Vivian and Dutchy stay in Hemingford, where Vivian continues to run the store. They rent a little house near the Nielsens’. Through the Nielsens’ connections, Dutchy is hired as the high school music teacher. He keeps his piano-playing gigs on the weekends in Minneapolis and Vivian goes with him to listen while he plays. Vivian is 20 when she marries, but she continues going to college. Dutchy supports her going to school and her job in the store.

They are a good match, though they are very different: she is practical while he is a dreamer; she is organized and efficient, while he forgets to complete projects half-way through. Despite their differences, they are very happy together.

When the United States enters WWII in December 1941, Vivian doesn’t believe that it will impact her life very much. She is wrong. Dutchy is drafted and sent to the Central Pacific. She discovers that she is pregnant just after Dutchy leaves.

Dutchy is excited and hopeful about the baby but Vivian is sick all the time and depressed that Dutchy is not there with her. She doesn’t like being pregnant.