Part 3, 1954-1956, Chapter 15 Summary

Aisling taking so long to get pregnant is a topic of discussion and solving the problem is on Aisling's mind when they return from Rome. Offending relatives by spending the first night alone in Dunlaoghaire, Aisling confronts Tony's constant drunkenness as a sign of trouble in the relationship. He declines to be nagged or psychoanalyzed about why in fifteen months they have yet to consummate their marriage.

At dinner with Elizabeth, Simon reports that Grace Miller and Johnny are together in Bangor. Elizabeth laughs off the idea that she might have been involved with him. She is working on a Christmas list when the hospital phones to say that Violet is dead of a massive heart attack. Elizabeth takes the train to Preston to console Harry and make funeral arrangements. She asks reliable Henry to tell her friends and...