed because Ben put the wrong social security number on his form. Elsie tells her Ben is dead but that she wants to file the certificate anyway.

Elsie and Ben get married. After they say their vows, the officiant says he has a good feeling about their future together.

Elsie cashes Ben’s check and uses it to buy the entire young adult section at the local bookstore. She then donates the books to her library, telling Lyle she wants to call the new section the Ben Ross Young Adult Section. Her one stipulation is that when the books get musty, they have to donate and rebuy them.

Elsie returns to work. She feels excited about her job again. One day, she calls Susan to tell her about the YA section. Susan offers to donate more money and suggests they call it The Ross Family Young Adult Section to commemorate Ben, her late husband, Elsie, and herself. That evening, Elsie visits George, having learned that Lorraine died. She takes him out for a beer, grateful she can help someone.

Elsie and Ben wake up in the hotel room the morning after their wedding. She urges Ben to get out of bed, but he assures her there is no rush.