Chapters 17, 18, 19 and 20 Summary

The narrative of the story now changes to Ida's perspective and sheds light on some of the events that impact Christine's and Rayona's stories. Ida explains her life as a ring of mountains, close together but separated by deep chasms. The first summit occurs when Ida is fifteen-years-old; the year her aunt Clara comes to help out at the house because Ida's mother, Annie, is very ill with heart trouble.

Clara is dazzling and magical and befriends Ida who is dowdy and awkward. Ida feels as if her life begins on the day Clara arrives at the house. Before long it is revealed that Clara is pregnant and Ida's father, Lecon, is the father of the child. Annie is devastated at such betrayal and wants Clara removed from the house but there is much work to do and Annie's bedridden condition...