One night, Addie asks Louis to tell her about his affair. He says the woman’s name was Tamara, and she was an English teacher at his school. She and her husband were having problems, and Diane and Louis were going through a rough patch, too. As the affair went on, Tamara’s husband moved out and Louis moved in with her and her daughter. About two weeks later, Tamara’s husband came over while they were having supper because he missed his family. Louis felt sick with himself because he had left his own daughter to be with Tamara. Soon after, he told Tamara that he was going to end things and move out, and they both cried. He moved back in with Diane and Holly, sleeping on the couch for a while. Diane wasn’t mean or vengeful. That summer, Louis went on a fishing trip with a college friend. When Louis returned home, Diane immediately took him to bed. Tamara had moved to Texas, but she later returned to Holt and called Louis; however, he refused to see her again. Addie accuses Louis of still being in love with Tamara, but Louis claims it’s only the idea of her that appeals to him—the idea of being more than just a mediocre small-town teacher.