A Tangle of Knots

Graff’s story demonstrates how precious and healing family connections can be. Family is at the heart of the protagonist’s motivation. Being adopted by Miss Mallory and Toby gives her “everything [she] ever wanted” (167) and helps her see that she doesn’t have to sacrifice her happiness to deserve a loving home. At the same time, Cady’s love helps to restore her parents as well. Caring for her heals the painful “guilt and the worry” (211) that Toby carries ever since he put his infant daughter up for adoption 11 years ago. His protective love for Cady gives him the courage to finally stand up to his cruel father and reveal his true self. Miss Mallory also finds healing through parenthood. She devotes her life to establishing family connections for orphaned children. She is miserably lonely for much of the novel until, at last, she becomes a family with Cady and Toby. The happy ending presented in the Epilogue focuses on the unconventional family’s joy: “Cady was adopting them both. And although they were three very different people, Cady couldn’t help thinking that when they were woven together, they fit exactly right” (228). Cady, Toby, and Miss Mallory choose to become a family, and their connections bring them hope and healing.