Summary

In Chapter 1, Paul Tracey, the narrator, tells the reader that Agnes Tracey, his father’s newest wife, called Paul to tell him that his father, Warren Tracey, had pancreatic cancer and was not expected to live more than three months. When Agnes asked Paul to tell the rest of the family, Paul almost asked her why. He and his sister, Jill, had not talked to their father in ten years. Their mother had divorced Warren after being married to him for 12 years. Paul intends to see his father because he believes his father has unfinished business with which he needs to deal. When Paul does make phone calls, Jill tells Paul she will not see her father or go to his funeral. Paul’s mother says that she thought Warren was already dead.

In Chapter 2, the narration goes back in time to 1973 when...