Happiness

The entirety of the novel focuses on Heather's pursuit of happiness, whether stemming from her own personal growth or from her family. Although the source of her happiness before having Gracie was from Brian, she soon learns how easy it is to love her daughter and find happiness in watching her discover the world around her. This definition of happiness, as coming from somebody else's advancement, represents both a maturation for Heather, as well as a potential point of weakness because of her daughter's illness, early on in the novel.

One area where Heather actively attempts not to derive her happiness is from her romantic relationship with Brian. Although she clearly loves him and happily reconciled with him, she does so more cautiously than she did before Gracie's birth. Before, she was content to live in Brian's version of the world wherein he was vocal about his desire...