Summary

Chapter One opens in December in Iowa and Tassie Keltjin, a 20-year-old, college student, is looking for a nanny position that will work with her school schedule in the coming semester. It is a few months after the September 11, 2001 attacks and a somberness remains. Her roommate Murph met her boyfriend on September 10 and stays mostly with him now. Tassie spends a fair amount of time alone.

Sarah begins interviewing for possible nanny jobs and meets Sarah Brink, a pale, auburn-headed woman, at Sarah’s house. Sarah invites her in and they spend some time getting to know one another. Sarah tells Tassie about the neighbors: a woman, a man, and his lover. While Sarah talks about it, Tassie thinks about going on a date with a man who ended up telling her he was gay and how they made a cake instead of...