Serena, the daughter of Lily, is the protagonist of Chapter 1, which begins in March 2010 at the Philadelphia train station. Serena and her boyfriend, James, wait for the train to Baltimore after visiting his parents. Beforehand, they debated whether they should spend the night at his parents’ home, sleeping in the same bedroom, or make a one-day trip. It irritated James when Serena decided she was not comfortable sleeping with him in his parents’ house, since they would assume they have a sexual relationship.

While watching for their departure gate, Serena sees a familiar man, saying quietly, “I think that might be my cousin” (5). She makes no move to address him, and James finds her uncertainty and hesitation odd.

Serena worries about locating the right gate and finding two seats together. James says he wants a soda. Serena points out that he can get one on the train, but James walks away casually to order one. As she waits, Serena thinks about how different her family is from his: a large family with many brothers and sisters. Serena remembers envying large families and wondering what sort of family she would create.