The book's primary character is William (Will) Farrell. The book begins with eleven-year-old William lusting after his friend Nick's sister, Sylphie McMillan. A bit later, William sheds a tear as he watches his precious Sylphie drive away with a sleek dude from California. Nick and Will play football together in high school. As an adult, Will reflects on how he meets his wife, lovely Lorna, after a silly accident on the ski slopes. Lorna's father doesn't care for Will, especially after Will gets drunk and rides a calf up and down both aisles of their church service. So the couple elope and birth two lovely daughters.
After college, William rises to chief engineer at DataComp Inc., and Lorna rises as chief fashion designer at Fashions International. Lorna basks in in the glamor of the fashion world and local society while Will just takes pride in being a competent engineer and program manager. At one point, Will passes a golden new business opportunity to his well-trained business subordinate. Lorna hears of this "passing the buck" by her husband, and considering his lack of interest in rising in the world of society, she proposes that they separate as a first step to divorce and suggests that both of them feel free to date others.
Finally, after Will wrestles (and deflates) the huge inflatable dragon at DataComp's entrance, Court, the company owner, tells Will to vanish for an indeterminate sabbatical. Will then heads off to Bermuda where he plays rugby, deep fishes, and reunites with Sylphie-who has changed her name to a movie actress named Margaret/Maggie Wainwright. The two of them love and battle through a tempestuous relationship before Maggie finally departs Will and Bermuda.
Whilst in Bermuda, Will revives his old passion for painting and writing and struggles with a "Portrait of Lorna." Meanwhile, Lorna begins to tire of the social frenzy and begins to reflect on the many reasons why she had loved her separated hubby, William, for those many years. Realizing that she still loves him, she flies off to Bermuda. (Meanwhile, whilst on the beach, William finally manages to paint a magnificent painting of his first and only love, Lorna). At the end, Lorna scales down the rocks to a secluded beach and discovers William sound asleep in front of the "Portrait of Lorna." She quietly bends over and kisses William in his sleep. And they hug and kiss and unite in a solemn pact to stay together-forever.
