Chapters 1 through 13 Summary

In Chapter One, "A Beginning," Martha Boyle answers her front door to find a woman standing there. The woman introduces herself as Olive Barstow's mother, a fact that makes Martha "gasp." The woman says that she doesn't know if Martha really knew Olive well, but that Olive had left a journal. The woman then gives Martha a page of the journal, saying that she'd wanted her to have it. Martha pushes open the screen door and the woman hands her a folded sheet of pink paper. She then says "thank you, Martha Boyle," and steps off the front stoop, turning to walk away. The woman then got on a bicycle that was obviously very old and rode away. Martha stands still for a moment, watching Olive's mother leave, and thought before she could open the sheet of paper.

In Chapter Two...