In the 1980s, Helene was a sculptor-photographer at an artists’ retreat in upstate New York. One night, she was walking in the woods with a fellow sculptor, Macarthur, who started flirting with Helene, despite her lack of attraction towards him. He makes a comment that he could rape her now if he wanted to, not that he would. The creepy nature of that moment stayed with her as the 80s turned to the 90s, and she became a wife to Stephen and the mother of two kids, Duff and Alison. Helene’s given up her photography and sculpture to raise her kids, and although she didn’t regret having done so, she also hoped that either one of her kids would inherit her artistic sensibilities. One night, Helene confesses to Stephen that she’s grateful that Alison wasn’t a particularly beautiful girl because that meant that she would be less likely to be predated upon by boys. Alison goes to college, and, to her mother’s surprise, brings back a boyfriend, Collin. Despite being lied to, Helene finds out the truth that Alison and Collin met when Collin flashed Alison his penis. Helene wants the couple to break up, but neither her husband nor her son carries the same wariness that she does. She rejoices when they break up for a six-month period, but they get back together and get married. At the wedding, Helene cries. During the six-month break-up, Helene tells Alison the story of Macarthur. After that night in the woods, Helene told other artists in the residency program about Macarthur’s behavior, leading to him being kicked out early. Helene leaves out the part where Macarthur became a very successful artist in the early 2000s. Nevertheless, sitting with her daughter, doing yoga after unburdening herself from the truth, Helene feels that they are stronger than ever.