Book 2: No Man's Land, Chapters 1-3 Summary

In Chapter 1, O Holy Night, Kathleen is dying at home while giving birth. James pounds on the door of the room as Materia delivers twins, a boy and a girl. Before dying, Kathleen has a vision of Pete the scarecrow standing in the doorway, but it is James who stands there, watching for a moment before turning away. Materia struggles with guilt over Kathleen's death. She dies while cleaning the stove. James discovers her and assumes Materia has killed herself, but puts his wife's body in her bed so that she can be buried in the churchyard.

In Chapter 2, The Mass Card, the Luvovitzes and the MacIsaacs are in attendance at Materia's funeral. Some of the Mahmouds attend, as well as Teresa Taylor. Frances sees the name Ambrose on the mass card and...