Part 4, Chapter 1 Summary

1963. It is raining in California. Gretchen has just returned home from school and she is reading a letter from Rudolph. Rudolph is in Vienna with Jean and he is considering retiring from his job with Dee Cee Corporation. Rudolph wants to take his life in a new direction and he hopes to get Jean pregnant soon. Gretchen recalls another letter she received from Thomas. Thomas has bought a boat and he and Dwyer are refinishing it themselves. Thomas is happier than he has ever been, though he reminds Gretchen of her promise not to tell Rudolph where he is. While reading these letters, Gretchen gets a call from a friend, Sam. Sam is a cutter with the studio who has befriended her during her time of grief. Sam wanted to train Gretchen to be a cutter too, but she is determined...