AWLL3 — Book 1 — Suzanne¶

Last updated through AWLL3.1 ch 088.

Book summary¶

AWLL3.1 Suzanne runs January–December 2000 as Y2K gives way to the dot-com crash. Steve Adams parents Jesse (fourteen) through first sex with April, goalie hockey, and Cynthia/Kelly/Francesca triangles while Birgit's sex-coupon prank and NIKA's NASDAQ anxieties keep the Kenwood household volatile. Estonian-American Suzanne Aavik arrives from a Denver flight conversation, joins the Inner Circle, moves in as live-in girlfriend, and displaces María Cristina; Liz graduates law school and becomes in-house counsel. Steve fights EB Systems/Volstead theft suits, travels Saint Martin with Annette, dallies in Buenos Aires, expands Rap Sessions (Leigh, Val, Nicole), and survives Bush v. Gore fury before Mayo Clinic diagnoses bipolar cycling, Doctor Mercer therapy, and surrender of his carry pistol. Prologue (Summer 1999): Elyse/Eduardo's Oswego house tour bridges from AWLL2.

Chapter summaries¶

Prologue — Summer 1999 — Steve tours Elyse and Eduardo's new Oswego house — hardwood, sauna, Metra commute, schools for Matthew and Michael. Elyse teases Steve about Melanie, Chelsea, and his circumspect dating; hints a «deflowering» may be coming. Bridge from AWLL2 epilogue to AWLL3 main timeline.
Chapter 1 — January 10, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Steve disciplines Birgit for printing sex-coupon booklets for Jesse's fourteenth birthday; Kara co-parents the prank fallout. Rachel boasts to Tiffany about losing virginity to Paul. Birgit's journal secrecy and Steve's parenting philosophy frame the new year.
Chapter 2 — January 14, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Steve dines with Liz in her West Loop loft on her final law-school semester; seven years since their first «adulting.» Steve offers her NIKA in-house counsel after Deborah follows Krissy to Cincinnati and Ben van Hoek's firm.
Chapter 3 — February 22, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse POV: fourteenth birthday; Jennifer and Kara celebrate. Steve and Jessica give condom and consent guidance; Jesse plans sex with April (thirty-four). House rhythms and triad parenting on Jesse's coming of age.
Chapter 4 — February 24, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Steve confronts April about sleeping with Jesse — consent granted but age-gap lecture delivered. Jennifer sends Jesse to Steve for sex talks; Kathy and Kara compare notes on teenage stinkers.
Chapter 5 — March 4, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Miyu earns black belt; Steve promotes her from student to friend. Misty negotiates karate lessons via a one-time dalliance after STD clearance. Saturday dōjō tournament betting with Molly continues.
Chapter 6 — March 17, 2000, Apple Orchard Bed-and-Breakfast near Montpelier, Vermont — Birgit POV: reunion with Katy, Davey, and Amy; Bill Elliott closes his team, joins Ray Evernham. Family plans Jesse, Birgit, and Albert summer travel.
Chapter 7 — March 25, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Steve dates Misty at the NIKA apartment; family poker night — Jesse and Birgit reach final table, Pete wins with pocket kings.
Chapter 8 — April 2, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Carol storms Rap Session accusing Jesse of abusing Francesca; Steve mediates. He calls Tara to arrange Jerry Frist lunch on Confluence Group business.
Chapter 9 — April 6, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Steve mentors Rachel (Carla's daughter) with Carla's consent. Kimmy reports «kami» crisis — Stephanie and Steve must visit regional offices face-to-face.
Chapter 10 — April 18, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Stephanie warns Ed Krajick objects to Steve traveling with her; dot-com portfolio stress as Microsoft antitrust ruling looms. Steve reassures Jessica on tech holdings.
Chapter 11 — April 22, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Rap Session debates Elián González and Janet Reno; María Cristina outraged. Steve argues First Amendment absolutism to Eduardo and guests.
Chapter 12 — April 23, 2000, Denver, Colorado — Steve meets Stephanie at DIA; Kara's Stanford research dates set. Summer travel tickets for Albert, Birgit, Matthew, and Chelsea confirmed.
Chapter 13 — April 29, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Allen & Baker managing-partner collapse explained at family breakfast. Steve tells Jamie that Ed's blowup over Stephanie travel is a pretext — find the real issue.
Chapter 14 — May 4, 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Steve and Stephanie tour NIKA «Lone Wolf» offices; Penguins game at The Igloo. Kelly asks about Francesca and her parents' divorce.
Chapter 15 — May 7, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Stephanie reports escalating calls about Steve's lifestyle; David and Patricia play with daughters. Natalie requests meeting Steve's Russian summer visitors.
Chapter 16 — May 27, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Molly karate breakfast bet; Liz sworn in as NIKA's first in-house counsel. Matthew's birthday party; Star Trek transporter joke at Pheasant Run anniversary.
Chapter 17 — June 3, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — NIKA fifteenth-anniversary party at Pheasant Run; sauna triad sex. Sam debunks transporter fantasy; company lore and family celebration interleave.
Chapter 18 — June 5, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Elyse teases Steve about teaching Penny and a high-school girl to program — he insists no ulterior motive. Lunch journalist profiles NIKA's female leadership and Steve's programmer retreat.
Chapter 19 — June 11, 2000, Los Angeles, California — Expert witness testimony in software login case (JKing password); Harmony dalliance. Defense nerd expected to fumble simplistic explanations.
Chapter 20 — June 12, 2000, Los Angeles, California — Cross-examination; Steve reflects on Stephanie/Jason versus his 1987 self. Stephanie disagrees he could have walked Stephie's cancer path alone.
Chapter 21 — June 16, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse POV: fifteenth-birthday party setup; Winter chaperones. Heather slaps Paul for crude blowjob joke — Steve approves the boundary.
Chapter 22 — June 17, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Great Lakes Navy ceremony honors Ray Adams; Steve explains Rap Session «inner circle» to curious fathers. Matthew and Michael attend.
Chapter 23 — June 23, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Suzanne Aavik calls from Chicago — «run away and join the circus»; Steve invites her to the house. He weighs inner-circle admission after their Denver flight talk.
Chapter 24 — June 25, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Suzanne's STI testing and vasectomy talk; first inner-circle sex. Jessica ER shift ends with gay-bashing victim — fourteen-year-old beaten by father.
Chapter 25 — June 28, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Lunch with Mattie (Kara's friend) on teen autonomy; participation-trophy culture debate. Steve mentors without Kara present.
Chapter 26 — July 1, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse's hockey team wins 6–0; Steve takes Suzanne to Val's party. Suzanne requests deliberate «rite of passage» virgin deflowering.
Chapter 27 — July 3, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Post-initiation cuddling triggers Steve's buried memory ghost. Jessica tells Suzanne triad history; Suzanne asks about adding a fourth wife.
Chapter 28 — July 4, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Triad two-day break; Albert's birthday Flight Simulator prank — empty box, real gift upstairs. Fireworks and household choreography.
Chapter 29 — July 7, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse POV: pre-Iron Mountain packing; chooses Cynthia over Kelly for sincerity. Larry and Drew house-sit; Larisa visit planned.
Chapter 30 — July 11, 2000, Iron Mountain, Michigan — Jesse POV: Bethany warns him about power disparity with younger girls. Volstead & Braun heir sues NIKA — Steve prepares press and legal counterattack.
Chapter 31 — July 19, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Terry visits «zabuton»; Penny banter. Gun-in-desk drawer discussion with teens — statistics over fear-mongering.
Chapter 32 — July 22, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Albert POV: walks Jessica to hospital before Jane visit; Deborah departs for Cincinnati. Mentorship intimacy lessons from NIKA years.
Chapter 33 — July 27, 2000, Saint Martin, Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles — María Cristina hosts; Annette arrival teased. Steve explains «transitional period» — no six-girl house repeats.
Chapter 34 — July 29, 2000, Saint Martin, Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles — Midnight beach picnic with Annette and María Cristina; classic love-song dances escalate intimacy.
Chapter 35 — July 31, 2000, Saint Martin, Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles — Annette alone time; Liz passes bar exam — sworn in August 11. Penny needles Steve about post-sixteen celibacy.
Chapter 36 — August 4, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Liz celebration night; anal farewell with María Cristina as she prepares to leave household.
Chapter 37 — August 7, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Last slow lovemaking with María Cristina; Steve counsels Jesse on Cynthia — stay in control, say no when needed.
Chapter 38 — August 13, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jennifer maps Jesse's girls to Steve's teen parallels (Becky, Melanie). Steve won't become teenage-him; Doctor Brown boundaries discussed.
Chapter 39 — August 15, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse POV: Cynthia explores The New Joy of Sex; threesome caution. Suzanne hotel rendezvous before Colorado Springs.
Chapter 40 — August 18, 2000, Colorado Springs, Colorado — Suzanne reunion; erotic dream near-miss. Ice-skating and gentle teen romance pacing.
Chapter 41 — August 19, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Kara delayed at O'Hare; Clark (Aon executive) recognizes Steve's complicated marriages at Taft.
Chapter 42 — August 25, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Last Leigh lunch before senior year; AIM chat with Suzanne about Val and Rap Session recruitment.
Chapter 43 — August 28, 2000, On the road to Cincinnati, Ohio — Liz hears Joyce/Larry backstory en route to EB Systems settlement talks. Confidentiality breach strategy against Volstead descendants.
Chapter 44 — August 30, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Cindi memo on absurd harassment-policy draft; Birgit told Suzanne about coupons — Steve disciplines collaboration after gag order.
Chapter 45 — September 1, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Birgit POV: sunroom cuddles and apology; grounding without losing Dad's warmth. Reads Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire during restriction.
Chapter 46 — September 4, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Labor Day party; Winter requests inner-circle «rite of passage» sex — spiritual not merely physical. Steve agrees it may continue.
Chapter 47 — September 4, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Party introduces Val Lancaster, Belinda Barton, Elizabeth Norton; Jesse makes varsity hockey — backup goalie behind senior Jerry.
Chapter 48 — September 6, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Kitchen Cabinet on Microsoft antitrust settlement; Linux/MySQL server line items approved. Nicole invites Steve to Johnny's Ice House.
Chapter 49 — September 8, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse POV: chooses Cynthia over Kelly; Mattie joins inner-circle friend group (Claire, Becka). Mentor label for outside world.
Chapter 50 — September 10, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Rap Session welcomes Leigh, Val, Nicole, and Commander Aimee Shaughnessy. Suzanne phones Nicole for breakfast without over-committing Steve.
Chapter 51 — September 15, 2000, Denver, Colorado — Suzanne cherry-blossom bath; Cheryl inner-circle initiation scheduled. Friends say Steve is «no fun» — Jorge's death epiphany cited.
Chapter 52 — September 16, 2000, Denver, Colorado — Cheryl deflowering; slavery-and-education debate with Suzanne on human relationships.
Chapter 53 — September 17, 2000, Denver, Colorado — Suzanne insists Steve stop overthinking — «do, not try.» Sunday Rap Session via phone debates affirmative action and gay rights.
Chapter 54 — September 26, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Mandatory sexual-harassment training; Elyse confirms insurer requires it. Jesse/Cynthia/Libby threesome exploration.
Chapter 55 — September 30, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Cynthia's grandma spots morning-after; Libby's parents lecture Pill use. Steve compares to Mary Richards' father call at fourteen.
Chapter 56 — October 7, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse POV: threesome second thoughts before Kelly dance ask. Steve departs for Dallas — reads Cryptonomicon at DFW.
Chapter 57 — October 8, 2000, Dallas, Texas — Flight companion Paola Soto López — Bogotá fashion buyer; Elena Altieri connection. South America business-leisure trip begins.
Chapter 58 — October 12, 2000, Buenos Aires, Argentina — Estrella museum and ice-cream splurge; «caballeroso» Steve teased by kids. Peso-dollar peg and family dollar accounts discussed.
Chapter 59 — October 14, 2000, Buenos Aires, Argentina — Estrella hotel night; AIM promise to stay in touch. Business-class departure — dalliance closes.
Chapter 60 — October 19, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse POV: Brother Rice hockey; shutout debate. Liz talks Steve out of rash insurer self-funding during carb hangover.
Chapter 61 — October 28, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Birgit POV: Halloween «sexy chemistry professor» costume; dance with Dad. Doctor O'Shea sauna flirtation at party.
Chapter 62 — October 28, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Birgit POV: Sophie Halloween dance — Love Me Tender, Strangers In The Night. AIM chat with Suzanne (Petra1982) plans Christmas visit.
Chapter 63 — October 29, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Steve invites Sophie to study chat; pets.com liquidation foreshadows dot-com bust. 2001 staffing plan flat.
Chapter 64 — November 4, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Miyu asks Steve to vet boyfriend Kaito; Samantha pregnant-goofy at Hawks game. Dazé goal in third period.
Chapter 65 — November 5, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Mia adoption joke; Nicole mistress quip. Steve codes; evening Matthew play Arsenic and Old Lace in Oswego.
Chapter 66 — November 11, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Bush v. Gore hand-recount fury; Steve's «Equal Protection» analysis. Sister's car nearly carjacked — CPD chase.
Chapter 67 — November 13, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Stephanie urges secret affair with responding CPD officer Angela; Steve demurs. Jesse wants early pilot license.
Chapter 68 — November 18, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Winter's sisters Summer, Autumn, Brooke dance; Vickie married. Annette Saint Martin video call praises Steve's lover treatment of María Cristina.
Chapter 69 — November 26, 2000, Saint Martin, Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles — Jeannette STI-cleared; Libby Saint Martin visit sex. Steve navigates multi-partner vacation ethics.
Chapter 70 — November 26, 2000, Saint Martin, Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles — Annette Notting Hill afternoon; Albert flies with Aimee Shaughnessy. Steve books Doctor Mercer December 14.
Chapter 71 — November 27, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jessica vents about med students; NIKA budget squeeze as support contracts shrink. Competitor with deep pockets threatens pipeline.
Chapter 72 — December 1, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Elyse MBA layoff playbook rejected; Steve won't go public. Miyu boyfriend interview — win-win manipulation philosophy.
Chapter 73 — December 5, 2000, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — Mary Whittaker exam; dinner with resident Naomi Blom. Steve's manic judgment concerns surface.
Chapter 74 — December 5, 2000, Rochester, Minnesota — Naomi hotel night; Rachel cousin counseling on Carla's dating rules.
Chapter 75 — December 9, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Bush v. Gore Scalia stay rant; Libby orgasm marathon at Star Light Motel. Election and teen sex parallel «subversive acts.»
Chapter 76 — December 12, 2000, Rutherford, Ohio — Star Light Motel R&R; Paul Reynolds expansion plans. Emmy and Liz brother stories over breakfast.
Chapter 77 — December 13, 2000, Greater Cincinnati, Ohio — Ben van Hoek, Jocelyn Mills, Deborah lunch; Donna meeting. Doctor Mercer session scheduled.
Chapter 78 — December 13, 2000, Rutherford, Ohio — Cecily motel afternoon; confession arc toward therapy. Steve reviews South America and Liz/María Cristina endings.
Chapter 79 — December 14, 2000, Greater Cincinnati, Ohio — Doctor Mercer stress-reduction talk; NIKA CEO duties inventory. Parenting teens who talk back defended.
Chapter 80 — December 15, 2000, Rutherford, Ohio — Vickie breakfast; Al Barton urges Mayo inpatient psychiatric monitoring starting Monday.
Chapter 81 — December 15, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Beatles «help from friends» on stereo; missed calls from Mercer, Al, Liz, Bethany. Jesse MVP hockey trophy; Libby rates Steve hot.
Chapter 82 — December 17, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Journal on Mercer/Mayo input; Birgit early Stanford acceptance chat. Samantha/Brian prison visit rules for Noel Spurgeon.
Chapter 83 — December 18, 2000, Pontiac, Illinois — Pontiac Correctional Center visit with Samantha to Noel Spurgeon — audio/video monitored. Father-daughter closure attempt.
Chapter 84 — December 18, 2000, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — Post-visit flight; Doctor Chin intake. Spurgeon recordings and Brian's scumbag verdict nuanced.
Chapter 85 — December 19, 2000, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — Doctor Chin probes abuse history; Sweden exchange and Joyce control narrative.
Chapter 86 — December 21, 2000, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — Steve blasts cookie-cutter psychiatry; Elyse relays «narcissist/martyr» diagnosis. Socrates comparison.
Chapter 87 — December 22, 2000, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — Doctor Clara Brown replaces Chin; Commander Data humor. Jessica/Kara lesbian history lesson for staff.
Chapter 88 — December 23, 2000, Chicago, Illinois — Jesse POV: Christmas Hold 'Em — Steve's Q5 full house busts Matthew; heads-up Princess Bride quote duel. Plato/Aristotle/Socrates drawing gift.