Reply To: The Searcher: Do you think Cal should stay?
I agree with you all, Cal has found a sense of purpose and belonging in his new home. Cal doesn’t take responsibility lightly. It’s why he carefully weighs whether or not to take a puppy. That he picks a puppy for Trey and for himself at the end of the novel indicates he has chosen to take responsibility for their care. I also think that having accepted to help Trey find her brother, he shoulders the responsibility of the consequences. Although he asks his daughter what to do, I think fundamentally he knows he was already committed to looking after Trey. He has, in essence, brokered a contract between Mart and Trey and wagered that she will not break it. So I also think, in part, he stays to ensure her safety and keep the peace. But I also think he realizes he wants to stay in Ireland for himself.
