Love

Thomas Hudson's main problem in life involves love. He loves his sons and his first wife, so the problem is not a lack of love or an inability to feel the emotions of love, but his inability to live with those whom he loves. Thomas blames only himself for this problem. Rather than changing his ways, he changes how he relates to women—he avoids arguments and marriage. Thomas keeps his distance and lives alone in his misery.

Thomas's love of painting fills the void on Bimini. The war keeps him distracted enough, except for his time between missions while in Cuba. Cats substitute for human companionship at the farm, and he has his friends in Havana. He loses two sons to a car wreck and the third to the war, meaning that he outlives his own children. This is one of the worst events that can...