Chapter Two 1979

George Schneider is an author living in New York City whose days are busy with writing, softball in the park, and visits from his married brother Leo Schneider, a tireless press agent who has been trying to set him up with eligible women. Still raw from the loss of his wife, he carries a quiet ache that shadows every moment and memory.

One evening, after dialing the wrong number, he ends up speaking with Jennie MacLaine, an actress who recently separated from a professional football player. The exchange is awkward, and Jennie makes it clear she has no interest in a blind date. Yet George’s persistence leads to a bold offer: a “five-minute” date, with a promise to withdraw if it doesn’t work.

They meet at her apartment and, to their surprise, they hit it off instantly. Jennie MacLaine shares a sense of humor and warmth that helps George forget his lingering grief, and he reveals how his brother Leo habitually pushs him toward courting. Without overthinking it, they decide to pursue something more traditional, and their whirlwind romance begins to bloom.

Leo Schneider is delighted by the match, and so is Faye Medwick, whose own marriage is strained. To everyone’s astonishment, George and Jennie choose to marry after knowing each other for only a short time. The quick leap toward a lifetime together feels thrilling, but it also unsettles those around them. Leo worries that the pace may be moving too fast, even as Faye offers warm support.

Before long, Faye asks to use Jennie’s apartment while the couple enjoys their honeymoon, a request that foreshadows trouble. The newlyweds embark on an idyllic Caribbean trip, moments of joy softened by the occasional sting of reality. Yet a stray condolence from a fellow tourist—mourning the memory of George’s deceased wife—pulls him into a sudden, deep sadness that he has to confront.

Returning to New York, Jennie tries to uplift him, but his mood remains brittle, and his responses turn curt. The strain intensifies when Jennie discovers that Faye is having an affair with Leo right at Jennie’s own apartment, shattering the illusion of a perfect union. The marriage seems to be unraveling almost as quickly as it began.

In a crucial turn, George finds his way back to clarity. He recognizes how much he loves Jennie and how he does not want to lose her. With honest conversation and renewed commitment, the couple begins to navigate the rocky aftermath together, seeking a path back to trust, tenderness, and a future they both want to build.