Chapter 3 Summary

Jack recalls his mother, a hard woman, who was not the type to give him hugs or show affection of any kind. However, Jack's mother was a strong woman, a lot like Ruby. Jack imagines his father had to strong arm his mother into marriage, rather than courting her like star-crossed lovers. Jack was only fourteen when his mother died of food poisoning. Jack always wanted to ask his father, who was deeply religious, where God was while his mother lie dying, but he never had the courage to do it.

Everyone believes that because Ruby is kind and soft spoken that she has always had an easy life. Jack knows better. Ruby may have been raised in a secure, loving home, but the moment she could leave, she ran off with the wrong man. Ruby married a dark, abusive man, who might...