Chapter 4

Claire is swimming at her home. She remembers swallowing her pride and quiting her job to become a stay-at-home mom. While she came from meager backgrounds, her husband was born into wealth. While this makes her life comfortable, she feels that she is now at the command of her husband. She still loves Cal, but she wish that she wasn't "the social secretary for a four-year-old." Cal even paid off her student debt, which Claire apprecieated but was hurt because she felt it took away her self-sufficiency. It turns out, that the day she is swimming is 9/11.

The day after choosing the Garden, Claire goes into her late husband's study. Cal was a man of wealth, but rebelled against his family. He apprecieated the arts, attempted to reform the Democratic party, and created a charity to support teen mothers through their schooling. He kept a collection of all these things and more that interested him in organized folders.

While in Cal's study, Claire's son, William comes in. He has a drawing of himself and his father in the future Garden. Claire tells him sometimes it will rain in the Garden. In response he draws an umbrella over the two of them.

New facts about Claire:

• Dartmouth undergrad, Harvard Law School
• rags to riches story

Paul awakes in his house and is questioned by his wife, Edith, about who won the competition. He doesn't respond and instead looks at a photo of himself with Governor Bitman. He then receives a call from a reporter named Alyssa Spier. She asks if a Muslim won the competition. Paul neither confirms nor denies the claim and quickly hangs up.

Paul arranges an meeting with the editor of the Daily News, Fred. Alyssa works at this paper. Paul convinces Fred not to allow a story to run with the delicate information.