AWLL2 — Book 3 — Jessica¶

Last updated through AWLL2.3 ch 70.

Book summary¶

AWLL2.3 Jessica spans November 1988–December 1989, one year after the triad wedding. Jessica announces pregnancy on Thanksgiving, plans abortion, and disappears — Steve collapses while the Carla Rizzi paternity suit still looms. Friends intervene: Riverside pleas fail, Iron Mountain kidnaps Jessica, Lewiston, Maine treats her breakdown, and Steve survives through Kimmy, Hope, Jacquelyn, Becky, Jeri Lundgren (LA), and Abbie Nolan (Albany) before driving east to reclaim her. February reconciliation brings full confessions — affairs, Stephanie incest history, Rachel DNA cleared — plus Dr. Green therapy and Jessica's UofC reinstatement. Albert Stephen Adams arrives July 5, 1989; Penny/Tasha marry; Michael, Amber, Abbie, Katy, and Trish crowd Hyde Park amid Tiananmen, Solidarity, and the Berlin Wall. Stephanie explodes over Jorge and moves out. December closes with Rosebud anniversary and holiday party calm — then Nick Evans shot.

Chapter summaries¶

Prologue — May 30, 2002, Chicago, Illinois — Early-morning Birgit (daughter) presses Steve to tell the full story of the first Birgit and Karin; Tiffany's sauna incident with friends recalls how their family rules differ from mainstream America.
Chapter 1 — November 24, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Jessica drops Thanksgiving bombshell — pregnant, planning abortion — and flees; Steve faints on the sidewalk; Kara, Elyse, and Al Barton treat vasovagal syncope; Jessica has been gone five weeks since the paternity-suit crisis.
Chapter 2 — November 25, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Depressed Steve accepts Kimmy's lunch invitation; Hope (Jolene's daughter) seduces him at the dōjō afterschool class; sex with Hope while Jolene is out.
Chapter 3 — November 25, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Hope confronts Jolene about Steve; evening date with Jacquelyn ends in first intercourse at her parents' house after the movie.
Chapter 4 — November 25, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Steve barely escapes Jacqui's returning parents; Elyse catches him sneaking home; Dave and Julia order a break and send him to Cincinnati via Joyce.
Chapter 5 — November 29, 1988, Cincinnati, Ohio — Ben and Joyce host Steve; chess with Becky — she reveals her abortion and suicide past; Steve confesses Jessica's pregnancy plan and Carla/Rachel suit; Becky asks him home.
Chapter 6 — November 30, 1988, Cincinnati, Ohio — Steve and Becky make love; he returns Chicago conflicted; Kimmy affair continues as emotional anchor.
Chapter 7 — December 2, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — IIT presentation; Kimmy Saturdays affirmed; Steve analyzes why Kimmy soothes him; Jolene wants love he cannot give.
Chapter 8 — December 4–6, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Jolene's new job and dōjō soul-baring; Al Barton maps Steve's syncope history including Becky's abortion; Kara and Steve fail to reach Jessica at Carissa's in Riverside.
Chapter 9 — December 6, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Penny boundary project; Elyse warns Steve off teen partners; Houston, we've had a problem quip; triad trust talk.
Chapter 10 — December 7–11, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Marcello/Outfit errand for Little Tony; Elyse intervention on Hope and Jacqui; Steve ends Hope; Jacquelyn practice sex; accidentally calls Kimmy "Babe."
Chapter 11 — December 13–14, 1988, Milwaukee, Wisconsin / Chicago, Illinois — Milwaukee work trip; DNA-not-father message left for Jessica; Jacquelyn jealousy and ongoing lessons; UP vacation with Kara planned.
Chapter 12 — December 18–19, 1988, Iron Mountain, Michigan — Jennifer, Kathy, and Alicia kidnap Jessica from Riverside; sedation and ultrasound confirm healthy eight-week fetus; Lewiston, Maine facility arranged.
Chapter 13 — December 20–21, 1988, Chicago, Illinois / Lewiston, Maine — Doctors house-call; Jessica flown to Maine; intervention backstory; Steve exhausted; Jessica enters treatment.
Chapter 14 — December 24, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Christmas without Jessica; finances tight on her loans and treatment; Jacquelyn anal lesson; family holds together.
Chapter 15 — December 27, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Jacquelyn and Kara girl-talk planned; Steve's teen-partner pattern; holiday household routines.
Chapter 16 — December 29, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — Kimmy Saturday arrangement confirmed with Kara; Steve realizes Kimmy mirrors Elyse's caretaker role; Bethany/Nick Milwaukee visit.
Chapter 17 — December 31, 1988, Chicago, Illinois — New Year's party; Sofia reads «Nyårsklockan»; phone call with Jessica at Maine facility; Iron Mountain visit recap.
Chapter 18 — January 2, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Group sees Dangerous Liaisons; NIKA sale and Novell consulting growth; Dave winds down Mac focus.
Chapter 19 — January 9, 1989, Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Chris Gibson work day; mood improved; Nick and Bethany visit; Jessica's long rehab road ahead.
Chapter 20 — January 17, 1989, Chicago, Illinois / Los Angeles, California — Steve and Jeri Lundgren fly to LA for FJF software demo; hotel-room boundaries tested.
Chapter 21 — January 18, 1989, Los Angeles, California — Demo success; Penny's jealousy radar was right — Jeri's hidden attraction surfaces.
Chapter 22 — January 19, 1989, Los Angeles, California — Jeri's first intercourse with Steve after shower confrontation; five orgasms in two days.
Chapter 23 — January 19–21, 1989, En route / Chicago, Illinois — Return flight hand-holding; Joey/Rain Man date for Jeri; political dinner; Steve home to Elyse.
Chapter 24 — January 21, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Lundgren Family Foundation wealth revealed; Jeri backstory; seminar idea for teen girls; Jennifer confessional talk.
Chapter 25 — January 22, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — April (young friend) affair; wives encourage suitable partners; Jennifer baby-making history recounted.
Chapter 26 — January 23–29, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Confession culture at breakfast; world-events dinners; Jolene seminar planning; Jesse kissing boundaries.
Chapter 27 — January 29, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Katy Taylor flees husband Kenneth and moves in; Gwen Meyer on repeat paternity test; household expands.
Chapter 28 — January 31, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Al Barton on Jessica's February 10 Maine release; residency reinstatement path; Steve worries about relapse.
Chapter 29 — February 2, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Father Basil marathon confession from paternity suit through Thanksgiving; Temple-of-Steve dream; Elyse at the center.
Chapter 30 — February 4, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Kimmy afternoon — Casual Sex? and relationship talk; Jorge identifies Jessica's core trust wound.
Chapter 31 — February 9, 1989, Albany, New York — En route to Jessica; Abbie Nolan goth B&B guest; Siouxsie and the Banshees; intense night together.
Chapter 32 — February 10, 1989, To and from Lewiston, Maine — Drive to Maine facility; picks up Jessica; she commits to reconciliation and keeping the baby.
Chapter 33 — February 10, 1989, Syracuse, New York — En route confession marathon to Jessica — affairs, Jeri, Iron Mountain kidnapping, Kimmy Saturdays; Syracuse overnight.
Chapter 34 — February 11–17, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Homecoming; Stephanie incest history disclosed in full; wives embrace Jessica; psych eval and reinstatement plan set.
Chapter 35 — February 19–March 3, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Saint Innocent church; Gwen confirms paternity case over; RFLP exonerates Steve; normalcy returns.
Chapter 36 — March 3–5, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Carla Rizzi insists Rachel is Steve's despite DNA; Bethany theory of blocked memory; household lifestyle talk.
Chapter 37 — March 6–11, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Sensei Steve afterschool program launch; sauna philosophy; Hope kept at distance per promise.
Chapter 38 — March 12, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Blackhawks game at Chicago Stadium; Abbie summer stay approved; Kimmy Saturdays continue.
Chapter 39 — March 22, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Malarchuk injury on ESPN; Steve overwhelmed; Lauren/Katy relationship counsel.
Chapter 40 — March 30, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Detectives seek karate-uniform assailant — Stephanie beat three attackers; Dr. Green marriage counseling; Alicia's damage report.
Chapter 41 — April 1, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Kimmy visit; Penny leaving NIKA; Abbie summer confirmed; household change list.
Chapter 42 — April 3–5, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Jorge burst-appendix surgery; Antonia González vs. Stephanie hospital standoff; Pittsburgh expansion; Indian room for Jorge.
Chapter 43 — April 11–12, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Jorge discharged; Stephanie still frozen toward his family; Jessica's healthy prenatal check.
Chapter 44 — April 15–16, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Bethany on Steve's forgiveness limits — Josh Benton, Kent; Carla urged to counseling; Rachel mystery persists.
Chapter 45 — April 21, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Jessica REINSTATED; Holy Week and Pascha; Jesse helps prepare basket; September residency return.
Chapter 46 — May 2–7, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Pittsburgh office opens; Microsoft SQL conversion pipeline; Alyson Nelson counselor contact; Keating Five news.
Chapter 47 — May 17, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Dr. Green session — trust, Elyse marriage offers, triad dynamics; Nick/Bethany baby names.
Chapter 48 — May 30, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Tiananmen and Argentina riots; house party; attic-room propriety rules; Alejandra stays for summer.
Chapter 49 — June 4, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Abbie arrives Midway; Tiananmen crackdown and Solidarity election; friendship over sex affirmed.
Chapter 50 — June 5, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Abbie explores Chicago; Katy bond; Trish (goth persona) and Henry at dinner; Jorge/Stephanie/Steve's dad outing.
Chapter 51 — June 10, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Karate belt tests; pre-wedding prep; goth party; Becka evangelical tension; Trish dance.
Chapter 52 — June 11–14, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Trish overnight affair; Steve rebukes Becka's Pharisee preaching at party; lifestyle choices defended.
Chapter 53 — June 17, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Penny/Tasha wedding — Gang of Four; Michael Stephen born to Elyse at 1:17am; DJ set with Chicago and Cure songs.
Chapter 54 — June 19–26, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Post-wedding quiet; Jesse babysitting flirtation; Gang of Four returns from honeymoon; household rhythm.
Chapter 55 — July 4, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Independence party; Becka as Len's unwelcome date; Katy/Lauren threesome attempt falters.
Chapter 56 — July 5–7, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Albert Stephen Adams born 6:27pm; final non-paternity order; Jessica discharged; Kara plans October conception.
Chapter 57 — July 8–17, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Abbie marathon sex weekend; record-store goth CDs; Kimmy date; triad negotiates boundaries.
Chapter 58 — July 17, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Amber Michelle Penfield born to Penny/Tasha; Microsoft SQL server purchase; Ford beta call.
Chapter 59 — July 22, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Indian-room talk — invite Abbie back permanently; Trish dual-persona explained; safe circles.
Chapter 60 — August 4, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Motorola cell phones; Stephanie mistakes Trish for Jorge's mistress; Squirt moves out; marriage proposal backstory.
Chapter 61 — August 11, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Jorge heartbreak; Jennifer/Josie support; Stephanie/Len/Becka triangle; Steve takes Squirt to dinner.
Chapter 62 — August 12–20, 1989, Chicago, Illinois / Brooklyn, Michigan — Goth dinner with Matthew in makeup; MIS race trip; CWA strike talk; grandparents visit.
Chapter 63 — August 21–September 1, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Mazowiecki Poland headline; Chris Gibson hire; Outfit disk password cracked; Jessica ER welcome-back.
Chapter 64 — September 3, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Sensei Jim returns 6th Dan; Kimmy desk fantasy fulfilled at office; fantasy arc closure.
Chapter 65 — September 8, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Promotions and staff growth; wives sent Abbie to San Francisco surprise; calm since Thanksgiving noted.
Chapter 66 — September 18, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — New hires and 386 PCs; Bon Voyage sendoff for travelers; household trust humor.
Chapter 67 — September 26–October 7, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Kara conception campaign; Alex Saunders lunch; holiday party date set December 13.
Chapter 68 — October 9–13, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — East Germany demonstrations; Halloween party; Look Away and What Kind of Man Would I Be dances; Becka asks Steve.
Chapter 69 — October 29–November 24, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Best party yet; Berlin Wall falls November 9; Back to the Future Part II; Thanksgiving-eve ER shift — one year after the collapse.
Chapter 70 — December 1–18, 1989, Chicago, Illinois — Triad anniversary at Rosebud; Bush/Gorbachev Malta; Rap Session year-end; NIKA holiday party; Chris Gibson interview; book ends — Karl Schumacher: Nick Evans shot, may not survive.