Part 2, The Lady of Many Eyes Summary

Grace has solemn eyes that are territorial, displaced and dark. They suggest an immigrant past she guards closely. Grace realizes a fine web binds human hearts and like a spider, it tightropes home-to-home and neighborhood-to-neighborhood among various tongues, histories and cultures. Others can follow one's strand and add to the web. Grace's troubles have traveled deep inside her and she slips between identities, preventing anyone from pinning down her origins. She slips on an American heritage like an overcoat to conceal her native dress. She curses, consoles, toasts and blesses anyone of any nationality. She takes to Coney Island like an otter to a river and has worked there for several years before Cy discovers they are neighbors. Grace occupies No. 104 and her doorway smells of the countryside.

When Cy is tipsy, he...