Carter's first wife, Isabel, is beautiful, rich, and "chronically unfaithful." She dislikes their town (Chapel Hill, where Carter teaches at the university), and Carter's erectile difficulties anger her, so eventually she leaves him. Carter and Isabel's mutual friend Meredith shows interest in Carter after the separation, and Carter marries Meredith as soon as his divorce is finalized.
However, Meredith cheats on Carter as well, which leads Carter to a woman named Chase. Carter dates Chase as he tries to deal with the house he co-owns with Meredith. When his relationship with Chase fizzles out, Meredith asks Carter to give their marriage another chance, and Carter agrees.