Physical setting is incidental to this book, as the types of human bonds portrayed are never bound by locale.

Of some importance to the storyline is the fact that Anne has elected to live in Seattle until Chip is raised, even though her work as an artist depends on the ability to sell her paintings in the New York market. The necessity of trips to New York City to consult her agent presents the opportunity for the father of her baby to live at a distance, and therefore be unknown to Chip, remaining until nearly the end of the novel what Chip terms a "phantom."