Hang the Moon

Sallie has been managing everything on her own since Rawley left. While she sometimes misses him, she would rather be alone. She reflects on the new addition to her family, Nell’s baby, Jake, and the liveliness in the Big House with Grace growing up. They are a family put together from different pieces.

Reading the Richmond Daily Record, Sallie learns about the murder of Georgette Rheims, killed by her husband in a jealous rage. Gus and Georgette were bribing a senator for permits to sell “medicinal liquor.” However, Georgette switched sides to save herself, assisting a federal agent in gathering evidence against Gus while engaging in a secret affair, leading to Gus killing her by the pool he had built for her. Sallie is intrigued by the story and reflects on the idea that some people believe Georgette got what she deserved, similar to how some saw her own mother’s death.

Sallie arrives at the courtroom to observe Gus Rheims’s trial. Gus, who is representing himself, delivers an emotional defense, talking about the breakdown of his marriage and his suffering. After a brief deliberation, the jury returns with a verdict of “not guilty on the grounds of temporary insanity” (287). Sallie is disgusted but not surprised.