The Mahugh sisters—Laurel and Eva—live together but are actually sisters in law. Eva was married to Laurel's younger brother, Eddie. Laurel served 30 years overseas as a civil service employee with the Air Force posted mainly in the Far East, before returning to live with Eva following Eddie's death. Eva had once had to care for Eddie and Laurel's father, Warren, to the point where she found herself guiltily wishing he died. But then, after he did, Eddie was no longer the same—quiet and somber. One night, Eddie went hunting alone and was found having died by suicide, shooting himself. Eva held the funeral before Laurel was able to get back, which Laurel was upset about.

Now, there is tension between Laurel and Eva in the house where they live. Around the house are six towering Spruce trees that Warren got for his wife after they married. Eva sees them as a symbol of love and history, but Laurel feels they suffocate the house in gloom. One day, while Eva is gone, Laurel gets a man named Ethan Wilder to clear the trees. When Eva is back, she's angry. Ethan Wilder, clearly not having known Eva didn't condone the removal of the trees is super apologetic.

Ethan Wilder is back periodically to do more work on the house. One day, he comes dressed in nicer clothes, which Laurel notes. Laurel wants complete control over the renovations, with no interference or authority from Eva. To her ire, Eva and Ethan seem to have a budding relationship. The two go on a date to see the July fourth fireworks and invite Laurel to come watch with them, but Laurel declines, saying she is too busy. Instead, she goes for a drive. The next morning, she is peeved by Eva and Ethan's flirtations as Ethan and his boys work on the renovations.

One night, Eva doesn't come home until the next morning. Laurel is cold and critical toward her. Eva says she won't have Laurel spoiling it and that Laurel has said "the last hateful thing to [her]." Laurel, in surprise, asks herself if she is hateful, if she is just "another sour, disappointed soul." She thinks how she as held her tongue with Eva at least, never accusatorily demanding she explain Eddie's death to her—since she knows Eva was just as baffled by the suicide. Laurel goes into Eva's room, where she disappeared to, looking for her. There's a suitcase with a folded cami on the bed. But Eva has cut a hole through the tarp covering the roof (due to the renovation process) and crawled out of it. Laurel finds her on tiptoe on the roof, looking out: "From the back and from below, it looks as if she might begin to rise and disappear. Laurel has to wonder, just for a minute, if she will hold her down."