Summary

Prologue: The novel opens with a prologue. A woman who is never identified by name says she is a midwife. There was a snow storm that left the path almost impassable. She has been up all night, delivering two babies born just moments apart. She believed she had seen every scenario as a midwife, but has now seen something new. She allowed the mothers to believe she did not know what happened. She leaves the house and promises herself that she will never again think about it.

Chapter 1 is written from Mort's perspective, and takes place in May, 1947. Mort and his wife, Rose, live in the lower floor of a two-story house on Christopher Street with their three daughters. Mort's brother, Abe, lives on the upper floor with his wife, Helen, and their four sons. On this day, the two families are...