In March 1969, Kate’s only son, Richard “Tiger” Foley, is called up for active duty in the Vietnam war. Kate is in her late forties and has four children. Blair, Kirby, and Tiger were born during her first marriage to Wilder Foley, a military veteran who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Jessie was born during Kate’s second marriage to lawyer David Levin. Tiger is a former high school football star who fell out of love with the game and quit. He never found a specific interest in college to replace his former passion. At 19, he works as a driver’s education instructor. Through his work, he has just met a young woman named Magee, with whom he quickly falls in love. Tiger makes his mother promise to check in on Magee before he deploys. When Kate drives him to the army recruitment office, she feels a profound sense of dread that Tiger will die in the war and this will be payback for some unnamed crime she committed in the past.

Jessie doesn’t look forward to her summer stay on Nantucket alone. Tiger is overseas, Blair is pregnant in Boston, and Kirby is on Martha’s Vineyard.