Summary

In the Prologue, the narrator (later identified as Joseph) and Bobby (Joseph's younger brother) sat on the beach and listened as their mother threw china inside the house after their father left. They were sharing a jug of milk and carton of Oreos, their favorite comfort food. Joseph felt physical pain in his heart when Bobby said that their father said some very hateful things. The pain in Joseph's chest would not stop for another 53 years.

In Chapter 1, Jake Gibson called his wife, Allie, to tell her that he was so tired he did not think that he would be able to drive home for the party she had arranged that night. Witnesses in the diner were able to hear Allie screaming at him over the phone.

Police believed that Jake tried to drive home but was so tired that he fell...