Summary

Chapter Two continues to recount the lives of the Breakstones after Heather’s birth. Mark felt left out of the process of raising Heather because Karen insisted on doing everything herself. Mark grew frustrated at work because he felt that less qualified but more sociable men were being promoted ahead of him.

Heather was a very beautiful baby and strangers would often comment on her appearance.

Karen’s childhood had been lonely. She was an only child and her mother had gone back to school while Karen was a toddler and began a career running a Bookmobile and reading to children. Karen told Mark that she did not want to have another child because it would not be fair to Heather. As Heather got older, she became unusually empathic, speaking with strangers on the subway and attempting to counsel them through their difficulties.

Karen...