Summary

Chapter 11

After Ed receives his Ph.D., he is offered a position as an executive at Merck. He’d have his own lab and state-of-the-art equipment along with a staff. Eileen is thrilled. Finally, she’ll have her dream house. Ed is an assistant professor at the Bronx Community College and eventually will be a full professor. He turns down Merck.

When Eileen is 31 and had been married five years, she becomes pregnant. A few months into the pregnancy, Eileen miscarries and she is devastated. She relieves the pain she experienced when her mother lost her baby. Ed seems to be resigned to not having children. Eileen secretly wonders if he might actually be relieved. A child would take time and attention away from his work. Eileen throws herself into her work but she is haunted by the loss of her child.

To...