Lost and Lassoed

Taking on meaningful responsibilities leads Gus and Teddy to personal growth, healing, and redemption from their preconceived ideas of themselves and each other, helping them move beyond feelings of inadequacy and failure. Over the course of Sage’s novel, Teddy and Gus learn that responsibility involves showing up meaningfully for others and connecting to something greater than themselves. Redemption, Sage suggests, comes from taking ownership of one’s life and actions by acknowledging past mistakes, committing to personal growth, and investing in the well-being of others. Teddy and Gus reclaim their values and strengths by embracing responsibility not as a burden but as an opportunity to find purpose, peace, and a renewed sense of self. Their journeys highlight the importance of embracing responsibility as a pathway to self-discovery and a life richer in meaning and connection.

Caring for Riley represents an opportunity for Teddy to redefine herself during a personal and professional crossroads. Teddy isn’t new to taking on responsibility, as she has been her father’s sole caregiver for many years. However, she struggles to overcome others’—especially Gus’s—perception of her as flighty and irresponsible. Initially, she sees taking on the role of Riley’s caretaker as a favor to Emmy and Cam, whom she loves and respects.