Jeremy

While June's turning point in life was her encounter with the black dogs, Jeremy defines his life story as being an orphan. His teen years were spent chasing substitute parents instead of girls, and he began courting Jenny's parents shortly after they were married. When he finally regained parents in the form of his in-laws, Jeremy began to suffer the same pangs as Jenny and her siblings over the estrangement of June and Bernard. Having come from a background devoid of any kind of belief system, Jeremy feels compelled to resolve, at least in his own mind, their argument about rationalism versus spiritualism. Jeremy wonders about the existence of God, too, but his new parents present him with opposing views instead of clear cut guidance.

He diligently refuses to get involved in their squabbles while June is alive, but after her death, in the pivotal scene when the...