This book is a love story set in the Kansas Flint Hills where most of the book takes place. There is a love triangle, plus unrequited love by one of the characters. The book spends a short time in a Greek Monastery, Paris and outskirts and Cambridge University, England. The book concerns a couple with a troubled marriage who adopt a frail, sickly baby, Will. The child cries constantly wearing out everyone with his constant crying. John and Susan adopt this baby, but he can't seem to bond with the couple. John is unable to father kids, he is the main reason for the adoption. The family is living in San Francisco, but go to the Flint Hills to visit Susan's mother and for a little quiet. John's family live in Lawrence, Kansas not far. The couple stay in a mansion owned by Susan's mother.
Susan is a strong, independent woman, very intelligent, well educated, the daughter of a weak mother. She is doing well in life, a take charge type of woman, she who must be obeyed. John's family approve of his choice of a wife. John is a gifted physicist, a brilliant mathmatician very involved in his work, not much of a people person. Susan is the breadwinner in this family.
Then he meets Sarah, a talented artist, who has to leave the university where she an art major. Her grandfather, Jack, was working to keep her in school and had an accident losing a good part of one leg. Her grandmother is angry. Jack is too old to be working especially at a dangerous occupation. So Sarah leaves school, works as a waitress in a friend's restaurant and paints at night up in her room. She allows nobody to see her art which she does only for herself. She has been badly hurt by another lover.
Will is left with a teen age baby sitter. He will not stop crying,his high pitched, whiny cry. Amy calls Sarah and asks if she can try to help with the baby. Surprisingly Sarah and Will bond. John really loves Will, his reason for the adoption. He wants to be Will's father. Susan is tired of the baby and wants to return him to be readopted. John and Sarah meet, fall in love. But John is married, can't reject his marriage vows.
Sarah has a would be boyfriend, Billy Moon, her former high school history teacher. When she was in high school she had a huge crush on this man as did many of her classmates. Then he became a widower. He is much too old for Sarah, his grown daughter, he has several grown children, does not like Sarah. Sarah doesn't love him though he is a nice man, highly educated.
Sarah and John, especially John, become more human because of their love. John finds there is more to life than physics, mathmatics, and work. There is love and family.
This is a good escapist book, enjoy the trip to the Flint Hills which is a unique area and the second book by Ms Graham set in the Hills.
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