Jean Swinney is living a routine life in 1957 London, caring for her housebound mother, writing women's stories for her local paper, and fearing she's lost her chance for love, when a succinct letter from Gretchen Tilbury changes her course forever. Writing in response to Jean's news story on parthenogenesis, Gretchen claims her daughter Margaret is the result of a virgin birth. This is not a story of religious reawakening, but rather one of confronting expectations, searching for happiness, and finding love in the wrong places. (RR)