Summary

Chapter 7, “Dr. Tull Is Not a Toy”

This chapter is from Jenny’s point of view. She is now six months into her third marriage to Joe St. Ambrose, who has six children of his own. Jenny was left by her second husband, Sam Wiley, when she was eight months pregnant with their daughter Becky. Joe’s former wife left him as well. Jenny meets him soon after as his children’s pediatrician. They marry quickly, and now Jenny and her daughter Becky have welcomed Joe’s family into their home.

Joe’s son Slevin has been having behavioral and academic problems obviously related to his mother’s abandonment, and both a priest and a teacher have been trying to get Jenny and Joe to pay attention to what’s happening. Though Jenny and Slevin get along pretty well, his obvious calls for help are...