Chapter 17 Summary

Reta informs the reader that she and her husband, Tom, still have a sexual relationship. She describes her sexual life as a familiar and safe routine. Sex itself has become an act which requires all of her concentration. Reta questions whether or not she really loves Tom, but then concludes that the question is irrelevant. After all, they live together in the same house, are parents to three daughters, and share a lifetime of common experiences; they fit together.

Reta reminisces about their first meeting and reveals that they were intimate the first time they met. Reta's mind wanders once again to her daughters and her attempted discussions with them about birth control. Immediately her thoughts turn to Alicia and Roman's sex life. She wonders how she will write about their intimate relationship and questions the sense of prudishness which inexplicably runs through...