The fall of Maggie Phillips began in the spring, but nobody in Fremontville remembered its beginnings. The talk in the small Northern California town centered on the melting snows on the mountains, the apricot and almond groves in full bloom in the valley, the great perfusion of violets on the lawn, and the greater confusion of walnut petals on the sidewalk. Normally, Maggie is perfectly content with watching all of these things happen every year - but not this year. This year, aged 35 years old, she has decided that she is yearning for more, and she's determined to do something about it!