The SPOILER Thread can be found here.

VOYAGER
PART 1 – Battle, and the Loves of Men
CHAPTER 3 – Frank and Full Disclosure

We’re back in 1968 Scotland, and see that Claire, Brianna, and Roger continue with their research. Roger has written to Linklater inquiring about any information on the Jacobite officer from the Fraser regiment who escaped Culloden. We also learn that Claire could never bring herself to read Frank’s books on the Jacobites. The conversation then turns to Frank, and Roger asks Claire whether she told Frank about her Jamie and her travels to the past.

We flashback to the time immediately after Claire returned through the stones and see that she is now in a hospital in Inverness trying to hold on to any image of Jamie that she can. Frank arrives in a state of disbelief at her sudden reappearance. She begins to tell him of her travels through the stones, her pregnancy, and her marriage to Jamie, most of which he cannot believe. He becomes angry and pushes her to tell him the truth about where she’s actually been, but the doctors insist that he back off.

We also get a glimpse of what her life was like during her early days of motherhood caring for a newborn who constantly reminds her of the loss of Jamie. We see her navigate through sleep deprivation, feedings, diaper changes, and other demands of domestic life, while at the same time being married to a man she doesn’t love who she knows is having relationships with other women. On this particular day she remembers needing to prepare for a dinner with Frank’s colleagues, but struggling to even take care of Brianna’s basic needs (boy, can I relate to this!). Finally, Frank arrives home and is exasperated to see that dinner isn’t ready and Claire is a mess. She is fed up and leaves, and we see later that she has gone to a church to pray for Jamie’s soul. Frank finds her and asks her if Jamie is dead then. At the end of this day we see that Frank and Claire resume their “marital relations” in Brianna’s nursery. (in the nursery? really?)

We’re back to Roger, Claire and Brianna in 1968 Scotland now. Brianna has returned from a trip to the library. Brianna shows Claire and Roger the legend called “ ‘Leap O’ the Cask” and believes the Dunbonnet could have been Jamie.


Questions:

Did you expect Frank’s reaction to Claire’s return and her story about where she had been?

How does it feel to read about Claire’s life with Frank? What was your reaction to the pain and emptiness Claire is experiencing, even while finding joy in Brianna?

I know this has been discussed a lot at this point, but here we go again. Do you think Frank cheated on Claire? It seems Claire has no doubt.

Great summary, Rochelle. And, I completely agree about the nursery. That definitely would not have been my choice of location. In fact, I wouldn't even have pumped in there with a sleeping baby who'd had a fussy day. Maybe I was just overly concerned about waking the baby, but I'm a wimp that way.

I think it's not surprising that Frank didn't believe Claire's story of where she'd been for 3 years. It is pretty hard to believe. And, with the obvious stress and malnutrition, I think it made sense for him to be incredulous. He was quite honorable to refuse to leave her and to accept her baby as his own.

Claire clearly believes that Frank cheated on her, and hearing about that girl crying at the faculty party and her friends giving Frank and Claire dirty looks, it sounds like he at the very least allowed her to believe there was a chance of something, which he really shouldn't have if he didn't want to be accused of cheating. I've always had the feeling that he really did cheat, but I recognize that we never get actual confirmation of that.

Oh, and I forgot to talk about the chapter title. During the re-kilts, I've been paying much more attention to them and I thought this one was cute because it worked in two ways. A frank and full disclosure can mean being completely honest about what happened, which Claire tried to do despite not being believed. But, there's also the possibility of thinking it as the man Frank and full disclosure to him about where she's been. And, there is a lot about Frank in this chapter. I thought it was a well-executed play on words.

And here was Claire trying to give a "frank and full disclosure" and Frank not being frank about anything.
Definitely a great choice for a title.

This chapter was so sad. I really felt Claire's pain and hopelessness. I remember having those bad days when the kids were little and you couldn't get anything done, but to try when you were in such emotional pain would have been beyond belief.

rochelle, great summary!

I wasn't surprised either that Frank didn't believe her - the story is too fantastic to be true. Honestly, I don't know how Claire held it together.

I think Frank cheated too. He did stay around to be a father to Bree which is very admirable. And in his defense, Claire didn't love him and never got over Jamie. There is blame on both sides.

High-five, Rochelle! I like the added humor about the nursery.

I agree with the general opinion regarding Franks disbelief in Claire's story. If I were told a similar story, I'd be looking around for hidden cameras.

It does seem from Claire's narration that Frank cheated, though it hasn't been confirmed as ABL pointed out. I actually really hoped it wasn't true. Remember when Claire was just found and was at the hospital and she told Frank to let her go, but he wouldn't allow it? What if Claire had been just imagining signs of Frank's infidelity because she felt a little bit guilty at keeping Frank at her side (even though she told him to leave her, but still) all the while she couldn't get over Jamie?

Add to that their tryst in the nursery and there's really full disclosure! So many different ways to interpret the title meaning, as you say Audio!
I'm with y'all about Frank and his character. I believe, though, he did have other relations. I don't blame him at all since Claire was never truly his. I think he knew that-phantom Jamie or real Jamie.

Did you expect Frank’s reaction to Claire’s return and her story about where she had been?

Any other reaction would have been abnormal! Can you just imagine?

Claire: Hi Frank. Missed ya, kinda. I fell through some stones, lived 200 years ago, married a strapping Scotsman, loved him desperately, and am now pregnant with his child. I didn't want to come back *at all* but he forced me to, for the baby. So. How ya doin'?

Frank: Oh, Claire! I missed you so much! Don't worry about all that nonsense about another guy and all that hot sex you had - I'm sure we can just forgetaboutit and move forward as if nothing happened. Nice to have you back! I still have your vase that you bought in Inverness. I'll fill it with flowers to welcome you home.


How does it feel to read about Claire’s life with Frank? What was your reaction to the pain and emptiness Claire is experiencing, even while finding joy in Brianna?

It's heartwrenching. Claire is grieving for the loss of her very much beloved spouse. She's gone through the trauma of the year leading up to Culloden. She is forced to pretend some semblance of married life with Frank. She has a newborn baby... who looks *exactly* like her father. That Claire is holding it together at all is amazing.

The early-morning scene with Frank brings Claire face-to-face with the reality of having sex with Frank ... and she's not yet ready. She put it off all through the pregnancy and the early months of Brianna. Now Frank is giving her The Look and she knows she can't fend this off any longer. Frank is basically saying, "Well? Are we married or are we not?" Claire's day is awful. Flash forward to Claire entering the church for perpetual adoration.

At last, as usually happened here, I ceased to think. Whether it was the stoppage of time in the presence of eternity, or only the overtaking of a bone-deep fatigue, I didn't know. But the guilt over Frank eased, the wrenching grief for Jamie lessened, and even the constant tug of motherhood upon my emotions receded to the level of background noise, no louder than the slow beating of my own heart, regular and comforting in the dark peace of the chapel.

"O Lord," I whispered, "I commend to your mercy the soul of your servant, James." And mine, I added silently. And mine.

It is after this prayer -- eerily reminiscent of Claire's time with the blessed Sacrament in the Abbey in Outlander -- that she is able to resume sexual relations with Frank. She needed to let Jamie go in peace, and allow herself the peace of God's forgiveness for what her actions wrought Frank, and make the best decision and take the best actions possible for their future for the three of them: Brianna, Frank, and Claire.

Thistle, I feel sad reading this chapter, too. It's hard enough to be a first time mother; learning the ropes of mothering. Why don't the come with manuals?? And the postpartum hormones--Oi, poor Claire, all alone in a new land, trying to navigate her way through this experience with only Mrs. Hinchclifffe (great name, she even sounds like a bully) and Dr. Spock to guide her. I love that she stands her ground. I wish I was there to tell her about using a blowdryer on Brianna's poor bottom. Add to this stress the overwhelming grief of mourning Jamie. I think she functions quite well under her circumstances.

Yolie, love the hidden cameras comment. Claire, um, maybe should have presented her story a little differently. She could have been a wee bit more sensitive. But I can totally see myself spewing the word vomit just like she does to poor Frank.

I also like your comment about implying that this is Claire's POV, we see so little of their relationship and what we do is biased.

I have such mixed feelings about Frank. He does his best to physically provide for Bree and Claire-- Thank you Frank!!-- but why didn't he fight for Claire? He could have been more proactive in starting their marriage again. Jamie is gone, get her attention again. Share the time, self sacrifice and energy in reestablishing your relationship. Establish sexual intimacy again with her (other ways to have this than just intercourse). Co-parenting is so good, but shouldn't be the foundation for a relationship, it's a perk of a good relationship.

I really liked your comment Laura, about Claire needing to let Jamie go in peace and making her own peace with God.

Thank you Rochelle for your thoughts and a great beginning to this chapter discussion!

I forgot to say I love the beginnings of Bree and Roger's relationship! Every time I read this part I want to get up and clap my hands like a little girl because I think they compliment each other so well. I also really enjoy Brianna's need to participate in the search for Jamie. This to me shows Brianna's maturity. I think her participation is two fold. Not only does she want the seek out a connection to Jamie, but she wants her mother to be happy. Yay Bree!

Two other new things struck me on my re-kilt of this chapter - the first one has been discussed in detail already and that is all the meanings you can tease out of the title of the chapter. Second, when Claire first tells Frank about what happened to her, she says I fell in love with someone else and married him, sorry I could not help it. I did a Willy Wonka impersonation when I read that "Strike that, reverse it". To me, she married Jamie (to whom she was attracted) and then fell in love. Dont know if that would have made it better or worse for Frank right then, but it was interesting to me that Claire phrased it in the conventional way rather than linear.

Thanks for the great summary and commentary everyone!

That's an interesting distinction, Bloom, regarding the nature of Jamie and Claire's relationship and how Claire explains it to Frank.

I wonder if it even occurred to her in that moment to explain her relationship with Jamie any other way. I think the simplest way to explain it to Frank is just to say that she fell in love with and married someone else. Was she really concerned with his feelings in that moment? She's very detached and just wants to be left alone at this point.

I really wish we had more time with Frank and Claire after she returns (as unpleasant as it all is). I was left with so many questions about their relationship, and how she explained Jamie to him.

All I could say is that in this chapter, I felt that Frank pretty much punished Claire for her infidelity as he saw it, even tho he himself was unfaithful before her during the war. At least that was my take on it. I mean, its the way it always had been. Its ok for the man to go relieve his pressures. Thats what men do. But heaven forbid if a woman falls thru stones, goes back in time 200 yrs and is left alone to fend for herself, how dare she do what it takes to live. Frank was pretty much typical male archeotype, self centered, and hypocrytical. Complete opposite of Jamie. He loved or Kept Claire most likely for her looks, and sense of responsibility, not because he truly knew her and loved her for who she really was. Jamie just loved Claire herself. He needed her, she needed him.
daphnerose

I feel the same way too, now, after having experienced Outlander a few times. But the first time around I thought, I hope this book is not the series' "New Moon". I was very grateful the first time it wasn't.

Bloom, I noticed that reversal of events as well. But I'm not sure at that point if it really would have mattered to Frank. His wife has admitted to being in love with another man and is carrying his child. Claire seems to think at this point he's figured out he cannot father his own child.

Maybe Claire is admitting to herself that she was in love with Jamie before they married?