Chapter 2 Summary

Many years before, Jacob is a student at Cornell University, studying veterinarian medicine in order to join his father's practice. At the moment, Jacob's biggest concern is losing his virginity to his fellow student, Catherine Hale. They are sitting in class together, but Jacob cannot concentrate on his studies with Catherine sitting so close. It is a stroke of luck that the dean of students has disturbed the class, so that Jacob can better concentrate on Catherine. However, when the dean calls Jacob out into the hall, Jacob quickly forgets about Catherine in fear that he has gotten caught doing something wrong. Jacob frantically tries to figure out what he could have done to warrant this meeting when the dean informs him that his parents were killed that morning in a car accident.

Jacob takes a train home to identify his parents' bodies...