Summary

In Chapter 1, Mark and Julia have been together close to 30 years at this point when she sees Helen Russo at the supermarket, one of very few people she had hoped to never see again. She has not seen her in 18 years. Helen is weighing pine nuts which cost almost $17 a pound, and Helen remembers Helen’s extravagances from when they used to spend much time together. The two speak, and they give each other the details of their lives. Julia thinks about how her younger self would be shocked to see the stability of her current life. Julia tells Helen about their kids as she thinks of their awful last time together when Julia was pregnant with her daughter. Helen’s husband has died. Helen asks about Mark, and Julia thinks about how her and Mark’s lives were almost ruined...