The book opens with J'nell informing the reader of the flaws of her hometown in Mississippi. From there she leads the read to New Orleans and her freshman year at Tulane University. The next two chapter's deal with her, and her lover, Gavin, discovering their parents are participants in the sexual revolution of the late 60's. At home for the 4th of July, her life is changed by the murder of a family friend. This murder helps her stand up to her father and choose the law as a career, rather than engineering. Another revelation is the discovery of George's gay relationship with the deceased. She learns her mother is pregnant, and there is a question as to which man is the baby's biological father. Her father, James, or Judge Gavin Davenport, II, who is her lover's father. Her parents and the Davenports have been involved in a swapping relationship since 1968, thus either man could be the father. Her own father assures her he is the only father the baby will have. J'nell realizes the whole sordid affair is turning into a nightmare. She is given the task of informing George of the death of his lover, Julius. It is on that fateful day, when she meets George Allen at the French Market Restaurant, she first sees Dolph Johnson, an older mysterious man, who will drift in and out of her life for the next seven years. When she and George Allen travel home for Julius' funeral, the two find themselves in a situation they could never, in a million years, imagine. It would take her mother's intervention to make her realize what an impossible situation it is. Fast forward to 1970 and the birth of her baby brother, James Joseph Montalvo, II, to be known as JoJo. The next stop is graduation from Tulane School of Law for her, Gavin and George Allen. At their graduation party she learns George will be leaving for an extended tour of Europe. The most devastating news is her lover, Gavin, will be moving to Washington, DC to become the clerk for the Chief Justice of the