Chapter 4Billie's first sailing experience on Isaac's sleek sailboat thrills her. She hasn't been on the water since she was a child, and never on such an exquisite vessel. The wind on her face, the invigorating mist of salt water are luxurious sensations breathing new life into her soul. Something mysterious and grand is happening to her and all her rigid ideas about life and politics and class identity drift away with the breeze.
Second to the thrill of sailing with Isaac is the feeling of veneration when she visits the Nickerson home. The structure itself - a towering Victorian, all white with a bright red roof and shutters - is a home Billie could only dream of as a child. Climbing the steps to the front door fills her with anticipation and not a little dread. She, too, comes from a f
