The Art of Racing in the Rain

While Zoe and Enzo play with her Barbie doll, Zoe mimics brain surgery on the doll’s head and repeats: “Everything’s going to be okay” (236). She expresses a suspicion that, after the inevitable death of her mother, she will end up living with her grandparents. Enzo grows keen to the fact that Maxwell and Trish are exerting an influence on Zoe, and laying the groundwork for some as-of-yet unknown objective. 

Zoe is old enough to begin kindergarten. She is slowly developing her mother’s attitude and sense of independence. Denny remarks that she’s growing fast. 

Maxwell and Trish manage to convince Denny that they will take care of Eve for the remainder of her illness. They stand unified in their front against him. A hospital bed and paid nurse are established in the house. The Twins later insist on housing Zoe to keep her close to her mother. Denny leaves the decision up to Zoe. She is smart enough to recognize that the Twins want to keep her there, but also trusts that Denny won’t abandon her. The gravity and complexity of this decision challenges Enzo’s comprehension of humanity.

Eve dismisses Denny back to their house. She doesn’t want him to see her as diminished and sickly. That evening, Eve’s nurse banishes Enzo to the garage, where he spends a sleepless night replaying movies in his head. Eve sneaks out to fetch him back into the house. She asks him to protect her for that one night, and stand vigil by her bedside to ward off death. 

Over time, Denny visits Maxwell and Trish’s house less frequently. He reports back to Enzo that Eve’s condition is improving, which Enzo suspects is a lie. The Twins want to transfer Zoe to a better school. Denny firmly objects.

Dropping Zoe off at the school bus one day, Denny tries to associate with other fathers. Eve’s condition makes it nearly impossible to relate, and he’s ostracized from his peers. 

Denny and Zoe spend Presidents’ Day with some of Eve’s extended family and friends at a cabin in northern Washington. Enzo has his suspicions as to the timing of this gathering.

Enzo notices how a young girl, Annika, is clearly attracted to Denny. He pictures Denny as a hero with his flaws, and this unintended magnetism over women is one of them.

Denny is eager to get back home ahead of an oncoming storm. Annika eagerly joins him for the extended trip. During the bumpy ride, Zoe comforts Enzo in the back seat. When they arrive home, Annika opts to sleep over.

While Denny is exhausted and barely conscious, Annika emerges from the shower and begins to take advantage of him. Sensing the intentions behind this, Enzo barks to put a stop to it. In their heated discussion, Denny reveals that Annika is only fifteen. She becomes inconsolable as she expresses her love. 

As matters cool down, Annika calls her father to pick her up. She makes the call from Denny’s bedroom, which carries an implied threat. Denny also wasn’t privy to the details of the call. This foreshadows the coming complications with Annika.