Lucy by the Sea

Lucy Barton, a writer, spends late October of 2019 traveling to promote her new book. She is scheduled to go to Italy and Germany in March, 2020, but in December, for no reason that she can point to, she cancels that part of the book tour. As March approaches, someone points out that she is lucky she canceled because they are having “that virus” in Italy. She doesn’t think it will come to New York, but her ex-husband, William Gerhardt, believes differently.

Early in March, William, a parasitologist, asks their daughters, both of whom live in Brooklyn, to leave the city. Their daughter Chrissy and her husband move into William’s parents’ house in Connecticut, but Becka stays in Brooklyn with her husband, Trey. When William explains what he has done to Lucy, she is confused, not understanding the danger of the impending situation.

To convince her of the urgency, he tells her about a friend who contracted the virus and is on a ventilator, but she still does not understand. The next day, William tells her that the friend has died, and asks her to leave New York with him for a few weeks. She agrees, although she still thinks he is overreacting.

Before she leaves the city, Lucy goes to her appointment with her accountant. He is nervous about the virus, and offers her use of the freight elevator so that she will be alone. She declines, surprised, and leaves to get her hair done. When she gets home, a neighbor tells her that their building’s gym is closed because of the virus. That night, William calls to tell her that he will pick her up the next day, and they are going to Maine.

The next day, William is anxious to leave, and she packs hurriedly, thinking she will be home in just a few weeks. William tells her that Bob Burgess, a friend, has helped him rent a house in Crosby, on the coast of Maine. William has masks and plastic gloves in his car.

William is upset that Becka will not leave the city, but consoles himself with the idea that she will work from home soon. Lucy doesn’t understand what makes him think this. When they arrive in Crosby, they go to Bob Burgess’s house to get the keys, and Lucy meets Bob for the first time. He has stocked the kitchen at their house, and asks if they will quarantine for two weeks. Lucy doesn’t understand why he keeps his distance from the car, not even shaking hands. William tells her it is because they have come from New York.

Lucy is uncertain of her decision to come to Maine with William. She feels a little awkward with him, but consoles herself with the fact that it will only be for a few weeks. It is March in Maine, and Lucy can’t seem to warm up—she is cold, which she hates because it reminds her of her childhood in poverty.

A few days later, William tells her that a writer friend has died from the virus. Lucy knows three people who now have it, and several others who think they do, but doctors will not let them come to their office. Lucy calls Becka, who is irritable and overwhelmed. William and Lucy watch the news every night. Lucy sees how the virus is spreading across the country, but still doesn’t believe it can get worse. When Lucy calls her doctor to get prescriptions filled, she asks how long this will continue. He says maybe a year, and Lucy begins to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

The virus explodes in New York City. Lucy and William watch the news every night. Lucy worries about ambulance drivers, bus drivers, and everyone else who comes in contact with so many people. She talks to Becka, who says there is a refrigerated morgue truck parked outside her apartment. She and her husband are under lockdown, and are both working from home now.

Two weeks after they arrive, Bob Burgess comes to the house. William has gone for a walk. Bob sets up two lawn chairs outside, and he and Lucy talk. They both wear masks. He tells her that his wife, Margaret, would have come, but she doesn’t like New Yorkers. He says how he loved Lucy’s memoir, which surprises her. He thinks it is because he grew up in poverty, as she did. He believes that she was writing about class in America, and Lucy is happy that someone understood her message. After Bob leaves, Lucy feels less alone.  

William is still in touch with his estranged wife, Estelle, and their 10-year-old daughter, Bridget. They left the city, too. He is cordial with Estelle, even though she has a new boyfriend. Lucy feels badly for Bridget, but also resents her sometimes.