support his family, getting involved in shrimping. The Meserve's family strife worsens when the Corregios, a Portuguese-American family that Jim had become acquainted with through shrimping, came to work on the property. Earl starts acting more aggressively and spies on the family. Despite Jim's warnings, Arvay chooses to side with her son. Earl is killed during a standoff after assaulting the Corregio's eldest daughter. His loss is felt most heavily by Arvay, with the remainder of the Meserves being apathetic towards his death. The novel then fast forwards several years to the future. Angeline is now seventeen and in love with a boy, Hatton. Arvay is concerned about her daughter's infatuation, but Jim believes that Hatton is a capable man and the young pair soon elope without Arvay's knowledge; it is revealed later in the novel that Jim was there when the marriage took place. Hatton proves to be a shrewd businessman, not too dissimilar to Jim. With Jim's guidance, Hatton begins a lucrative real estate business and he and Angeline move out. Kenny also finds success studying music at the University of Florida. Jim starts to spend more days away from home, spending long days out at sea. With no one at home, Arvay grows listless, and without anyone to care after, she loses her sense of identity and does not know what to do with herself. After Jim is nearly killed by a snake and Arvay fails to help him, he vents his frustrations. Before he leaves her, he gives her an ultimatum: he gives Arvay a year to "make the first move." Utterly alone at home, she receives a message from her sister announcing that their mother is sick. Arvay uses this as an opportunity to leave the house and heads up to Sawley, which, since the time she has been gone, has modernized. At the same time, Lorraine and Carl have withered. After her mother dies, Arvay is left the house. Bitter and jealous, Carl confronts her, asking her for money. However, Arvay manages to stand up for herself and Carl leaves defeated. He later flees with his wife, and their children, but not before stripping the Henson's house of all its valuables. Arvay is heartbroken, but she is filled with a new sense of determination. She burns down the house and returns to Citrabelle. Upon returning to Citrabelle, Arvay and Jeff, one of Joe's sons,