BOOKS

From the author: 

I am still haunted by Marian, Delia and Adam.  They lived with me for so long while I was writing their story.  I cried with them.  I laughed with them.  I saw them, clearly, in my head.
To me, they are ordinary people.  Like ordinary people, they are flawed.  It has been an honor to learn about them - and I did so with every sentence.

Who is Marian?

The story opens with Marian Brown as a child.  She is a lonely, shy girl who lives with her mother, Rosa on a quiet Long Island road.
When a cute, witty boy moves in across the street from her, a lifelong friendship forms.

Marian's love for Adam is a pivotal plot point in the story because of how it affects the decisions she makes, and the relationships she forms.

Who is Adam?

Adam Vermont is a smart, caring man who treasures his years-long friendship with Marian but doesn't share her romantic feelings. 
He has a good idea of the life he wants to lead and believes he has found it.
When he makes a mistake in a moment of weakness, he begins to question everything he thought he wanted, and everything he thought he was.

Who is Delia?

Delia is Marian's cousin and the wife of Adam Vermont.  She is a gentle, old-fashioned girl who doesn't know herself well.  She lives her life for other people and builds her world around Adam.
When she finds out she cannot get pregnant, she falls into a deep depression that sets the stage for a series of life altering events.