The Wife Upstairs

This part covers Chapter 36.

Jane’s theory resonates with Bea. She can sense that Jane is not believing her story of how Blanche died. She remembers her conversation with Blanche at her mother’s funeral. Bea sensed Blanche was suspicious and admitted to pushing her mother down the stairs. She felt no remorse.

Bea and Blanche met for dinner a couple of months before Blanche’s death. Blanche questioned Bea about whether Eddie was aware of her true origins. The two women argued. After Eddie confronted her two days later over her mother’s death, Bea invited Blanche to the lake as a “peace offering. Another olive branch” (435).

Bea now divulges (to the reader) that most of the journal entries are fake and chronicles her plan to kill Blanche and cover it up. She invited Tripp to serve as “a fall guy” (437). After slipping a Xanax in Tripp’s drink, Bea dragged his body to the bedroom with Blanche. Bea guided Blanche back to the boat, where she struck her with a hammer and pushed her into the water. Eddie’s arrival at the lake house spoiled her plans.

Jane begins to call the police, ostensibly to turn Eddie in. Bea attacks her, but then a fire alarm goes off and she rushes upstairs. Eddie has started a fire in the panic room as a ploy to have Bea return to help him escape. Jane follows her up to the panic room.

This part covers Chapters 37-38.

Jane is in the hospital for smoke inhalation. The fire destroyed Bea and Eddie’s house. Jane feels a sense of relief that her instincts were correct and that she now knows the truth. Those instincts guided her to run down the stairs after Bea opened the door to the panic room. This action saved her life. Jane believes Bea and Eddie died in the fire.

Detective Laurent visits Jane in the hospital. Jane feigns ignorance as Detective Laurent informs Jane that Eddie died in the fire and that they believe Eddie was involved in the murder of Blanche and the disappearance of Bea. Tripp has been exonerated of any involvement. The detective believes that Eddie burned down the house in fear of being discovered. Jane begins to worry that Bea is still alive because the detective does not mention discovering a second body in the fire—only Eddie’s teeth, which confirmed his death.

Jane moves in with her neighbor Emily and soon returns to walking Emily’s dog. She receives a phone call from Eddie’s lawyer. He asks Jane to come to his office, where he informs her that Eddie changed his will after their engagement: She inherits all of Bea’s wealth and company shares and is the new owner of Southern Manors. Jane is overwhelmed with emotion.

Jane purchases a cabin of her own in North Carolina. She sometimes thinks she sees figures that resemble Bea and Eddie. Jane imagines them happy together in Hawaii where they first met.