Chapter Four, Will Wells Summary

Jack enters a barbershop to rest awhile. His mind almost immediately goes back to his memories. When their son was born dead, he had entertained some hope that it would bring Ruth and him closer together, but it did not. He remembers, immediately after the birth, going into the room where she was laying. She lay there awake but acting like she was sleeping because she knew he was in the room. He made no attempt to wake her or console her and just built a fire and left. He would later look back on that moment with regret, wondering what might have happened if he had reached out to her.

Just as he had done as a child, he buried himself in his work to escape his domestic misery. He knew Ruth was disappointed with him...