The children lie about the events leading up to Cal’s death, which remains ambiguous to multiple characters in the novel but has lifelong effects.

Albie is unconscious during the event, drugged with the pills that could have been used to treat Cal. Later in the novel, Cal is stung by a bee and dies. Because the youngest, Albie, annoys them, they give Albie Benadryl so he will fall asleep and stop pestering them. When Bert takes his family on vacation, the parents spend most of the time in their hotel room, so the children walk unchaperoned to a lake on their own. The Cousins children (Cal, Holly, Jeanette, and Albie) are angry (especially Cal) at their father Bert for leaving their mother, while the Keating children (Caroline and Franny) are angry (especially Caroline) at their mother for leaving their father. Their animosity is directed toward their parents. The children, for the most part, get along with each other. When Franny was a child, she and her step-siblings came together every summer in Bert and Beverly’s new home in Virginia. As Fix receives treatments and talks to Franny, Franny listens eagerly to his stories, knowing their time is limited. Fix Keating, now in his eighties, is dying of esophageal cancer, and his daughter Franny has come to visit and help him with his chemotherapy treatments. The story flashes forward almost fifty years. Bert and Beverly eventually have an affair, divorce Fix and Teresa, marry each other, and move to Virginia. Bert becomes infatuated with Beverly, and ends up kissing her. Bert Cousins and his wife Teresa are two guests at the party. The party becomes wilder than expected once everyone starts drinking. The story opens in Southern California at the home of Fix and Beverly Keating, who are having a christening party for their baby girl Franny.

Commonwealth ann patchett sparknotes