Summary

Chapter 1 – Mathilde feels very old and lonely since Lotto has died. Chollie reveals to Mathilde that Gwennie’s own death years before had not been an overdose, but a suicide.

Chapter 2 – This chapter occurs in the past. Mathilde’s early life had always been awash in grief. Her name was originally Aurelie, her father was a stonemason, and her mother was a fishwife. At the age of four, she let her toddler brother out of the bedroom in which he was napping, after which he fell down the stairs, broke his neck, and died. Her parents didn’t want anything to do with her after that.

Chapter 3 – This chapter occurs in the present. Thousands of people attend Lotto’s funeral. Aunt Sallie cares for Mathilde as she attempts to cope with Lotto’s death. She reflects on being faithful to Lotto, and believes...