Slick is in the hospital and deteriorating rapidly. The doctors assume she has an autoimmune disease, and her husband is worried people “are going to think she has AIDS” (326). Most of the original book club comes to the hospital to visit Slick. This is the first time in a while that they have gathered without men present. This doesn’t last, as James Harris appears in the doorway, offering his best wishes to Slick. Patricia sees the opportunity to plant Francine’s driver’s license, so she asks James for a ride home.

Driving, James blames Slick’s condition on Leland, stating that Slick probably has an STD Leland picked up from one of his many business trips affairs. Patricia asks James if Carter has also been unfaithful on those trips, and James confirms her suspicions. Before she gets out of the car, she inconspicuously drops Francine’s driver’s license under a car seat.

That night, Patricia awakens to a noise coming from Korey’s room. To her horror, she finds James and Korey in bed naked. James is latched onto Korey’s inner thigh the same way he had been to Destiny Taylor.