Point of View

The story is presented in the third person from the limited perspective of Ruby. This limited perspective is vital to the presentation of the story. Ruby believes that Cora made the decision to cut off contact after Cora moved out to attend college. She harbors resentment for what she sees as Cora's abandonment and bases her feelings only on what her mother has told her. Ruby also believes that their father ran away in an effort to avoid paying child support. The reader is left to believe these things as well until Cora sets the record straight. It's only then that Cora realizes her own beliefs - that Ruby had chosen not to attend Cora's wedding - were also based on their mother's lies. The fact that the story is limited in perspective also means that Nate's home situation is a surprise. The reader doesn't learn...