The twins are now eleven. Their mother, Caroline, is unable to have children. It was an indiscretion by their father Peter - then the new rector in Turnham Malpas - that led to their birth. Their mother Susie gave them up for adoption to Peter and Caroline. Peter's affair was one of the hardest things Caroline has ever had to deal with but now the children, who know that Peter is their father, is asking who their mother is. This is not the only problem in the village and of course everyone has a view as to how this and the other things should be handled. Usually it is Peter who calms troubled waters but this time her is at the heart of the problem.