"She'd gone home once to her mama's house trying to get out of it, but her mama told her that 'a good woman don't go off on her husband'..." [pg. 4]
Annie Huckaby is almost resigned to life on the farm with Tom, who works at a coal mine during the week, leaving Annie to take care of the house and their infant son while an ex-convict named Jim takes care of the farm. Twila visits every day and helps Annie make a little money of her own selling eggs to the café. And there's church on Sunday. Annie is not always alone, but still, she's lonely...until one afternoon, a peddler named Jake Stern wanders onto the porch wearing a clean white shirt, selling notions and tenderness.
"This novel rings true on many levels and women will especially grasp its message" - Alan Caruba, Charter Member of The National Book Critics Circle
"Tom's Wife is a compelling read" - Dr. Arthur Dechene, Austin City College
"A poignant story of a dirt poor family during the Great Depression" - Kaye Trout Books