A Good Neighborhood

Ellen, the homeowner association president, comes to Valerie’s backyard and listens to Valerie’s concerns about her oak tree. Some of the branches are producing fewer leaves, and Valerie knows that it is a sign the tree is dying. Ellen questions Valerie’s assessment, and Valerie defends herself by citing her PhD and years of experience in the field. Valerie has a strong emotional connection to the tree, which she compares to the relationship people have with pets. She also appreciates the history. There is a story that a girl who had been previously enslaved was hired and then raped and impregnated by her employer. Her father took her away along with a band of other previously enslaved individuals to go to Kentucky. The girl could not make the entire journey, and she died giving birth to her son near the oak tree. Her son died a few weeks later, and both were buried under the tree.

If the tree continues to decline, Valerie plans to file a lawsuit. She wants to stand up for the environment, and she warns that, if left unchecked, all the trees in Oak Knoll will meet the same fate. Ellen thinks Valerie should talk to the Whitmans to fix the problem while maintaining a pleasant social atmosphere.

The tree’s health continues to decline, so Valerie hires Wilson Everly, a white, conservative lawyer. She chooses Everly because he looks like a stereotypical conservative Christian, which she thinks will help her win the case. Valerie explains the situation and notes that Brad suggested that he intentionally skirted the legal system to get his building permits. Everly feels good about the case, and he suggests that they sue for $500,000—a far higher amount than Valerie had considered. He says that the amount needs to be high to stop wealthy people from repeating such offenses in the future.

During dessert one evening, Juniper asks for a car so she can drive to work. She has been offered a position at the grocery store. Brad is upset because he thought Juniper would come work for him. They reach a compromise, and Juniper says that she will accept the job stocking at the grocery store and will also work three days a week at his company. She agrees, and Brad agrees to buy her a car. Julia and Brad discuss the situation by the pool later that night. Brad had not told Julia that he planned for Juniper to work for him. She worried that the dispatcher position would not be a good fit for Juniper. Brad wants to take Juniper under his wing and possibly pass the company down to her when the time comes for him to retire. Julia is also uncomfortable with Brad buying Juniper a car. He says they will put a tracker in the car so they can keep tabs on Juniper.

Julia and Brad argue about Juniper. Julia thinks that Juniper will develop her own interests, and she does not foresee Juniper adhering to her purity pledge. Brad is angry at Julia’s change in attitude toward Juniper. He thinks Julia is inconsistent in her intentions for Juniper. Brad thinks that virginity is Juniper’s superpower, and Julia, who was raped, feels like that superpower was taken from her. Brad argues that, if Juniper were to stay with his company, she would be closer to Julia. Julia sees his point. She also believes that getting married and being a full-time mother is better than being a working mother. Julia admits that she is inconsistent and that it is because she wants Juniper to be happy.

Brad takes Juniper car shopping, and she feels awkward, but when they start joking, she relaxes a little. Their easy conversation reminds her of when she was younger. They discuss school, and Juniper avoids telling Brad she had been bullied by Meghan. She wants to graduate early, and Brad tells her to go for it, as well as go for whatever she finds she wants in life. Juniper feels like this is conflicting advice compared to what she was taught, which is to be submissive and obedient. She questions her family’s faith, and she realizes that Brad is not as conservative or traditional as he seems. Brad does not want Juniper attending college, and he asks her to work for him for a year to see if she likes the company. Juniper agrees but has no intention of staying with Whitman HVAC.

They arrive at the lot, and Brad tells Juniper that she can’t pick a car with over 30,000 miles, she can’t have a big truck or a small car, and she can’t exceed a $40,000 price. She is shocked by how much he is willing to spend. Excited, she tries a few vehicles before selecting a $30,000 Land Rover. He buys the car and tells her “don’t make me sorry” (103), which makes Juniper nervous.