Who is Dawson Cole? What is particular about the man who saved Dawson after an explosion on an oil rig? What is strange about the way Dawson lives? Why does he not date? Why does he not have friends or lovers? Who calls Dawson to inform him of Tuck's death? For what reason? Why has Dawson not been to Oriental in more than twenty years?

Who is Amanda? Why is she in Oriental at the beginning of the novel? What has brought her there? Why did she never tell her husband, Frank, about Tuck Hostetler? What does Amanda's other think of Amanda's relationship with Tuck? For what reason? How many children does Amanda have? What happened to Amanda's daughter, Bea? How did this effect Amanda's life? Her relationships?

Who is Tuck Hostetler? Why do Dawson and Amanda go home when Tuck dies? What are...