Chapter 1 Summary

The narrator of the story, Philip Carver, explains how life is for a widower if he has middle aged children. He recalls two men from his teenage years, who went through similar situations that his father is now faced with. The middle aged children interfered with the men's happiness and prevented another marriage. Any marriage to a younger woman could mean less of an inheritance in money and land for the children.

Two years had passed since his mother had died and his father had not ventured out to date until now. His single sisters and remaining friend in Nashville, Alex Mercer, commented on it to him often.

His dad did venture out and over the next couple months, the tone of the sisters began to change. He received two long-distance phone calls from his sisters the same night, explaining the actions of...