Chapter 1 Summary

Chapter 1 opens with Anna Dunlap watching her three-year-old daughter, Molly, run into the post office of the small New Hampshire town where they are vacationing for a month. The postmistresses hands Molly a letter to give to her mother, and upon seeing it Anna knows that it contains official documents for her ongoing divorce from Molly's father, Brian.

After they leave the post office, Anna takes Molly to the town playground before the two go see Peter Pan at the local cinema. Afterwards, Anna takes her daughter to the local diner for dinner and to an ice cream parlor for dessert.

When the two arrive back at the house they are renting, Anna undresses Molly and runs a bath for her daughter while she does dishes. She is overcome by the tranquility and beauty of the domestic moment, and then goes in to...