Audrey Villeneuve hates driving every day through the Ville-Marie Tunnel in Montreal, Québec, Canada. She feels the tunnel waiting to collapse. As she looks out the window, she sees cracks in the tunnel and the “half-hearted attempts to plaster over them” (2). For years, she has known that “monsters existed” (2) where one least expects them. Audrey has been sewing a special dress because she wants to get one man’s attention at her work party. After speaking with him tonight, Audrey thinks that “the faults would be repaired” (3).

In the small village of Three Pines, in Québec, Canada, Constance Pinault reflects on how much has changed in four days. Ruth Zardo, a gruff old poet, tells her to “Get your own fucking duck” (5) and protectively grasps her pet duck, Rosa. Constance isn’t bothered—in four days she has discovered that this is Ruth’s version of warmth. Before coming to Three Pines, Constance had given up on finding peace. In Three Pines, she can relax and watch the snow.

Olivier and Gabri, who own the local bistro and B&B, greet Constance. Before coming to visit her friend Myrna in Three Pines, Constance held anti-gay bias.