This third book focuses on Ave's relationship with her daughter and the loss of her son years ago. This is about her role as a mother. Ave has problems letting go and letting Etta be herself. She is trying to control Etta's life rather than letting Etta find herown way. This causes problems in their relationship. Ave often compares her relationship w ith Etta to her relationship with her mother and is disappointed that she Etta is not more open to her as a mother as she embraced her own mother. Etta's decision to marry someone in Italy instead of going to college is crushing to Ave and almost causes a permanent rift between her and her daushter; however, when Ave sees the joy that Etta shares with Stephane and the enthusiasm that her Italian family has for her daughter's marriage she goes along with the program and says nothing. She later finds that is the best thing she could have done.