Meliney’s answer to “What did everyone think about the ending? (and also Trip x Pearl)” > Likes and Comments

I think the author leaves things unclear to the readers and to the Richardsons at the end deliberatley to be consisitent with the rest of the book where the Richardsons never examined facts or circumstances well. They lived their lives being "good" and doing "right" with a superficial picture of what a good life is. They believed they were "good" yet never supported Izzy (tortured her? emotionally), actively sought to get information to hurt Mia and so forth. Mia and Pearl were cast as poor, "not good' perhaps by society's standards yet supported and cared for each other and were a very functional family. Mrs Richardson will set out to find Izzy becuase she blieves this is what a good mother would do but she's doing it to meet the image she has not because she values Izzy or is a caring parent. She lives without questioning her life plan and perhaps doens't let the facts of an abortion or anything get in the way of this picture of a good life she holds.