Summary

In Part II: "Maps (1978)," Chapter 4, in 1978, Jude moved from Mallard to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. She promised Desiree to return; both knew she would not. Growing up, Early was the closest Jude had to a father. Whenever she asked about Sam, Early said he was a bad man.

Life in Mallard had been hard; everyone teased and bullied Jude for how different she looked. They even doubted Desiree was her mother. Lonnie Goudeau was particularly mean. Jude felt she belonged nowhere. The only time she felt solace was while running.

When Jude left Mallard, Desiree pretended to be okay, wondering if she should have left years prior. Early tried comforting her. The two had been seeing each other for a decade, never pressuring one another about their arrangement. All along, Early had been unsuccessfully hunting Stella. He learned she was quiet...