Part 2: Chapter 1 Summary

With the decision to move to Paris, peace, serenity, and hope seem to return to the marriage of Frank and April Wheeler. He's more focused and comfortable at the office because he knows the end is in sight and because he wants to work hard to impress his wife, and happier at home because their love affair has been reignited. April is energized with tasks such as getting passports and looking into overseas employment. Their children, too, seem happier because their parents' late night fighting and loud noises have ceased. Frank makes what he thinks is a diplomatic break with Maureen Grube at the office, while trying to maintain a friendship. Perhaps because of his more relaxed frame of mind, Frank also seems better able to quickly dispatch accumulated paperwork as well as new communications. Contemporary readers will no doubt chuckle...