Delilah Green wakes up in an unfamiliar apartment in New York City. She cannot remember the name of the woman in bed next to her, who also purchased one of her photographs after a gallery showing. Delilah is annoyed that she is being called by her estranged stepsister, Astrid Parker, who she has been ignoring for weeks. Delilah puts on a robe, reminding herself that “she ha[s] to prepare to talk to Astrid, like a boxer heading into a match. Gloves on, mouth guard in” (4).

The two exchange barbed greetings, and Delilah reflects that she has rarely returned to her hometown of Bright Falls, Oregon, where Astrid still lives. Delilah left for New York at 18, returning only sporadically. Astrid reminds Delilah that she is supposed to photograph her upcoming wedding. Delilah knows that she needs the money offered for the job. When she senses Delilah’s hesitation, Astrid reminds her that Astrid’s mother, Isabel, would be furious “if [she’s] about to cancel on her only daughter’s wedding on such short notice” (8). This hurts Delilah’s feelings, and Astrid seems regretful. Delilah’s father was only married to Isabel for two years before his untimely death from an aneurysm, and Isabel raised Delilah with little affection.