part 1, Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

This novel tells the story of middle-aged Rebecca, suddenly discontented with her life after several years of managing a large, dysfunctional family and its business operations. As she attempts to build a new present on the foundations of an abandoned past, Rebecca discovers the value of her existing present, and begins to celebrate it.

Chapter 1 begins with a summary statement of how Davitch family matriarch Rebecca made an important discovery about herself. Rebecca makes her discovery during her struggles to enliven a dull family picnic thrown together to celebrate the sudden engagement of her step-daughter NoNo to a man named Barry, a corporate lawyer who, NoNo's sister Patch suggests, is only marrying to provide a nanny for his son Peter. Later, when Peter storms off angrily in response to a toast welcoming him to the family, Rebecca pursues him...